"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us"

Kimberly Boghossian
Talking Points #4
October 16, 2007

"Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”

Premise:
Society , Views, “Secret Education”, Innocent, Writing for change, Power, Dreams, Behave , Think , Rich/Poor, Violence, Youth, Transforming minds, People of color , React, Real/Unreal, Mass media, Stereotypes, Ignorance, Latest fashion, Sex roles, Injustice, Challenge, Entertain, Myths

Argument:
Linda Christensen, in her essay “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”, argues that the cartoons that young children watch are brainwashing them with bad stereotypes. These stereotypes involve economic, racial, and gender roles. In this essay, Christensen is trying to teach us to be aware of and watch for these poor stereotypes in the shows that young children are watching. She believes that the audiences of children are receiving a “secret education” and are being influenced badly by these poor stereotypes. The author wants us to take action teach the new generations of youth to learn the truth about what they are actually watching and to change what they are watching.

Comments:
Christensen mentions some examples of cartoons and how they show poor or wrong stereotypes of different groups. She is also right that people don’t want to think that they are being manipulated, especially with something as simple as a cartoon. The thing that bothered me in her essay is that children seem to be all by themselves, in isolation, watching these cartoons. Unfortunately, that may be true with too many children. But Christensen does not discuss parental and family influences on the child. Hopefully, there are other more positive influences around them so that the children will know that it was just a silly cartoon. Children will always be surrounded by these poor stereotypes, and it is up to the parents to teach their children wrong from right. These “poor” cartoons can be used as a teaching tool, and parents can start a discussion with their child. This will teach even young children to question things and not believe everything that is told them, especially by strangers, including television.
Television is slowly changing. There are still “bad” shows but diversity is being more accepted. I believe “Dora the Explorer” on Nick Jr. is an example of a show with good stereotypes. I don’t know the show that well, but I know Dora is a Hispanic girl who is smart. She is teaching kids another language. Stereotypes can be found not only on television shows, but in books, magazines, and movies. It’s all around us. It is the lessons that their parents teach through everyday life is what will stay with the child.
At the end of each fairy tale, there is a “happily ever after”, yeah right. But it’s nice to relax and dream of nice things. Cartoons and shows are good way to escape and relax, as long as you don’t take everything they say as being so. Cartoons are only amusing entertainment away from the real world, nothing else. That’s just what children need to know. It is not the real world. I am not saying that the shows that children are watching should not be critiqued. They definitely should. But they should be watched by the parents as well and used as a teaching lesson and discussion of what’s right and wrong. Children will always have bad influences around them, whether it is on TV or in the school. They need to learn to be strong individuals, to think with their own heads. When I was a kid, watching theses shows, I did not think of these subjects of race, sexuality, and the rest. I just enjoyed them. I do not think I turned into an awful bigot.
Now as I look back thinking of why I liked these cartoons is very different than this article. When I was a kid I had a different perception than now. I keyed on to colors, singing, and animals. It is really the parents that decide on what for us to watch and how to watch.