Yesterday in class we watched a video that was titled "Mickey Mouse Monopoly." This movie focused on how the Disney corporation through movies is holding up these stereotypes on gender, race, and other social issues. Yet, it is hard for me to think it is just Disney.
Call me naive, but Disney is not the only source of our problems in these idealistic ideals. Disney may own ABC and other media forms, but other cable channels and magazines uphold these stereotypes as well. MTV and other music video channels are great examples of these social ideals. Take a rap video for example. Men are depicted lounging around a bed with beautiful women scantly clad offering sexual favors only to please the man. Even pop music has shown these ideals through Britney Spears "I'm a slave for you," and the new pop sensation Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl." Magazines such as Maxim, and GQ often show photographs of stars half naked, and no one can forget Sport's Illustrated "swimsuit issue."
It is surprising to see how far our ideals go down the line of ages. Having a little sister made it clear for me growing up how influential my actions were. With an 8 year difference between my sister and I, she would mimic everything I did, and still does. When she was 2 years old I was going through my Spice Girls phase, and with every video or picture taken of my sister she would signal the piece sign which was a trademark of the singers. Furthermore, she would mimic their dancing and clothing choices, which I did as well, and my mother would be forced to intervene to ensure we were being "appropriate" for our age. Now my sister watches MTV on a daily occurrence at the age of 14. And I must admit there are times when I cringe at what she is viewing. Teenage sex, drugs and drinking is bombarded onto the television for young minds to see. Even the movies she watches such as "John Tucker Must Die" and "Mean Girls" show how girls should act.
So in the end it isn't just Disney that is the trouble in America, it is the media entirely that is the issue.
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I like it as well seeing how far our ideals change over time, as well as the progression of our thoughts in general. As it pertains to Britney Spears' song "I'm a Slave 4 You" that was sometime ago and it is once again the girl being an object for the male, but her song and video "Womanizer" depicts a more mature outlook and message as well.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is looking at older cartoons that you use to watch now and looking at them in a different way. I think the funniest one I looked at and thought about was "Pepe La Pu". I watch him now and I'm like what kind of stalker is this guy or something, but out perception changes over time. It's generational with most thing and it likely will never go away because it's embedded and is apart of our culture.
I would prefer if things got better as time progressed to be more..."realistic" to life, but that is in due time, and I doubt that will be anytime soon.