Already been exposed by South Park
Posted on 08/25/2009 5:05:14 AM PDT by Kaslin
I'll always remember how magical it was to see Tinker Bell flitter across the TV screen. She would touch the top of Cinderella's Castle with her magic wand and release a million tiny sparkles that cascaded down the television screen and seemingly into my living room.
Since our family normally attended church on Sunday evenings, it was a rare treat to watch the Wonderful World of Disney. On that occasion when I was home and could steal away and turn on the TV, I was instantly transported into a world of fairytales and dreams. Disney was synonymous with innocence, happiness and hope - of Mickey Mouse, virtuous damsels and handsome heroes.
The Disney girls like Snow White and Cinderella were always so innocent, beautiful and kind. They taught little girls that we too should be generous and gracious - that our lives should be marked by goodness and virtue. The Disney message was clear: regardless of your circumstances, you can be lovely and thoughtful, and - if your heart is pure and with a little help from your fairy godmother - you might also find your handsome prince and live happily ever-after.
My, how times have changed.
This is not your mamma's Disney. The lifestyles and fantasies they are selling our young women are anything but wholesome. Disney has deliberately and successfully transformed its brand from one of innocence and family entertainment, to a purveyor of promiscuity.
A recent case in point is Disney star Miley Cyrus. Last week I wrote in this column how, once again, Disney created a young, innocent heroine and then morphed her into a tramp. (Is Miley a tramp in real life? I don't know. But she has agreed to be packaged as one.)
The larger point is that Disney itself has also morphed. They've gone from selling just childhood fantasies into also selling sexual ones.
This new corporate image was missed by many adults, but to my surprise, it seems that some teens recognize -and are beginning to reject - the newer, uglier, Disney.
After Miley's now infamous pole dancing routine before a nation of teeny-boppers, I remarked to my 17-year-old daughter, "Kristin, it looks like Miley has gone trampy on us."
"Of course," she responded, matter-of-factly.
Surprised by her immediate and total agreement, I asked, "Why do you say, 'of course'"?
"Because she's Disney," Kristin said simply.
Wow. I was stunned that my daughter knew what Disney had been up to.
"Who else has Disney turned into a tramp?" I asked.
"Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, the girls from 'High School Musical'- lots of others", she sighed.
The funny thing is that Kristin doesn't even watch the programming. But the characters are such a pervasive part of teen culture, she can't escape them.
So what's a mother to do? For starters, don't blindly trust the brands you have come to rely on.
Today's marketers have become so savvy that they know how to skillfully present themselves to parents in one way, but be something radically different to the teenage population which now wields tremendous purchasing power. While Disney still sells the childhood characters of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to new moms, they are selling sexuality to our pre-teen girls.
When you hear about a new Disney flick, for instance, check out a reliable movie review before checking out the DVD. The best movie reviews I know are at www.PluggedinOnline.com.
And, don't let your children become enamored by any media star. Teach them that pop stars are packaged products subject to manipulation by crass marketers. Remind them that young pop icons and their agents are always looking for the next role that will maintain their super star status, and that they are likely to make mistakes along the way.
You can take heart that Tinker Bell and Cinderella will never change - it's too bad I can't say the same for Disney or their modern heroines.
Former Disneyland employees have a name for the place: Mouseschwitz. Nuff said.
Good article. And may I add that the whole Disney enterprise is oriented towards one thing: making money. Their crowded, overpriced, gay-friendly theme parks are designed to separate tourists from as much of their money as possible. Disney relies on its old image as a wholesome, family friendly business but it is really no such thing.
Already been exposed by South Park
“Because she’s Disney,” Kristin said simply.
I entirely agree that there is a problem with Disney these days, but the young women listed did not become “trampy” because of Disney. They apparently became “trampy” because Hollywood in general, their own poorly led families and their desire to “break out” of the Disney goody-goody stereotype they felt smoothered by.
The simple fact is that many of our young “empowered” women in this culture are tramps in training.
Walt must be spinning in his grave......................
I sold the last of my Disney stock two weeks ago.
Disney owns ABC, if you really want to see how bad they’ve fallen just watch the ABC Family Channel for a while.
I would never let my kids watch most of the shows on that station, and they push how family oriented it is.
I will have to disagree with you here. Disney are the ones having these young people act like tramps and, in many cases, actually making them into tramps. Hollywood is guilty also but Disney must take the blame for their own child "stars".
When Walt was alive the Disney children, such as the original Mouseketeers, had to adhere to a strict code and they all turned out the better for it. Have you ever seen Annette Funicello whoring around, for instance? Not to mention the myriad others that came up under Walt's guidance. The decline of Disney started almost as soon as Walt died at the young age of 58 and the country has been the poorer for it.
Are y'all listening, Gibbs Goebbels?
(& Hollyweird, APoop/NYT/WaPoop/ABCNNBcBS/pBS/FauxNcBc)
"Of all the arts, the cinema is the most important." .....Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Then they both were made to slave out money to support the gays and lezbos living on the gubmint dole citing by the 'diversity' rulers of the company that it was all in the family's best interests. Family fun, ya know....
Either way it's reassuring.
The tip off is their slogan: "ABC Family Channel, a different kind of family."
It's 86'd at our house, too.
What is Hillary Duff up to these days? She's a former disneyite who has apparently avoided the sleaze factor...or is at least cruising under the radar.
You wrote:
“Disney are the ones having these young people act like tramps and, in many cases, actually making them into tramps.”
Okay, but how exactly? Where’s the cause and effect?
“Have you ever seen Annette Funicello whoring around, for instance?”
No, but then again who - in any role in life - acted that way in the 1950s and 1960s when they were only teenagers and twenty-somethings? Today our whole culture is messed up.
“The decline of Disney started almost as soon as Walt died at the young age of 58 and the country has been the poorer for it.”
I agree with you entirely on that point.
That guy has 11 million views.
Even Tinkerbelle looks more and more like Barbara Eden, but that’s not so bad, is it?
I was never really attracted to Tinkerbelle, but that’s just me.
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