Have you ever really watched some of the Walt Disney movies? I mean really watched. I can still remember, before I had my own children, watching Cinderella with my nieces. I hadn't seen it in years and I was paying attention to the story line. I couldn't believe what I was seeing/hearing. First, they portrayed the "ugly" stepsisters as mean, and Cinderella, was beautiful and oh so nice. Second, the whole goal for Cinderella and the stepsisters was to marry the rich, handsome prince (isn't that every girl's dream?). Third, was that, of course, the prince picked the beautiful one. But she was nicer, and a better dancer. Oh, and she also had the smallest feet. The big, ugly stepsisters had huge feet and couldn't fit them into the glass slipper. That was an eye opener for me. However, I did have three girls of my own and, yes, we own Cinderella. I'm just planning on teaching them that marrying the rich, handsome prince is not the main objective in life.
Disney movies have had a huge effect on popular culture for decades. Disney projects the image of "innocence, magic and family fun...wholesome family entertainment." (http://www.mediaed.org/). Disney owns so much media that they influence the messages we receive and give our children a certain worldview. Disney is a transnational media conglomerate and owns "television and radio networks, cable systems, internet sites, music studios, media production companies, magazines, sports teams, theaters and theme parks." (http://www.mediaed.org/). The stories they tell are seen by generations of children and we need to think about what messages these stories are telling. Females are portrayed in certain ways, and in the past, minorities are absent or highly underrepresented.
"We have no obligation to make history. We have no obligation to make art. We have no obligation to make a statement. To make money is our only objective," Michael Eisner, CEO of Walt Disney Company. (http://www.mediaed.org/).
So, once again, it's all about the money.
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