Disney is MAGIC!

“Effects of TV on Children.” Femail. 25 Sept. 2009. http://www.femail.com.au/effectoftvonchildren.htm.

SUMMARY

This article talks of the vital time period for childhood development and the positive effect Disney has had on all children. A study called “Our Children’s Media Diet” was implemented on a group of three to six year olds. Through the study Dr. Helen Skouteris, a specialist in Developmental Psychology was able to prove that Disney videos promote “active viewers” and “pretend play”, two important parts in rearing children. “Pretend play” helps children form language skills, imagination, and recognize other perspectives. Dr. Skouteris said the many Disney films “provide them with a fun and magical experience.” Toddlers learn the difference between good and evil as they develop characteristics like bravery and a sense of humor. Disney movies are often influential in active learning, as they repeat the movies children become more familiar with the plot and participate in singing along. This is an active experience. The article also mentions that co-viewing movies with your child offers a greater level of understanding and makes it a family experience where parents can direct a conversation regarding values.

RESPONSE

At a young age, three to six year old children develop social skills and gain values. It is inevitable that television and the media in general take part in this “raising” of America’s children. You are shown a variety of Disney movies from the time you can crawl; you even dream of going to Disneyland from a young age. Disney has greatly influenced our society! I feel that Disney movies do promote honesty and courage throughout each story. Mulan had the courage to fight for her country even though she wasn’t technically allowed these privileges in her society, being a woman. This shows little children the courage and triumph that one individual can bring to a whole society. I believe I am also an example of what this article calls “active learning.” When I was little I definitely sang along with the Disney songs and enjoyed pretending I was each of the characters. For a period of time I even forced my household to refer to me as Megara from Hercules. I’m not saying that Megara or any other Disney character had a lasting impression on me, but they did enhance my childhood and encourage me to dream big and imagine the unimaginable. I enjoy Disney movies even still; they may not be a brilliant work of art in some minds’ eye, but they bettered my youth.

The Media Wants Me To Be Beautiful

“The effects of television advertising to society.” City TV Web. 28 Aug. 2007. http://www.citytvweb.com/the-effects-of-television-advertising-to-society/.

SUMMARY

“The effects of television advertising to society” informs of the advertising tactics companies use to sell their product. As television becomes more accessible people “get carried away because of the TV ads also – without even consciously knowing it.” All these advertisements greatly impact all viewers, especially those that are young and impressionable. It only takes a few seconds for these commercials to captivate the audience and convince them that it is a necessity. The article explains that most advertisements contain famous and beautiful people to patronize the product. Women are used as sex objects; the perception of homemakers is now skewed because of the commercials and TV shows of independent women. Over the years more and more children choose junk food because the way that commercials portray the “yummy” snack. Everyone is affected “because these TV ads point out the person’s lack of something, instead of the products’ features.”

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RESPONSE

Companies associate feelings of beauty with their product to sell it. For example, the Estee Lauder perfume advertisements show a sense of joy and beauty. But does owning or wearing their perfume really give you “pleasure?” Does wearing Estee Lauder’s perfume suddenly transform you to be this girl (thin and happy)? There is definitely not a direct correlation between the perfume and this girl’s happiness. Maybe the puppy helps contribute to her happiness, but how does the puppy relate to the perfume? It all is really ridiculous, but as this article says, these advertisements are influencing our society. This image, and many others somehow make consumers feel they too can be beautiful by buying a certain product. Instead of consumers purchasing an item because of the quality and actual function, they buy to feel beautiful. Advertisements are intriguing. Many simply contain a picture of the product and few words, unrelated to the function of the product. Our society is very visual and doesn’t want to or have time to read a long advertisement, even if it is informative. They want to see a simple image and feel something. This emotional appeal makes the media consumers want the product more than any other technique, in my opinion. We need to be aware of what messages are really trying to portray and think logically before making purchases.

What's on T.V.?

"Violence." Media Awareness Network. 2009. http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/movies/concerns/violence_movies.cfm

SUMMARY

This article is directed towards parents and teachers, informing them of the negative affects violence in media may have on their children or students. Although a direct correlation between violent behavior and the amount of exposure youth have to violent media hasn’t been proven, it is becoming an accepted idea. Twenty-six percent of adults still “have residual anxiety many years after viewing horror movies in childhood.” Many media industries market these violent films to teenagers and children. In fact much of the time they have the young population review the movies and concepts. It is proven that eighty percent of the movies were in actuality targeted towards the population less than seventeen years old. The article suggests a few things that parents can do to help prevent the viewing of these violent films to ultimately prevent violent behavior, increased fear, and desensitization to actual violence. Parents need to explain their stance on violent movies and set family rules for their children to abide by; they also need to be well informed of recent movies and the ratings. The article warns of “PG” ratings because they “actually contain content that isn’t suitable for young adolescents.”

MY RESPONSE

The media is so accessible and prominent with cable television in the majority of American families, the Internet, magazines, facebook, and even billboard advertisements. As I drive down the freeway I am constantly being bombarded with advertisements, sometimes graphic and even disturbing. I definitely think that as we expose ourselves to violent material we become desensitized to the seriousness of violence, especially teen violence. The movies make this violence seem acceptable even normal at times. The movies hardly ever show the consequences of the violent behavior, as long as the ends justify the means? Or do the ends ever justify the means? But then again I guess it doesn’t really matter because the movies don’t “include” any “consequences” for these actions. I think this gives teenagers a skewed perspective of violence, thus leading them to violent actions themselves and accepting violence around them. It is a scary thought that media industries are targeting the youth of the world to view their movies. I think that all too often parents are oblivious to the material their children are watching because they view their children, as good kids and can trust them. Although most teenagers are good kids it doesn’t make them immune from violent media and it’s affects. I think saying that “PG” ratings can be inappropriate for teenagers is a little extreme, seeing you can’t be overprotective, but I do believe that parents should communicate with their children.