Blog Post due Tuesday 11:59PM or in class on Wednesday at 9:05AM

Homework due Tuesday Nov 30 11:59PM:

Read Barbara Ehrenreich's “Maid to Order: The Politics of Other Women's Work” 479-495 and compose a blog response based on ONE of the following prompts:

1. Consider what audience this piece was written for. What assumptions does Ehrenreich make about this audience?

2. Consider Ehrenreich's ethos. What is the central argument of this piece? In what ways does her personal experience build her case?

3. Ehrenreich incorporates a range of research and statistics into her essay. Which statistical examples surprised you? Which are most persuasive? Least persuasive? Why?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Children's Culture and Disney's Animated Films

This essay by Giroux was very interesting, but I find some of his claims hard to believe. I agree with the fact the Disney trademarks innocence by calling themselves the "magic kingdom" and "the happiest place on earth". The rest of his arguments seem kind of pointless. As a kid, I never noticed any sex or race discrimination. I think I have probably watched all the movies he talked about at least 3 times. They have not altered my views at all. The Disney movies a purely made for the entertainment of children and that's exactly what children see them as. Maybe there are hidden messages in the movies, but only adults will be able to notice them.
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2 comments:

  1. KristineZOctober 20, 2010 at 9:36 AM

    It's true, Disney movies were only meant to entertain. Little kids will never understand the issues that go along with racism, sexism and corruption because they don't know what that means. I, as a 17 year old, still watch Disney movies on occasion, but I have never once thought that The Lion King was racist. Disney may be taking over the country with over-advertising Disney, but that is because America is letting it happen. Mostly because there is nothing wrong with Disney spreading joy all over the country.

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  2. Katie SillmonOctober 20, 2010 at 9:37 AM

    I definitely agree that kids do not knowingly pick up on the sexism and racism Giroux says are hidden in the Disney films. While children may subconsciously pick up on a some of them, I think children who watch Disney films are watching the movie more for the happy ending and not analyzing them such as Giroux did. I never noticed any sort of sexism or racism, and I watched the Disney movies when I was young, when my two brothers and then two sisters were born. I also think Giroux becomes repetitious in argument, just bring in the same examples, The Lion King, Beauty and The Beast, over and over. As Cameron said, I think this makes his claims hard to believe.

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