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Little Mermaid Last night I bought Samantha a DVD of the movie Little Mermaid. I decided to buy it because I already got irritated seeing and hearing Barney on our TV for hundred times. Heh, she never got tired watching Barney over and over again everyday. So, after dinner last night, I sat down with her watching Little Mermaid before I put her to sleep. Both of us were entranced by the wonderful songs, colorful artworks and characters in the movie. I'm kinda annoyed though with the kind of attitudes about love that are suggested in the movie. Ariel, throughout the picture, was lying, speaks nasty to her father, disobeys his commands, and is rebellious in the wishes he communicates to her. She also involved her friends in her ill thought out fiascos. She even gave up her voice (Hello? Her voice!!!) for a pair of nice looking legs! Ariel does not have an attitude that watching the film should imitate. Also, the father alternately thunders or melts, but clearly does not have any handle on his 's attitude or behavior. She totally disrespects him. And as to Ariel - think about it: she defies her father willingly and repeatedly, and GETS AWAY WITH IT IN THE END! Oh sure, there are scary moments; but old dad comes along and bails her out (hey, where's mom?), and she gets what she wants. Thus all her rebellion, all consuming selfishness, shallowness, and disobedience are never truly addressed. Further, she gives it all, for what? For her superficial, skin-deep attraction to this good looking fellow. What kind of message is that for or young men? It is a happy ending. The evil bad octopus lady Ursula dies. The king gives her away. Ariel gets her man. The prince gets his fish, and they get married. (Maybe they got divorced soon after? How often does a 16 year old fish find the love of her life without even knowing who he is?) But yes, it is a happy ending. This story teaches to be disobedient and in the end, you get what you think you want. Pure crap. Hey, it's great fun watching the movie but I think I'm going to keep this DVD and not let Samantha watch this again until maybe when she's older and I can discuss with her the story. Or maybe I really shouldn’t be nitpicking the plots of ’s stories that much anyway? Heck, I've made up my mind already. In the meantime, she can watch her Barney DVD's million times and I promise not to get irritated again. Maybe I should find some other entertaining movies with good moral values. Any suggestions?  
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9/28/2006 8:36 pm |
Hi Aura, Most of Hans Christian Anderson's stories are written to teach children the good behaviour. In the original story, this mermaid died, and the human "prince charming" actually marry a human, showing foolishness don't really pay off. Disney movies are manipulated to cater the new generations, SORRY TO SAY THAT! Imagine if the movie come out the way it was originally written, it will be a flop. Same with the cartoons, catered to the kids all over the world, but watch carefully they carry too much violence in their themes. For that reason, I don't really agree children watching cartoons or movies, rather let them read the books and run their own imagination. MORE CREATIVITY! Same you can say about video games! We are in the present world full of violence, you wonder why? Hope you can guess the answer. I totally agree with you. Maya
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As much as I like all the singing too in the Disney version, it's not the version I had as a child. In the original, the point of the entire story was sacrifice for Love. The Little Mermaid does become human, but she fails in getting the prince to love her in return. So when the sun rises, she becomes sea foam that you see from the shore. I don't understand how the story is still the story of The Little Mermaid without her dying, as there is no self sacrifice without it. As to the respect issue. Your child will do what teach her to do in the home. Words are one thing, but actions and what you do counts even more. Pup
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9/29/2006 12:10 am |
mayamagic... Ohh, this BOILS my blood to see a response like this: "Same you can say about video games! We are in the present world full of violence, you wonder why? Hope you can guess the answer. " This is Bull. Its what every parent wants to blame the worlds problems on.. when in fact, the true problem is the BAD PARENTING! In my day, I grew up to watch the cartoons like: Road Runner, from looney tunes, and bugs bunny..etc. In these cartoons, characters get clobbered, hit and smacked arround. Yet, did that make Me as a young child do such things to my brothers and sisters? Nope. I laughed at it.. knowing it was a cartoon and NOT REALITY!!! Even at less than 5 yrs old I knew better than to hit. Want to know what made me hit my brother? It was watching and having my abusive father hit him and me. Seeing how his anger flared up, and absorbing those properties as my own. Luckily, he was out of the house when we gre older.. and I learned to change in time, thru efforts of my own. Do you recall seeing a violent movie and then going out to commit a violent crime?! For god sake use your BRAIN! You, like any intelligent human, looks upon media with the view of thier internal personalities. When seeing a crime committed.. one might say "oh my, that was horrible".. if that person is a good hearted person. Or "man, I would have done that better" if hes not so nice. And these personalities are mostly all formed from observing the parents traits in the first few years of thier lives. If the