Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us by: Linda Christensen

           By scrolling through the channels on the television, reading a novel at the coffee shop or to children before bedtime, roaming through the movie isles at Target, and spending time on social media sites, Linda Christensen warns us in her piece, Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us, that our society's media teaches humans a secret education. From movies, television series, cartoons, books, magazines, newspapers, music, to websites each category of media is responsible for what Christensen claims of "colonizing [our] minds [to] teach us how to act, live, and dream." In Nicholas Kristof's piece, he states that Americans like to gloat about America being a "land of opportunity" where there are people and companies who make it in society and others who do not. The media industry is dominated by many known companies today, ranging from news stations (FOX, NBC, MSNBC, CNN) to authors (John Green, Nicholas Sparks, J.K Rowling, Susan Collins) to websites (Facebook, Twitter, Buzz feed) to movie producing industries (Universal, Disney, Sony). Many of these companies' employees sought out the "land of opportunity" to get to where they are today, though Christensen believes they are responsible for manipulating our population's morals. Many of these media companies portray hidden messages against race, social class, persuade their one-sided-opinion, violence, and more. Christensen believes it is important for Americans to identify this secret education now, so change can begin with generations to come. Below are some examples of what Christensen warns about a secret education:

1. The Political Message of The Hunger Games by: Rachel Bitoun

  Today's media is filled with hidden messages waiting to be uncovered by the reader or viewer. When the first book of the Hunger Games series was released September 14, 2008 many Americans quickly became immersed in the new series similar to Harry Potter. According to Rachel Bitoun, within the story of the Hunger Games there are references to political turmoil, traumatic violence, social class inequality, and environmental issues. As Christensen states, a "secret education" making its way into the minds of many American teenagers.

2. A Cinderella Story Movie Trailer (2004)

 

 

    In 2004, A Cinderella Story was released in the movie theaters and latter made into a DVD. This movie is a modern retelling of the classic Disney fairy tale. Within the movie, even within the trailer, one is subject to the stereotypes of "cruel stepmothers and stepsisters," the "fairy godmother character" that grants wishes or in this case fixes the main problem, the "handsome guy" that everyone wants to be their prince, the "popular clique" that gets in the way, the geeky side-kick/best friend, and the "hard-working, proper, ignored girl" who dreams of a "happily ever after" in the end.

 

-Questions/Comments/ Points to Share:

           I agree with Linda Christensen: there is a hidden education portrayed in media these days that is responsible for brainwashing or determining one's thoughts, actions, and feelings. Many stereotypes are depicted in different types of media, while gender, race, beauty, economic status, and violence are depicted and targeted. Even though I am aware of some of these issues in the media now, I still think the analysis of some movies, t.v shows, books, and more are a little exaggerated. If we want to change to occur, I believe it is worth having a conversation about these issues and monitoring media exposure with younger children or using it as a learning experience by explaining the content being consumed.