My Response to Giroux

Henry Giroux's article "Animating Youth: The Disneyfication of Children's Culture" can come off as harsh and a shock to most, especially to those who love Disney. As someone who falls into that category, I was very skeptical at first of this "Giroux" character who has the audacity to call out the creator of everyone's favorite childhood memories. Then I realized, that's the point. That is his point- that Disney has this aura of innocence that surrounds it like a forcefield, protecting it from being put under any scrutiny. Despite Giroux's pessimistic view that Disney is somehow indoctrinating our youth into believing happiness only comes in the version it has created for us, he does raise many valid points and he does deserve respect for being bold enough to openly critique Disney- something no one had ever really done before.

In some instances, Giroux takes Disney's responsibilities too seriously; for example, when he brings up the argument by Wiener that Disneyland "fictionalizes and trivializes" history by not including an accurate portrayal of the lower class by excluding tenements (68). Disneyland is a kids park, and that is what it claims to be. It does not parade as a historical representation of life in America so it is not obligated to show that.

A section of Giroux's article that I enjoy is when he dives into the undertones of Disney films. His examination of men as a source of empowerment for Disney Princesses is certainly a topic that other critics have latched onto. Finally, Giroux starts making some sense and moves away from his repetitive demand for examining the implications and towards actually proving why this "political necessity" exists (70). He examines how Disney misleads the viewer to believe The Little Mermaid will be about a struggle for a young girl's independence, but actually turns out to teach that "desire, choice, and empowerment are closely linked to catching and loving handsome men" (71). This observation of the misleading message is often overlooked and was a good catch by Giroux.

He also does a good job of tying Beauty and the Beast into this theme of women only being useful as a prize for men. Giroux writes, "In the end, Belle simply becomes another woman whose life is valued for solving a man's problem" (71). Again, we see Disney superficially teaching the lesson to reject hyper-masculinity, but really the theme of women as useful only in regards to men peaks through.

I appreciate Giroux's analysis of women in Disney films and I agree that I have certainly been influenced by these anti-feminist themes; however, Giroux underestimates the power of other influences. I haven't grown up wishing to be a housewife- I understand that my value as a woman extends farther than any man. Giroux might say that this is because I am not a child anymore; however, I am a child that has grown up. Children outgrow silly beliefs they had when they were young. Who's to say that believing in the objectification of women when I was young is any different than believing in the Tooth Fairy. I outgrew both beliefs so why is one more provocative than the other? Giroux's demand for examination of Disney is excessive, but as a suggestion, it isn't such a bad idea.