"Unpacking the Myths that Bind Us" by Christensen

Linda Christensen makes a bold statement when in her third paragraph she says, "Our society's culture industry colonizes their [students] minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." She seems almost aggrivated throughout her piece with the lack of understanding that accompanies the exposure of young children to material that can direct their minds, minds "unprotected by intellectual armor", to think and feel a certain way without even being cognizant of it. She uses the examples of Disney, Mattel and Nike as industry moguls that sell an image and are leaders in this underhanded alteration of thinking. So she asked her students to question them. She asked them to analyze cartoons and films, to ask a myriad of questions including who plays what kind of character and what motivates the character, how are different races portrayed, etc. Once her students established what stereotypes and ideals are present for themselves, they then all act as a vehicle for change. Changing this damaging stereotypes is the main point of such exercizes. Sharing a deeper understanding for media pieces, and then sharing that understanding with others, is what Christensen shows is the path to the dissolution of the stereotypes that have haunted our society for decades. While I personally agree with Christensen on multiple points, the one thing I'm afraid I didn't quite follow was the lack of any positive imagery present in the media at all. While I'm aware that the main point of her piece was to point out the painful slyness of negative influences, I feel that any attempt at a positive image shouldn't simply be overlooked. Any media piece, whether it be literature, film, or TV, is going to be fraught with unconcious stereotyping. It's unfortunately unavoidable. By saying that a tall, thin, white woman is an unfair portrayal in the media, isn't that the same discrimination we're trying to avoid? On the other hand, does that make that one kind of woman the only woman that should be seen? Not that I'm saying some actual variety and realism in the portrayal of all men and women as individuals with complex personalities and bodies of more than one twiggy shape wouldn't be nice, I just worry that sanitizing such things completely would be an impossible feat. I honestly feel that understanding and recognizing these stereotypes is more important than going on a mission to eradicate them. I feel that the personal development and following of these stereotypes once absorbed is what must be checked. For example, my grandmother grew up in a time where there were women's roles and men's roles. Women cleaned, cooked, stood meekly to one side, and bore and raised children. Men provided, worked with their hands, and bought their wives all the latest cleaning supplies. These ideas, that she learned as a child, she placed upon her children, and continues to do so to this day. Her one daughter was supposed to become a secretary, marry a doctor, quit her job, pop out some kids and clean all day. Not that that is a wrong way to live, but to her, that's the only way a woman can live. It's her duty. I've been exposed to that all of my life, but it is my personal choice to question such restrictions as those. The more questions people ask, the less of an impact the stereotypes within the environment around them have.