mother lies.. the the child often believe its fine to lie too, and will do so into adulthood without a bad conscience about it. No cartoon makes your kid want to lie. No video game makes your son want to blow up your neighbors car. Ive played thousands of games (still do), and no such trait ever occured! Violence in society is mostly ALL the parents fault. Its also a product of poverty and extreme pressures. As well genetic flaws and imballences. Face the real truths now... instead of pointing the blame finger at everything you see. Do the real research and find the REAL answers. Some of the most violent people arround have no toys, no movies, no tv, no real connection to the modern worlds influences. What do you say to that?! Aura, I cant comment on Mermaid.. as I havnt seen it. I know one thing tho... no matter what she watches and sees out here in the REAL WORLD.. that she will be just fine. Because she has a warm and loving mother who has a good heart. One who will share her good beliefs, and always lead as a good example for Samantha to follow and absorb. *hugs Aura* Steve
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9/29/2006 12:22 am |
"BTW, have you thought about the adults are most likely live in the fantasy world also? with the addiction of the internet? instead of the real interaction ? " rejoicefrance: Funny how you are benefitting from the Modern technology to spread your opinion to the so called "fantasy world" ?! The internet actuallty promotes connections. It allows people all over the world to become closer. This IS part of the REAL world. Many friends I have online, are also ones I hang out with in Real life. As well as possibly meeting the love of my lifetime here... What does that say??? True, there shouldnt be mockery against people who do not wish to advance with technology.. but, on the other hand, you cant call this technology bad, esp since you are using it so well. With everything that is a tool.. it can be used for good or bad. Its not the tool that is the bad thing. It is the Unenlightened soul. Maybe if they are lucky, they will find help, by searching on the internet  Btw - I think its great that children are learning to operate thing at such a young age. This means thier brains may develop and advance much faster and further than us old timers. Maybe one of these geniouses can find a cure for cancer, aids, etc.
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9/29/2006 6:53 am |
HI Steve, How many children do you have? How do you spend time with yourself and with them? A person is a product of influences by the environment: family friends, and society. I hope to see what your children have become, letting them grow up in the technology and society influences rather than a loving care of a mother concern about what the society is bringing to them. Good Luck to you! Maya
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well, some parents are overly cautious and will do everything to shield their children to any threat that would harm them or influence their young minds. and being selective of the movies that they watch is just one of them. if sam does something inappropriate i wouldn't blame the movies that she watched but myself for my failure to raise a good child. yes, it's very important that she sees good examples from me and the people around me especially at the earliest years of her life so she can have a good foundation and so that in the future no matter how violent the movies that she watches, these will never corrupt her mind and her heart because deep inside is a good and loving heart. but still there are other factors that would come in that even the best parent have no idea on how and why such things happened. it's hard to be a parent. because we are responsible of a life that is entrusted in our care. so let us forgive those parents who are overdoing their part. maya, pup,rejoicefrance, steve and moglin - thank you for all the comments. god bless... aura
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9/30/2006 12:26 am |
Moglin- "Violence is not all the parents fault. And contrary to popular belief is also rarely caused or encouraged in any way by poverty." ------------ Ive grown up in poverty as well. But lets look deeper at the subject. Lack of money can of course cause additional stesses, which can set many people over the edge that might be less likely. However, you are correct, that its not always the case. What then, do I mean by this? Ever drive thru the inner city ghetto? Why is it that country schools are more advanced than city schools? Overcrowding of the schools. Schools of 'Poor' cities in poverty struck areas.., having not enought funding to hire more teachers to keep kids in check for example. Kids being distracted, and not learning.. and falling prey to mischief and pressures from others. These kids usually uneducated simplistic in nature, are more likely to respond violently. They most likly are from mothers who gave birth at a very early age.. and the mothers are not mature enough and not that bright either.. and so they may not pass good examples down. Since they are poor, they most likly are already angered about it, as well as upset and not happy with life in general. I can keep going on and on to levels of depth that would spin your head... but basically, my point is, that poverty Does impact development. Btw - Ive lived my childhood in the country, the outskirts and later in life, the city... so I have a pretty good picture about such things from life obseverances. I never said that any childs acts are ALL the parents fault. However, they usually play a big role in it. Certianly, a videogame or movie plays little to no