Rich Trenholm
Rich Trenholm writes about digital cameras and other technology, except when he's writing about films, music and comics. He does not drink tea and never has.
Wednesday 10 December 2008, 4:41pm
No Mouse in this house: why my kids won't be watching Disney films
So Disney is releasing the old classics on Blu-ray. Hurray! Now it's time to watch such timeless children's films as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and The Lion King in peerlessly detailed high definition. A new generation can be enchanted by these wonderful tales...
Not in my house they won't. My future kids can ride the Catbus, and enjoy such gems as My Neighbor Totoro and other works from the likes of Studio Ghibli. But the Trenholm juniors aren't watching Disney films and that's the end of it.
I don't like the messages they send. Every Disney film begins with a young character -- Belle, Cinderella, Simba, Mulan and so on -- who is unhappy with their lives and wishes to escape the destiny prescribed by their parents. Often that involves an unwanted marriage or the acceptance of familial duty. Princess, washerwoman or lion briefly escapes the family -- but with disastrous consequences. The happy ending is a heterosexual relationship and the acceptance that hey! the parents were right all along!
Kids! Know your place, don't take drugs, and you'll get yourself a boyfriend! Now go pump out some rugrats!
Cuddly wish-fulfilment fantasy for the child in everyone? No. It's brainwashing of our kids -- particularly our little girls -- to maintain the patriarchal hegemonic status quo. "Oh come on, it's a kid's film, you're overthinking it!" you cry. But that's exactly what they want you to say! Who's they? Why, the Man, of course!
If we're going to be bombarding our kids with reinforcing messages, we need to think about those messages more, not less. Now, don't get me started on Bratz...
Comments on this post
Are you serious?? Take a look at the world around you, I think there's far more things to worry about where kids are concerned than watching a Disney flick. Talk about a first world problem!
Posted by Fidel Castro on Wed 10 December, 2008 11:10 PM
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you sound like a German statesman describing the treaty of Versailles - "to maintain the patriarchal hegemonic status quo" . Relax Rich, its only a cartoon and its not like its subliminally advocating violence. These movies enable people to empathise with others which is a good thing as it will eventually result in humanity realising their full potential and finding their utopia. In fact, Disney is good for humanity as it actually encourages people to think for themselves eg Cinderella shows that we must not willingly give in to an oppressive regime!
Posted by aero101 on Wed 10 December, 2008 11:38 PM
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Oh im sorry, is it so wrong to let your kids want to escape from the real world every once in a while? You're not very specific, but films like The Jungle Book are absolute classics. And the Pixar collection are something that every child must see. But hey, its not my kid...
Posted by Adam on Thu 11 December, 2008 8:39 AM
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I boycott Disney for no other reason than it's an extension of Steve Jobs.
Posted by Ian Morris on Thu 11 December, 2008 9:51 AM
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"there's far more things to worry about where kids are concerned than watching a Disney flick". Well obviously, but a column about me teaching my kids not to talk to strangers wouldn't be very interesting, would it?
Posted by Richard Trenholm on Thu 11 December, 2008 10:15 AM
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"relax Rich, it's only a cartoon" Bingo! That's the phrase that pays. This is exactly what I'm talking about: so because something is 'for kids' that we should just turn a blind eye to the messages involved? Quite the opposite.
Posted by Richard Trenholm on Thu 11 December, 2008 10:15 AM
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I'm totally with you on this one. Plus add to that all the racist / nazi polemics about Disney and some of his characters, and you get a full picture. No mouse in my house either.
Posted by Guillaume on Thu 11 December, 2008 6:37 PM
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"so because something is 'for kids' that we should just turn a blind eye to the messages involved?" No, its because it doesn't even send out a bad message eg walle or finding nemo can hardly be said to have a negative effect on young people!
Posted by aero101 on Thu 11 December, 2008 11:16 PM
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Left-wing control freaks banning posts on their website? There's a first. I stand by my original censored post - this guy is a sanctimonious nutter who is like a parody of left-wing extremists. Shame on the replies trying to be "trendy" by agreeing with this deranged far-left lunatic. Same old "condemn normal things as evil" marxist routine.
Posted by The Captain on Tue 16 December, 2008 7:52 PM
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Aye aye Captain. We don't censor posts unless you said a bad word. Anyway, the gist of my point is questioning what is 'normal', who decides what's 'normal', and is it healthy to continually reinforce to our kids what is supposedly 'normal'. Finally, do you know why I only drink herbal tea? Because all proper tea is theft (ithankyew)
Posted by Richard Trenholm on Thu 18 December, 2008 1:11 PM
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What ho. Good post Rich and something to think about. Anything that promotes discussion is good. Now that you mention it they are a bit subliminal are they not. Mind you, think about it, the message might be aimed at getting parents to buy this wholesome propaganda...
Posted by Andy on Sat 20 December, 2008 2:29 AM
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Your kids are gonna have a free mind. eh? oh yeah, YOUR version of free. Try watching Goofy with your kids and see if they care about anything other than fun. I don't pity you because you will reap what you sow, your kids are a different matter. Let's hope you can boast about them in twenty years time, but then, if they don't agree with your thought processes then some subversive toon must have got to them I suppose. Your form of brain washing is far worse than donald ducks. Mind you, if you have been watching these toons, maybe you got a point, if this what they turn you into....
Posted by Ammok on Thu 1 January, 2009 4:53 PM
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Well, I have very good memories of disney movies from my youth, but I must agree that the story is kind of allways the same you're right, there is a good guy or girl, a bad guy or girl, and there is a hero. I love studio ghibly movies too, and I really enjoy them for their depth that no disney can achieve ever. After bringing them on bluray format is stricly a money make move, but hey that's what they want no?
Posted by Rafael on Thu 8 January, 2009 8:22 AM
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"Every Disney film begins with a young character " EVERY DISNEY FILM? really? hmmm one of the most pointless articles ive read here- non-technical, innaccurate and embarassingly alarmist...are you a daily mail reader by any chance?
Posted by Anonymous on Thu 8 January, 2009 1:00 PM
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Well, I suppose that the Disney brainwashing has not worked that well over the years if one considers how society has evolved over the years. Your problem is that you mix up normal for natural. You come up with the usual bull about "what is normal" and the usual accompanying cliches, but it just shows that you cannot accept other people's view of normality when it is different from yours. So your kids are made to pay for it. Well done. Personally, I think that it is better to have kids exposed to all sorts of normalities, and hopefully they will choose what they like. Like being able to watch Disney, as well as Totoro. Hopefully your kids will be more tolerant and confident in themselves than you turn out to be.
Posted by Monoi on Mon 12 January, 2009 3:44 PM
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Rich what is up with you? We live in a world were kids are watching alot worse things than disney films they are charming films and the kids love them and some adults to lol I think disney are great and think you are going over the top with this one mate
Posted by Shaun Johnston on Thu 15 January, 2009 2:39 PM
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nice blatant flash of the "look at me - I know studio Gibli"-card!
Posted by Anonymous on Fri 20 February, 2009 9:58 AM
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My kids love any animated movie, disney or no disney. They love Toy Story, The Incredibles and Finding Nemo. I haven't introduced them to disney cartoons just yet. I think they're great as well! However, what I'm not going to do is buy new blu-ray versions of what I've seen ten thousand times on DVD.
Posted by Anonymous on Tue 4 August, 2009 11:59 AM
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