Talking Points #1

Author: Linda Christensen

Title: Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us

Some things I understand: This article by Christensen goes over the "myths" in our society that make us work the way that we do. I think that the media playes a huge role in how people live there lives. A quote that stuck out right away was by one of Christensen's students, Omar, was "When we read children's books, we aren't just reading cute little stories, we are discovering the tools with which a young society is manipulated." What Omar is expressing is that when reading stories like cinderella, you often think nothing off it but as a childrens book, but in turn, every girl wants to find her prince and live happily ever after because that is what society and the media a constantly pushing into each and everyone brain every day! If you think about it from the moment you wake up, until the moment you go to bed, the media is everywhere. you wake up to an alarm clock with the radio blaring another annoying commercial about a new weightloss pill. then you go to the bathroom, pick up the toothpast, which is of course a name brand like crest or colgate, because the media has made it known that this is what we should use, when im sure that the CVS brand is the same thing in a different bottle. billboards, tv commericails, magazine ads, songs, shows, clothing. . . everything that you see, listen to, hear, or touch from the moment you wake up till the moment that you close your eyes to go to bed has shaped your schema and how you think about the world. (that was a bit sidetracked, but this article made me think of how everything that i do forms the way that i think about the world and how to live my life) The article also went into talking about cartoons and how they are stereotypical for men and women's roles. Race in cartoons was also an issue addressed, Black Cinderella? How women who arent white feel ugly becuase the lead of every princess in movies is usually white.

Some things i don't understand:
- Now there have been cartoon movies where they are trying to make the leading lady not strictly caucasian like mulan and even aladin, so i think the article can address those points.
- Is there a man's deception too? men are made to look strong and built, it seems as though they are focusing on women mostly in the article.

Connections:
-This can be related to how we are going over our 3 assumption in class and how the media effects the way in which everyone thinks and molds us into what we are today.

Questions/ Comments/ Points to Share in Class:
-I feel as though the way the media depicts women has negetvley affected how girls grow up more so now with more of a media outreach through youtube and facebook. There is so many ways to be conected to society that girls as young as 8 and 9 are wearing make-up and dressing like minny adults.

"When I was 13..."

When I was 13 years old, i was in the 8th grade. I played field hockey and loved it! I was really into new hip clothes like bell bottoms and of course they had to be the brand that everyone was wearing! These pants were not just a little flared at the bottom, but they were like boats i swear! Looking back at pictures makes me laugh! (really hard!) I was one of those teenagers that had a really hard time with her locker. I didnt quite get the hang of it. It took me a while!

I really enjoyed middle school though, i had some great friends and in fact still talk to some of them to this day! I enjoyed school for the most part however hated the bus. we used to call it the "loser cruiser."

There are a lot of memories that i experienced while being 13, dancing at school dances with boys, you only danced to slow songs as your arms were strait across and teachers were glaring the whole time, "no touching!"

I think back and laugh, however, i really did have a pretty good time while being 13!