Marginalized cultures want nothing more than to be respected and understood. Pro-social programming is a relatively painless way for the masses to ingest and digest the differences of other cultures. I believe that pro-social programming is important and should be used by those with a straight moral compass. In instances like "sesame street" they are using it to impact children in a positive way by teaching them how to count, read, and treat others with kindness. However there can be programming such as "Lil Bill" that some how use the pro-social teaching method to promote racial differences and internalizing feelings of inadequacy in young children of color. Dr.Banjo's story of the young boy describing what he learned from "Lil Bill" really stuck with me.
I also think pro-social video games could be the new wave of the future. If we can use video games to encourage children's participation and help them learn values in the mean time it could prove to be beneficial. The dilemma I see is one of values and control. If we are able to teach children how to spell from TV and video games what to say we can't also teach them alternative axiological, epistemological, or ontological viewpoints. The FCC ruling to demand 3 hours of educational television does not encroach on the 1st amendment because it if really just the government protecting the people from themselves.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Lion Klan?! or just another Lyin' Tail
As a child I had an obsession with The Lion King and performed a gymnastics routine to “I just can’t wait to be king”. I thought I loved the film for its catchy lyrics and coming of age tale, was I wrong? The study done by Rockler suggests that I enjoy the film because I identify with the “white” lions. So the question I pose is do I enjoy the tale because it supports my race or because of its whimsical nature?
Rockler posits that the animals of the lion king represent a segregated kingdom. As a child I couldn’t distinguish any racial difference in the voices I merely thought of them as suiting the character they played. Race put aside as a female I could have felt injustice because it was about the lion “king” but it is just a natural fact that in the animal kingdom the male lions rule the pride Similar to a participant in the study I feel as though I don’t see these stereotypes because I don’t look for them, or perhaps because my schema hasn’t been introduced to those ideas yet.
I’m confident that my childhood love came not from the racist impact on my schema but rather the fantasy that real lions could dance and sing.
Rockler posits that the animals of the lion king represent a segregated kingdom. As a child I couldn’t distinguish any racial difference in the voices I merely thought of them as suiting the character they played. Race put aside as a female I could have felt injustice because it was about the lion “king” but it is just a natural fact that in the animal kingdom the male lions rule the pride Similar to a participant in the study I feel as though I don’t see these stereotypes because I don’t look for them, or perhaps because my schema hasn’t been introduced to those ideas yet.
I’m confident that my childhood love came not from the racist impact on my schema but rather the fantasy that real lions could dance and sing.
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