As children, we are always watching television, movies
or reading books that depicted how society should be, what roles each gender
should play and who was portrayed as “high class” in our culture. Since children
are watching this and seeing the way these books and movies describe how
society should be, they believe what they see. “The secret-education, as
Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman dubs it, delivered by children’s books and movies,
instructs young people to accept the world as it is portrayed in these social
blueprints”. It teaches the children that the things shown in the movies is how
it should be in real life. For example, in most fairytales the point is to find
a prince charming and live happily ever after. “These tales leave young woman
with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from a
wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption- in their case, through
new clothes and a new hairstyle”. This quote
is talking about Cinderella; she goes out searching for her prince charming,
and her fairy god mother helps her become beautiful by dressing her up in new clothes,
hair and makeup. This shows little girls that they should strive to find a boy
in their lives, because that is when they will be happiest.
Not only do the
shows portray this, but media has a large impact on people in our society
today. A teacher was talking to his class about this topic and realized that “no
one wants to admit that they’ve been ‘handled’ by the media. They assure me
that they make their own choices and the media has no power over them – as they
sit with Fubu, Nike, Timberlands or whatever the latest fashion rage might be.”
Many people do not even realize that the media entices them to buy the next
best thing, whether it be the newest iPhone, or the latest clothing trend.
I completely agree with the last line in this post. Just seeing the latest thing on TV, in a movie or in a magazine gives people the idea that they can only be happy if they have it. While some of these products do make life easier, it can't make a person happy, at least not truly and for a long length of time. Most will only make someone happy for the initial stage of ownership, the honeymoon stage if you will. Its part of the reason why so many people are in debt. They buy something out of their means only because they think it will add to their appeal in society.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with the point you made about young girls striving to find the perfect boy in their life. I also mentioned this issue in my blog post.
ReplyDeleteI agree that movies show that little girls need to find a man in their life to be happy, i wrote about that in mine but in reality thats not always the case for some people.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this! Movies and media control us and make us believe that there is a specific standard for life, how we act, what we do and even what we own!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about woman needing men to be happy and successful. I feel like now its almost the opposite and many men need a woman to back him up and make him happy and successful.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote you used about some women who believe finding a man is the completion to happiness. I see this all the time with people I know.
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