Learning the Myths That Bind Us: Linda Christensen

• Understand:  I am in complete agreement with the fact that many indirect aspects of our childhood has developed us into the adults we are now.  I honestly am disgusted that we all watched the same Disney movies as children, and found pleasure in them of course, only to grow up and regret it?  I'm hoping now that time has passed, directors and such have managed to be a bit more considerate.  I'm well aware there is some hidden value behind every advertisement, movie, video game.... even a simple design on a child's shirt.  I would like to be part of the generation that puts meaning back into... well, something.  Children deserve to enjoy a healthy show.
  

My personal favorite Disney movie was Pocahontas.  I was always inspired by other cultures and nationalities as a child, and found natural beauty more empowering.  After reading this article, the 'savages' song from the movie has been repeating in my head.

• (Don't) Understand:  I didn't find the vocabulary challenging in this article, just possibly the quality of the article itself.  I feel I may be in disagreement about some stuff.  We need to consider the era at which these cartoons had been produced.  We have come a long way with racism, sexism, feminism... etc.. I understand there is much to critique, but that is a very important topic we need to keep in mind.

"I start by showing student 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.  I ask students to watch for who plays the lead.   Who plays the buffoon?  Who plays the servant?

• Relations:  This article directly relates to our first class discussion; stereotypes.  We talked about the 'simple' stereotypes, defining youth and adolescence, and key identities. The old cartoon characters are all incredibly stereotypical.  Women have hour-glass figures, are large breasted, bubbly personalities... long hair and skirts.  When asked to draw a women, the features heavily identified are the physical features- same deal.

• Questions/Comments:  I feel that it's really important to recognize the time that these movies were made.  I also feel that it's really important to realize that WE are the ones that watched these movies.  How did these movies influence our lives directly?  I'd be interested to know if anyone really feels they've been impacted by a Disney movie, which one and in what way?
  

13.

When I was thirteen...

I was unsure of myself.  Entirely unaware of what the next few years would mean to me.  I had a difficult time judging the values of certain relationships, and setting goals for myself.  The transition into high school, for me, was simple.  I always hung around the older crowd, and knowing one of my best friends was a senior seemed quite reassuring.

It wasn't until senior year of high school I became totally comfortable with myself.  I progressed as a student, academically, and felt the strongest, mentally, that I had ever.  I was able to define the goals set for myself.  I went from having a .19 GPA freshman year, to ending my senior year with a 3.9.  The last month of high school, I became so comfortable with myself that I came out to my entire class...  yes, about having a girlfriend.

Since I was thirteen, I have grown into a very strong individual.  I am proud of the experiences I have been through, both good and bad.  I've learned to extract 'lessons-learned' from negative moments.  I've learned not only from my mistakes, but the mistakes of others, and I really feel that functioning this way is what got me through my years of youth.