part at all. The only possible influence Might occur when the child is under 5yrs old. But then again, they look upon things with minds that do not even understand fully what they are seeing. A sexual sceen in a movie would make no sence, and would be boaring to a childs mind for example... so theyd change the channel to the cartoons instead. Just take a moment to reflect on things youve witnessed as a child.. and how you viewed them. Did it affect you negatively? I doubt it. Remember how you weighed things in your head? The way any INTELLIGENT MINDED soul would??? Give kids a little credit, is all Im saying. ---- Hi rejoicefrance, "how people has used this tool for their benfits or become an addiction." In older times, addiction may have been more popular and limited to a bottle of Alcohol. Addiction comes in many forms.. but honestly.. the net isnt that dangerous of an addiction comparitively heheh. We hear about the extremist addications on the news.. but really, its not as common or severe as youd think. There usually are people that have a natural 'addictive' personality. These people become addicted to one or many things very easily.. much more so than any other person. Its less to do with the thing they are addicted to, but more to do with thier personalities. Most likely, a brain/chemical/biological imballance. Simularly, Its my belief that some people are more prone to anger and vionlent responces because of the same thing.. a chemical imballance. These things can be controlled with greater efforts over time.. and possible medications if its too bad. "Something that I miss a lots is not being able to talk to a human being,but have to make the deal through the internet or the recording machine. Oh, well..... It's called OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL....in our own term." Heheh, I agree with this a bit too. Sometimes it can be a bit impersonal.. if you never get out to see some real people heh. So its good to have some exterior hobbies. Many of us work.. so we at least do have people there that we interact with.. and Im sure that most have some friends outside of work to hang with. For those that do not, they may have social issues yet to overcome. In time, hopefully that will change. Still, at least the internet can provide them with ways to communicate comfortably, whereas before, they may not have talked at all to anyone. There is a trend seen in movies.. from much of the movies of the past containing lots of dialog parts.. where as today, its less talking and more effects. Its not always the case.. but much more so than not. I suspect that in time, things may return to the days of the past.. becomming more personal and 'in person'. Like most things in time, they circle arround and return (like bell-bottom pants heh). ---------- Mayamagic, "How many children do you have? How do you spend time with yourself and with them? A person is a product of influences by the environment: family friends, and society. I hope to see what your children have become, letting them grow up in the technology and society influences rather than a loving care of a mother concern about what the society is bringing to them. " I have no children Yet. Tho, I get along well with them... cause at heart, I am one too. "A person is a product of influences by the environment: family friends, and society." I agree.. but funny, I dont see Video Games in there.. Nor Movies? This is My point. Influnces of the strongest kind are from (in order): 1) Parents examples 2) Relatives examples 3) Freinds 4) How they are treated, and the examples of other people, in the place they live (enviornment) If media was on the list.. it would be number 100,000,000. Its rarely ever plays a part in a persons developements and ways of being. When you look at a painting of a guy with an Axe.. does that make you think "I want to kill people with an Axe"? If you hid that painting from your kids.. Do you think that would stop them from getting an idea to use the Axe in the garage to hurt someone?! Media doesnt make them do something. Our hearts do. And a corrupt heart is not media drivin.. its much much deeper than that. "loving care of a mother" Is what its all about. Give love to the children, and thier heart my carry it within themselves. But what you may be talking about in many cases, is Fear. So out of fear, many may overprotect thier children, and cause them harm from it. As they will be sheilded from Real reality.. growing up in a fake world the parents created. Then when its time to live on thier own.. they are a real mess.. not being able to handle it because they never got to weigh things slowly over time. Getting into more troubles, because they desire to indulge in the things they were to restricted against when they were young. Ever see what happens to boys raised into becomming priest? Heard about all those molestations later on?! Guess why. Being a parent inst easy for sure. But sometimes, you must realize, that we all are still just big-children. In that sence, we all are parents.  Anyway, I appologize if I seem hard about this, but I get upset at over-protection.. and the people who do not give thier children enough credit. And or try to blame media on things.. for which it never is responsible for.
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fun - yes, i agree that adults perceive the depth of the message much diffently than the child. maybe, im just an overacting mom, hehehe chat - im doing a lot of reading to my kid and it's always an enjoyable time. but she always demand for Barney time, which i couldn't resist heheh.. thanks for the suggestions...
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