During class on Tuesday, we discussed Noam Chomsky and propaganda. I found it interesting to learn about how only such a small amount of companies are producing the majority of media that most people are seeing. It was interesting to discuss the role of advertising in these popular media platforms and how they do not want to advertise controversial topics, as that will prevent people from buying from them. Since so many people are watching these major networks, the networks avoid controversial topics that would keep large groups of people from viewing them and therefore being impacted by the advertisements. In class, for example, we discussed how Disney censors progressive advertisements, and how shows such as “The Waltons” that are very wholesome and have problems that are always solved by the end, tend to be popular because they appeal to a large group of people, while shows that question dominant ideas would drive away a large portion of fans. Disney also has built a brand on this type of wholesomeness. I remember watching a lot of Disney channel shows when I was a child, and I remember seeing mostly white actors and actresses, all straight couples, and barely any issues that had not been solved by the end of the episode. Watching these types of shows as a child prevented me from understanding perspectives and experiences outside of my own. However, as the world has progressed, so have Disney shows. For example, the Disney Plus show, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” has an openly-gay couple, actors and actresses of many races, and more complicated relationship dynamics. Although the show does address more complicated topics, children can still watch it as it does not contain cursing or sexual content. This show seems to be an example of how television programs can address topics, such as LGBTQ+ relationships, and still be appropriate for children. Shows like this seem to be a step in the right direction for Disney to appeal to children, while also representing more progressive topics.
Link to "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series": https://www.disneyplus.com/series/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series/22p0ndod96BX
How interesting! I, unfortunately, missed Tuesday's class, but I wholeheartedly agree with the ideas of the class. I also grew up watching Disney Channel, and I can confirm that the cast of most shows was white and heterosexual. I am glad that Disney has decided to tell stories with a more diverse cast. I know it was not an easy decision for them to make. As recently as 2015, cartoons that had implied a homosexual relationship between two characters were dragged through the mud on conservative and Disney mom websites. They argued that Disney should remain impartial to this argument of LGBTQ+ rights and politics in general. Clearly, these people are uninformed of Disney’s past. The Walt Disney Company has a long and intriguing history with propaganda. I remember how shocked I was when I first discovered that Disney made war cartoons. Donald Duck dressed up as Hitler to poke fun at him and inspire patriotic attitudes seemed like a product of another world. Another great example of propaganda in Disney media is Song of the South. The romanticization of slavery in the movie lends itself well to the South’s efforts to minimize the horrors of plantations.
ReplyDeleteDisney has also used its cartoons to portray minorities in a negative light. People of color would be selected to voice the animated animals in movies. At first glance, nothing about this seems to be troubling. The issue comes when you realize that is all they could voice. These animated animals embodied horrible stereotypes such as black people being violent or Jewish people being greedy with big noses. When you have minorities only being portrayed as animals, it is hard to not read the message from Disney as “minorities are animals”.
Disney has always picked a side in politics and culture. Now, the only difference is the side they are on does not align with ideas of racism, homophobia, or white supremacy.