Henry A Giroux talks openly about the effects and underlying social meanings that occur withing the world of Disney. Giroux plainly puts his ideas into a simple, straightforward question; "Are Disney Movies Good for Your Kids?" He starts his discussion developing the simple groundworks that is Disney. It is a company that has entertained the American's and people all over the world for many upon many of years. Disney has and is a part of one of the ideals of America itself due to the "history" it shares with the common citizen. Grioux comments that in many ways Disney has become a form of "teaching machines. (pg. 164)" By this he means that Disney movies can be teaching children social rules, conducts, and taboos. However, this also means that things like class structure, gender issues, and racism is viewed as well. Grioux then goes into detailed discussions of various Disney movies. The main movies he talks about are The Little Mermaid (teaching that men do actually prefer women who don't talk), Beauty and the Beast (teaching that women must tame their men to make them proper), The Lion King (teaching that the rough, bad, mean looking hyenas have thick accents, which fit their characters), and finally Aladdin (teaching, yet again, that good looks must make you good). At the end the chapter, Grioux goes on to describe what could be done about Disney. All in all I believe what Grioux is trying to say is that in this day and age we cannot just simply overlook what is in these films. They are entertaining, but there needs to be some level of understanding for the children of what these films underlying message may mean.
This clip is the trailer for the Disney movie called Enchanted. I think that this in many ways is Disney's attempt at actually poking fun at themselves. Also, this movie brings about a change in the whole Princess fairy tale story. There are still some points at which are questionable, but for the most part is an almost redemptive story for Disney.
clip taken from youtube found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLdKwdGdZaI
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