Comments on: The Moral of the Story? http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html Philosophy, public affairs and pop culture. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:46:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Earl Green http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-152 Earl Green Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:31:32 +0000 http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-152 Oh good grief. I think my niece got this set of books for Christmas. (We didn't get them for her.) By all accounts, though, at least initially, she was much more fixated on the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack that Uncle Earl sent her. (Hey, I don't have kids of my own, so I have to put some time into molding someone into my own image <em>somewhere</em>. I got her hooked on Q*Bert too, so that's at least two formative influences. I don't think I'll try to lure her down the action figure path though. That path leads to the Dark Side. <em>And</em> her mom would kill me where I stand.) Oh good grief. I think my niece got this set of books for Christmas. (We didn’t get them for her.)

By all accounts, though, at least initially, she was much more fixated on the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack that Uncle Earl sent her. (Hey, I don’t have kids of my own, so I have to put some time into molding someone into my own image somewhere. I got her hooked on Q*Bert too, so that’s at least two formative influences. I don’t think I’ll try to lure her down the action figure path though. That path leads to the Dark Side. And her mom would kill me where I stand.)

]]> By: Dave Thomer http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-149 Dave Thomer Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:40:53 +0000 http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-149 I am smart enough to know not to get into the Little Mermaid argument with you. But however bad you think the movies are - these books are worse. I mean, in the movie, Ariel's curiosity gets rewarded, and you can at least take an actions-speak-louder-than-words message out of the conclusion. Jasmine has an independent streak, plays at least some part in her rescue, and has infinitely more sense than her father. These books are just a guilt trip in a box. But you can imagine how much success I would have saying, "No, Alex, we're taking your princess books away, because Mommy and Daddy don't think they're sufficiently empowering." I am smart enough to know not to get into the Little Mermaid argument with you. But however bad you think the movies are - these books are worse. I mean, in the movie, Ariel’s curiosity gets rewarded, and you can at least take an actions-speak-louder-than-words message out of the conclusion. Jasmine has an independent streak, plays at least some part in her rescue, and has infinitely more sense than her father. These books are just a guilt trip in a box. But you can imagine how much success I would have saying, “No, Alex, we’re taking your princess books away, because Mommy and Daddy don’t think they’re sufficiently empowering.”

]]> By: Pattie Gillett http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-148 Pattie Gillett Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:31:07 +0000 http://www.notnews.org/life/the-moral-of-the-story.html#comment-148 Haven't I been saying this stuff for years? Do you really want to get me started on the whole Ariel (The Little Mermaid) giving up her voice (Hello? Her voice!!!) for a pair of nice looking legs!!! Too late, I'm already annoyed. And the saddest thing - Belle, Jasmine, and Ariel are of the crop of more "modern" princesses, created in the last twenty years or so. ot a good sign. Yes, they are children's books but Disney Princesses, as a result of their utter ubiquitousness, have a lot of power over young minds. Want proof? Spend 30 minutes with two or three young girls under the age of five. You'll see. How to mitigate the impact? Let's see some more marketing of Disney's Mulan character. It's at least a step in a more empowered direction but still high on the self-sacrificing scale. Alas, she doesn't have a tiara or a fluffy gown so Disney's marketing machine doesn't know quite how to sell her. Though she's quite repititive at times(The Map, The Map, The Map), I'm down with Dora. She's taught Alex many Spanish words, she's out exploring the world, solving problems and learning new things. And from what I can tell, Dora's <em>dad </em>does all the cooking. I think Alex can relate. Haven’t I been saying this stuff for years? Do you really want to get me started on the whole Ariel (The Little Mermaid) giving up her voice (Hello? Her voice!!!) for a pair of nice looking legs!!! Too late, I’m already annoyed. And the saddest thing - Belle, Jasmine, and Ariel are of the crop of more “modern” princesses, created in the last twenty years or so. ot a good sign.

Yes, they are children’s books but Disney Princesses, as a result of their utter ubiquitousness, have a lot of power over young minds. Want proof? Spend 30 minutes with two or three young girls under the age of five. You’ll see.

How to mitigate the impact? Let’s see some more marketing of Disney’s Mulan character. It’s at least a step in a more empowered direction but still high on the self-sacrificing scale. Alas, she doesn’t have a tiara or a fluffy gown so Disney’s marketing machine doesn’t know quite how to sell her.

Though she’s quite repititive at times(The Map, The Map, The Map), I’m down with Dora. She’s taught Alex many Spanish words, she’s out exploring the world, solving problems and learning new things. And from what I can tell, Dora’s dad does all the cooking. I think Alex can relate.

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