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Started By
Message
Are Kids Movies Contributing to the Cult of Self-Esteem?
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:04 pm
LINK
quote:
The story echoes across many kids' movies today, like this summer's "Turbo" and "Planes." Both feature a protagonist who defies the odds and achieves the impossible -- what "Atlantic" writer Luke Epplin calls "the magic feather syndrome," a reference to the 1941 animated classic "Dumbo."
In a thought-provoking piece, Epplin points out that this plot formula overlaps with the "cult of self-esteem," which promotes the idea that everybody is special and should feel good about themselves.
"The restless protagonists of these films never have to wake up to the reality that crop dusters simply can't fly faster than sleek racing aircraft," he writes. "Instead, it's the naysaying authority figures who need to be enlightened about the importance of never giving up on your dreams, no matter how irrational, improbable, or disruptive to the larger community
This post was edited on 8/17/13 at 12:05 pm
9
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:08 pm to JabarkusRussell
that's really overanalyzing a children's movie IMO.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:17 pm to drexyl
To be fair, my generation was raised on stuff like this that told us we are all special and look how that has turned out.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:20 pm to JabarkusRussell
This is the most cynical fricking thing I've ever read
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:23 pm to JabarkusRussell
I'd rather a generation of kids who have dreams than those that those who have already packed it in.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:44 pm to drexyl
quote:
that's really overanalyzing a children's movie IMO.
Kind of a bullshite excuse to not analyze a movie. Dreamworks in particular is notorious for doing this trope. In the vast majority of their films, this is the literal plat: social outcast is shunned by the community as a whole for being different. Suddenly there is a major conflict that everyone else fails to solve, and through him being different, he is able to save the day and win respect of the community. It's getting nauseating to be honest. Monsters U was a nice change from this since in the end it does say that no matter how much you try and study, some people are not capable of doing things they set their mind to.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:48 pm to OMLandshark
Well that's better than telling kids they will never amount yo anything
Posted on 8/17/13 at 12:51 pm to laxer17
quote:
Well that's better than telling kids they will never amount yo anything
You can give kids some other method. As I said, Monsters U turned that trope on its head, and in the end no matter how hard Mike tried, he wasn't scary and couldn't cut it in his dream profession. How about a message to tell kids to be more resourceful and open minded with their destiny. Or maybe something even as dark as Pinnochio.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 1:17 pm to JabarkusRussell
I agree that sometimes there is more benefit in hard truths than unrealistic optimism. However, the movies are the place for fun and dreams. If you want to "fix the cult of self-esteem" then the theatre is just about the last place to start.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 1:39 pm to JabarkusRussell
quote:
Cult of Self-Esteem
what. the. frick.
some of you are real wackos
Posted on 8/17/13 at 1:49 pm to Draconian Sanctions
That was the article title. I didn't create the phrase.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:08 pm to laxer17
quote:
Well that's better than telling kids they will never amount yo anything
Right, but both methods are counter productive.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:13 pm to drexyl
quote:
that's really overanalyzing a children's movie IMO.
Na, culture is a crazy thing. Look at the development of parenting from generation to generation. The Greatest Generation bred the Boomer generation who bred Gen X/Helicopter Parenting, who are know raising incredibly self centered kids.
Is ALL of that due to movies? Of course not, but those statemnets ripple throughout cultural psyche.
Us Gen Yer's are just weird.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:13 pm to Draconian Sanctions
You're living proof of it.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:20 pm to Freauxzen
I was watching The Russkies and the kids called each other homos. Can't say that anymore. Pussification of America.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:39 pm to Patrick O Rly
Who downvoted me? I'll fight you. I'm not some gen Y bitch. I have a Godsmack tattoo.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:45 pm to Patrick O Rly
I'd rather we tell kids to be themselves than have them assimilate to some uniform standard and become virtual clones. Individuality in the citizenry is among the most important aspects of a free society.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 2:50 pm to JabarkusRussell
The full article that they link to has a lot of good info from the Charlie Brown special:
quote:
But that's not what happens. Instead, Charlie Brown survives to the final round (his words include unconfident, disastrous, and incompetent), and then carelessly misspells the word "beagle" while his dog Snoopy points at himself from the front row. Afterward, Charlie Brown, Linus, and Snoopy depart the theater in silence. When they're dropped off at the bus station that night, the streets are empty. "I guess nobody realized that we were returning," Linus remarks. The movie then spends an excruciating amount of time on Charlie Brown wordlessly unpacking, changing into his pajamas, and slipping beneath the covers, his eyes glazed with utter defeat.
When Charlie Brown doesn't show up for school that next day, Linus stops by his house. Still in bed with the shades pulled down, Charlie Brown tells Linus that he's never going to attempt anything again. Rather than trying again to build up Charlie Brown's self-esteem, Linus waxes philosophical: "Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard studying for the spelling bee, and I suppose you feel you let everyone down and you made a fool out of yourself and everything. But did you notice something, Charlie Brown?...The world didn't come to an end."
After mulling over this comment, Charlie Brown gets out of bed and ventures outside. None of his companions pay much attention to him as he strolls by. In the distance, he spots Lucy playing with a football. Just when it seems that Charlie Brown might be able to redeem himself with a small punt, Lucy pulls the football away from him, and the movie concludes with Charlie Brown flat on his back, grimacing at the camera.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 5:24 pm to laxer17
quote:
Well that's better than telling kids they will never amount yo anything
The world needs ditch diggers too.
Posted on 8/17/13 at 6:37 pm to TigerMyth36
quote:
The world needs ditch diggers too.
Machines, bra. McDonalds workers in Europe are already getting replaced by touch screens for ordering.
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