Christensen Talk Points

“As Tatum’s research suggests, the stereotypes and worldview embedded in the stories become accepted knowledge.”
I agree with this statement. Children’s stories send strong messages, but no one questions them, because of who they are directed towards. People believe that things written for children must be correct and not stereotypical because it is written for children, but almost all children’s stories are stereotypical in some way. The message that is given through these stories are just accepted by all. People should begin really looking into what message is being portrayed and decide if it is correct or not. For example, all Disney princesses portray the idea that a woman needs a man to come save them. Most children will say they want a prince charming, because of what the Disney story is telling them. These ideas for children should be corrected, because in reality life is not like a Disney story.

“Many students don’t want to believe that they have been manipulated by children’s media or advertising. No one wants to admit that they have been “handled” by the media.”
I think one major problem is no one likes to think that children’s media is manipulating, because it is a huge part of a child’s life. Many children read books to help improve their reading or watch movies for the same reason. These books and movies are supposed to be for children to learn, but instead it can sometimes portray the wrong idea. Many people as well fall for advertising, but people do not like to believe they are capable of falling for any sort of advertising. People like to believe they can overcome an ad or what the media is saying, because they are higher then that. In reality, the media is in almost every aspect of a person’s life so it is hard to ignore.

“I started by showing students old cartoons, because the stereotypes are so blatant. We look at the roles women, men, people of color, and poor people play in the cartoons.”
Older cartoons I believe have more stereotypes that are extremely obvious. They portray the role that men and men should have in society. It also shows the place of people of color and people who are rich and poor. I think that cartoons today still do this, but it is not as obvious. I think everything has become more subtle. It does not mean it is not there, it just means that people have to look harder in order to see it. Cartoons for children do show people’s place in society. For example, many Disney princesses start of as people who are considered to be “no one”. They are either people who are treated as maids or poor and only become someone when they marry a prince. The prince makes them who they are which I do not think is a good message to be sending to children.

I enjoyed reading this article and thought it made a lot of good points. It discusses a topic that people do not give a great deal of thought to. Children’s cartoons are supposed to be innocent, because it is children who are watching them. When looked at closely a great meaning can be found whether if it saying what role a person plays in the world or what type of message they are trying to convey.