Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us, Linda Christensen

1. "Our society's culture industry colonizes their minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." (Christensen p. 126)

I chose this quote because it gives a topic to what the author is talking about. She tells it how it is to her. Christensen says that the movies, cartoons, and books show kids how perfect life is or how life can become perfect. These media items teach children unrealistic things that they see and hear and then think is true. Once they see these films and cartoons they live their lives and compare them to their favorite cartoons and films.

2. "First, I want students to critique portrayals of hierarchy and inequality in children's movies and cartoons. Then I want to enlist them to imagine a better world, characterized by relationships of respect and equality." (Cristensen p. 127)

This quote shows the author's purpose for her writing. She tells her students to write about the cartoons and then think about the world differently then the cartoon's world. Christensen wants the children to see the flaws of the cartoons and then understand what the reality of the situation is. She calls this "unlearning the myths." Personally, I like her approach but her constant analysis a little too much for me.

3. "But what am I teaching them if the lesson ends there? That it's enough to be critical without taking action? ... I want to develop their critical consciousness, but I also hope to move them to action." (Christensen p. 134)

This quote is the "now what" of the article. It explains that it is not enough to say something is wrong with these cartoons and that action must be taken in order to make a difference. Christensen has her students take action and make others aware of these cartoons and media items.

This article was very interesting to me and I found it very easy to read. It was engaging because it had to do with cartoons and movies that I grew up watching. But to listen to the criticism of the films and cartoons was difficult. As a child I never really thought of the prejudices in these films. But also I can see how they can affect a child negatively for the future and giving them wrong outlooks on life. Looking back on some of the films and cartoons, I do see some of the negatives of them and how offensive some of them are. People in the article take their opinions to the extreme a little assuming that all children are going to be negatively affected. In the end, this piece made me think of where children are getting their information and influence. Parents influence is becoming less and less and the media is becoming more and more powerful.