Unlearning the Myths - Easier Said Than Done

Quotes:

In the article, "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us", Linda Christensen argues that the way children are influenced by media needs to change drastically. Cartoons, TV shows, and movies all do a great job in portraying the average human as beautiful and flawless, and, in most cases, the "bad guys" of the stories are usually much less appealing to the eye. Christensen gives many examples of fairy tales that do just that, such as Cinderella: the ugly stepsisters verses the beautiful Cinderella and the handsome prince, Snow White verses the evil Queen, and The Little Mermaid (and gorgeous Prince Eric) verses Ursula. Fairy tales are brought into children's lives at a very young age and these children are learning about all of these biases just by watching a fun, colorful, motion picture.
The truth is, most kids don't even notice it's happening:

"Many students don't want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising. No one wants to admit that they've been 'handled' by the media. They assure me that they make their own choices and the media has no power over them - as they sit with Fubu, Nike, Timberlands, or whatever the latest fashion rage might be."

We, as children, adolescents, AND adults, don't realize how materialistic we really are. And the truth is, we're all the same! Of course, some people might always have more expensive brands and the most recent electronics or styles, but, if we all could, everyone else would as well. We have been brought up in a world that thinks 'image is everything', and it really is. Not that I agree with it, but everyone and everything revolves around one's image and appearance.

The next important thing on the list, is one's goals. People's social class and position in the world - what they do, who they are married to and how much money they have. The wealthier you are, the more important you seem to get. And people in the upper class are encouraged to marry within their class as well. The respect you receive from society dwells a lot on your marital status and who you're husband or wife is:

"Like the original tale, Cindy Ellie's main goal in life is not working to end the plight of the homeless or teaching kids to read. Her goal, like Cinderella's, is to get her man. Both young women are transformed and made beautiful through new clothes, new jewels, new hairstyles...Both of the Cinderella's compete for their men against their sisters...They 'win' because of their beauty and their fashionable attire. Both of these tales leave young women with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption - in their case, through new clothes and new hairstyles."


As soon as young girls turn the age of about thirteen, the most important thing in the world to them is having a boyfriend, or, a "boyfriend." It might not even matter who the boy is, as long as they have someone to call theirs, they're satisfied. This definitely does come from the media. Girls, young women, feel the need to be dependent on other people, mainly men, and they hate the idea of being single. It makes them feel unimportant, unwanted, and "unbeautiful."

 

"I'm single because no one wants to be with me. I'm not good enough for anyone, not pretty enough." How many times have you heard that one? I know I've lost track.
The fact that, in the media, we see all of these beautiful, flawless people get everything they could possibly want, does not help that matter, either. Most films include these characters who can't quite get what they want or where they want be, so they change something about themselves, and in the end, they get it. That is basically the basis of most Hollywood movies, it always has been. Pretty much saying "Hey, man! Still not getting that girl, huh? Try going to the gym, work out a bit, cut your hair, make more money, then you'll have a chance," or "Hey, girl! You actually want to 'fit in' in society? Okay well, try lowering your calorie intake to about 20 a day, dye your hair, glob on some makeup, spend your entire paycheck on designer shoes and handbags every week, then you'll be set." I hate to say it, but that is every one's mind set.

"As Tinker Bell inspects her tiny body in a mirror only to find that her minute hips are simply too huge, she shows us how to turn the mirror into an enemy...and this scenario is repeated in girls' locker rooms all over the world."

Christensen quotes Catkin when she says that people hate themselves if they don't look as exquisite as Cinderella or Prince Charming. They refuse to be happy until they have the perfect body along with all their desired designer products.
"We don't call it deception, we call it good taste. And soon it feels awkward going to the mailbox without makeup."
 That line is genius, and most importantly, very true. We have been living in this state of mind our entire lives. It is brought upon us not only through our media, but also by our parents and families from what they learned from the media of their times as well. It's pretty scary to say that no one is safe from this lifestyle; it is all around us.
The sad part is, the goal for everyone is basically to become perfect. To look perfect, act perfect, have perfect materials, live a perfect life with the perfect amount of wealth in our perfect houses, with our perfect husbands and wives and perfect children. And this is impossible. Christensen knows that as well, and she feels, as do I, that the media in this world needs to slowly take a turn and change the way it is interpreting everyday people. Because the people they are creating, are not real, inhuman, and for us to feel the need to be like these fake characters should not be our lifelong goal.

I found this amazing blog that talks about princess stereotypes. I was so excited while reading it because it fits extremely well with this topic.

In class, I plan to discuss how our media is the main cause for eating disorders, surgical procedures, many reality shows, and suicides. "Why can't I look like that?" - the famous question inside everyone's mind.