Writing 101: Decoding Disney
I can’t believe it! The semester is almost over and I have nearly completed my Writing 101 class!
Now that the initial disbelief of actually getting the most sought after Writing 101 class is over, I am able to reflect back on the ways in which this class has benefited me. Through taking this course, probably the most valuable skill that I have worked on is searching for a deeper meaning in seemingly everyday things. Although it is easy to look at things at face-value, doing so is counterproductive. When you don’t look at/analyze things for what they truly are, you miss out on a learning opportunity and a way to better understand the way our society works. Specifically, Disney is not the innocent and sweet company that the majority of people think that it is. It is a company that profits off of its image, and protects that image at all costs. Since people think of it as a company that could do no wrong, the messages depicted in its movies often gets slipped under the radar of viewers. And theres quite a bit that gets overlooked.
In the past, Disney has has many problems in its depictions of characters. For many of these issues, it only becomes an issue once you look at trends throughout all Disney movies. As we have seen in class, issues relating to race, queer characters, and gender are all present when analyzing the villainy depicted in Disney films. Taking the time to address these issues and regard them for what they are can be very useful. Over time, Disney has realized some of these faults and has started to create movies that explore topics that are much more complex than what was seen in the past. Although there is even criticism that arises from these movies, I definitely believe that they have become much more aware of how their movies affect the public.
Does analyzing movies sometimes go too far?
It is sometimes very easy to cross the line from regarding Disney movies as simply for children/families to regarding them as clear-cut political messages. One wrong depiction of a character can cause a ton of outrage and anger. For me, I believe that it isn't very effective to look at a single character/movie and point out the problems associated with it. After all, it is just a children's movie and just because one character depicts a certain stereotype, doesn't mean this reflects Disney’s views. The problem comes when you see the same issue throughout a number of their movies, as we have seen in this class.
Final thoughts
Though it has been quite a lot of work to keep up with throughout the semester, I feel like in the end, it has paid off. In addition to building on critical-thinking skills, we have taken time to reflect on the way in which the public gets its information has changed, and seen the value in that popular sources available today. Also, the variety of readings that we have had throughout the semester has made me more comfortable with reading scholarly sources.