Overfishing In Disney's The Little Mermaid

“…[S]elf-image in children is shaped in some degree by exposure to images found in written texts, illustrations, and films” as Hurley (221) makes clear. She explains further, that children need to identify with the character they see to built up a positive self-conception (221). Fact is, that most of the Disney princesses have white skin. For dark-skinned girls it is almost impossible to identify with these characters. Nevertheless, “in a global array of children 's merchandise and play things, the Disney Princess franchise stands out” (Wohlwend 57).

Alike other little girls, I grow up with Disney. The image of the soft Mickey toy which my parents bought me when I was three still vividly embeds in my membrane. Undeniably, Disney has a great impact on people born in the late 90s and the millennials in Vietnam. Additionally, Disney has a big influence on mass media, and mass media contributes in the development of children’s mindset; therefore, to an extent, Disney still has its dark sides that might leave negative effects on children. In my early years, Disney was my only media source.

Have you ever wondered how things that you experienced as a child shape the person you are today? Think back to the days you watched classic fairy tale movies such as Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. Have you noticed yourself or others following the fairy tale stereotype of associating fairy tales with fluffy dresses and high heels? As a child, you may have thought nothing of the imaginary stories and plots of such tales. As you read, reflect upon the way fairy tales made you feel and act as a child.

Thus, interest in children 's books was growing and fairytales turned into children tales which were carrying moral concern. Along with the 20th century, Walt Disney has changed the concepts of its tales. They were no longer carrying any social message and it put children in a total dream world. At first sight, many Disney tales look innocent but they fundamentally have strong images hidden. For example, Disney draws a female figure that is dependent, which unknowingly cause gender stereotype in society.

How many of you watched at least 2 disney movies in your life? Definetely all of you. Disney movies are very popular worldwide and we all have sung along to our favorite songs, and they taught us how important family is and what true love is. However, these movies have been negatively influencing young innocent minds. Think about the movie “Tangled” which presents a Princess Rapunzel, who doesn 't dare leave her tower until a handsome man arrives to protect her and guide her to the lights she has been always dreaming about.

Media has the capacity to capture an audience’s attention and influence someone’s thoughts and ideas. Due to their growing and innocent minds, media can be very influential to children, in some cases it can stick with them as they grow into adults. Recently, this idea has been more concerning because as the world and society changes, the messages these movies are portraying have not. Through their films, Disney uses gender to their advantage, to portray a false sense of what it means to be a man or woman. More so, in portraying princess characters in their films, Disney is affecting how young girls feel about themselves and how their life is going.

From the bright colorful outfits to the amazing characters, it’s no surprise that western culture loves Disney movies. Children adore them, and parents love it because of the “innocence” of what these movies hold. However, behind the ruffled dresses and the songs that have become iconic in today’s day and age, lies a darker secret. The movies that Disney has produced, were once stories that originated from around the world, some countries include, France, Denmark, Italy, and some parts of Asia. These stories can be far from the innocent cartoon versions that audiences are used to, most stories have sinister origins, being based on legends and historical events that are, to gruesome and go into detail about unforgivable acts.

Disney movies not only pack a lot of fun and entertainment for kids as well as adults, but also contain valuable life lessons. It is easy for children to get caught up in all the magic, mystery and catchy songs of the movies, but beneath it all are stories that even adults can take to heart. Take a look at some of the important life lessons that are taught by the characters in our favorite Disney movies. 1 Always Believe in Yourself – Aladdin Although seen as a riff-raff and street rat by others Aladdin knows that if people look closer they would find out that there is so much more to him than just being a poor boy. This classic tale of a street-urchin who falls in love with a princess teaches us that we don’t have to pretend to be someone we are not in order to win the love of someone else.

This debuted in 1992, is a popular nighttime multimedia show on the Rivers of America. The star Mickey Mouse calls up the characters and spirit of Disney cartoons that the people love and uses the imagination power to defeat evil villains who try to turn his dream into a nightmare. So the presentation is made at the Laffite's Tavern end of Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. It shows the Rivers of America imagery as integral with the stage. Frontierland and New Orleans Square is used as the spectator arena.

Even though they affect little girl’s view of physical beauty, idealize a female’s search for her other half and promote passive behavior. They do encourage these same girls to believe and hope in a better life. The positive energy emitted from its characters is what makes these Disney movies so successful, despite all of its imperfections. According to Professor Sara Coyne, who researched whether Disney princesses have an influence on little girls, one of the solutions is to only allow girls to watch Disney princess shows in moderation.4 This means that a young girl could watch an average of one Disney princess movie per week. She also mentions how parents should discuss the contents with their daughters to mediate the negative effects of Disney