Karianna Klassen
Writing 101: Disney’s Happily Ever After
Instructor: Lisa Andres
Biography
In 2009, my family and I saw The Princess and the Frog in theaters. Six-year-old me was thrilled. The music was catchy, the protagonist was smart and strong, and the villain was frightening but not nightmareinducing. The experience is particularly memorable as the only time I saw a 2D animated film in a movie theater. Disney produced a lot of the entertainment I remember consuming as a child. In Professor Lisa Andres’ Writing 101 course, Decoding Disney, I revisited some of the films that had captivated my imagination. Through movie nights, engaging readings, and insightful class discussion, I discovered the value of examining children’s media with a critical scholarly lens. You may say, but these movies are just for kids, so why do they matter? Media is a mirror that both reflects and influences culture. Analyzing children’s media can reveal biases and stereotypes ingrained in our society and perhaps assist us in confronting them. I believe what we as a society are willing to show impressionable children reflects our values, and questioning our values allows us to improve them. Revisiting the Disney movies I loved as a child with a scholarly lens did not ruin them in my eyes. Instead, the course helped me see some of the harmful messaging in the media I consumed as a kid and improve the critical eye with which I consume media now.
I want to thank Professor Andres for her valuable conversation, insight, and feedback. I also want to thank Dr. Sheryl Welte Emch for her much-needed advice and the entire Deliberations team for their support.