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I’m talking to you, George Takei.
I can understand your desire to use your celebrity status to do more than appear on The Big Bang Theory in Howard’s sex dreams (Seriously, check the episode out!) but do you have to mess with Disney?
It’s like the Federation taking on the Klingons – the entire empire – with one phaser!
For those of you who have no idea what I’m referring to – George’s problem with Disney, not the Star Trek reference – here’s the deal in a nutshell..
Recently on his Facebook page, George posted the following graphic about another wildly successful franchise, the Disney Princesses:
Mr. Sulu views the Disney Princesses as a threat to little girls’ power and self-respect. He’s entitled to his opinion but by voicing it publicly he’s disturbed a hornet’s nest when there was really no need.
Seriously, George?
I mean, at this very moment a battle is being fought against the SOPA and PIPA antipiracy bills. Why don’t you devote all your energies to winning that fight?
Do you really need to INVENT a war to fight?
- FOCUS ON ENTERTAINING US, GEORGE!
Just remember George… THEY’RE CARTOONS!!!
It’s up to parents to educate their children, not The Walt Disney Company. They can create a fictional universe to their standards if they so choose. You want to impact the world in a positive way? Stop working for Howard Stern…
Nicely said, and love the title … strange.
I specialize in strange it seems, Jennifer!
I love strange, specially your kind Hook!
That’s great to hear, young lady!
I think the worse thing about that picture is how thin all the characters are. Look at Jasmine! Where do her kidneys fit? Geez.
Realistic cartoon characters that kids can relate to? Not in this day and age…
Hook … for once, I am very sorry to say, I’m in complete disagreement with you. I am absolutely against the Disney Princess message. Now, I am also a parent who takes an interest in my child’s life and educate her and we’ve talked about self-empowerment, but the fact remains that girls are forever being patronized and bombarded with messages that its okay to rely on men. Or, they are simply being patronized, just look at the recent set of “girl” lego toys … half of it is pre-constructed and it’s just about fashion and such. The fact also remains that we absorb the messages around us whether we want to or not and not every parent is as attentive.
Is this the highest priority … in my mind teaching our girls to be self-respecting and independent is one of the highest as they will breed and nurture future generations, but it isn’t the most IMMEDIATE which SOPA/PIPA are.
I agree that Disney can do what it wants, I just think its a shame that what they want to do is pigeon-hole and dumb down our girls.
You’re post is well-written and thoughtful as always, however, so still much love to you!
And to you, Gillian. I welcome opposing arguments; they keep WordPress interesting!
Agreed … I think the Internet has grown up in a lot of ways too and people can disagree without rancor more these days! Happy Wednesday
Cool! Wednesdays truly rock – and not just beacause it’s New Comic Book Day!
Ohhhh….Once again Ms Gillian I seem to be following you in agreement!!!
Although, I must agree with Mister The Hook when he writes, “It’s up to parents to educate their children, not The Walt Disney Company.”
Now looking at the above picture, I never would have thought about what the picture Mister Sulu posted says. Now that he has mentioned it, I have to agree with him. Doesn’t this remind you of that South Park episode with the city flag about how it needed to be changed because the adults all saw it as racist but the children saw it in an innocent manner?
When I was a child, my parents taught me to fight for what I beleived in, and my mother taught me to follow my dreams and her only wish for me was to be happy while my father spoke of me being happy… only as so far it met his wishes for me. And that is what I took from watching Disney.
I miss the times when I could watch a movie and just simply enjoy the base moral aspect of the story, like “Beauty and the Beast” where Belle refused to settle and wanted more than what just marriage and predictably had to offer. Or Ariel and her willingness to follow her heart seeking out happiness in another way of life and culture than just staying put and following her fathers wishes for her. And the same goes for Jasmine. Her father wanted her to be happy but married to a prince. But he’s the king. Never occurred to him to change the law of the land or change the tradition of the land… or take it as changing his way of thinking to support his daughter?
These are just some of the messages I picked up from these three movies and when it comes to Cinderella… well… that story made the biggest impact on my life. Sometimes, family your doesn’t support you and you have to make your own way in life.
I love fairy tales. They give inspiration to children to dream, and no matter how the characters are presented in their manner of appearance, what it boils down to is they did not settle in their lives.
It is sad to see that the message can still be about that a girl needs a man in order to be a proper woman. But when it came to me and when I watched Disney as a child? It never ever was about love and romance and finding a Prince Charming. It was about standing up and taking the world by the dick and bending it to my will, not settling for what I’ve been given.
I just wish that these messages that I took from Disney, were more universal.
Fantastic post Mister The Hook!!! And yes!! The Big Bang episode with Mister Sulu was brilliant!!!!!
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That episode did rock, didn’t it, Woman? Thanks for the great input. You’re another dependable, intelligent blogger that always make a valuable contribution to every blog you visit!
so much to say on this one. and I have boys, no girls. Let kids be kids, don’t put adult thoughts into their heads, it’s a CARTOON, it’s fantasy. it’s not real. Dumbing down and pidgeon holing our girls… that’s what parents do by bringing these issues up. (very broad statement but no room to fully explain)
I grew up with a healthy body image and watched no tv, but I still aspire to be thinnner than I am.. go figure.
Always cool to hear from you, my friend! You always make my little blogs better with your presence!
very cool that you think so, I love reading your little blogs. thanks muchly
And thank you for being such a lovely – and talented – friend.
Well written!
That’s great to hear! Thanks!
“Pretty girls don’t even have to be alive to get some hot princely action” haha good to know! always enjoy reading your spin on things!
Always glad to send it out there!
Kids nowadays are much wiser than we were at their age. If they can’t see how unrealistic those statements are, someone should point it out to them. Like ‘living happily ever after’, lol!
I think you’re right, my friend!
I’m living the ‘happily ever after’… seriously. It does exist, but I suppose it depends on your definition of the individual words and the sentence as a whole…
I’m very glad to hear of your happiness, young lady! Keep it up!
there are many ways to have your own happily ever after. What is it about the words, that people feel it doesn’t exist. H.E.A. doesn’t have to mean a fairytale life. If we thought about it, we are all living the life! Sure there are overdue bills, and minor arguments (add in the flying commute hubby does), but compromise and communication are the keys to many a happy life.
Well said, young lady!