Economy, Morality, Gender, and Ethnic Stereotyping

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Economy, Morality, Gender, and Ethnic Stereotyping

Critical Essay on Pinocchio

Disney's Pinocchio has been a long time favorite of American culture. However, time has changed and so has our culture. We are no longer described or categorized by being white, European, primarily heterosexual, Protestant, and bourgeois. I have to argue that that stereotype is still in effect. As times have changed so have our people and their values. Now, we are described as "The Melting Pot" of religions, race, sex, and class. Pinocchio was fitting for the culture of 1940 but as for now it not so appropriate. Industrialism, Capitalism, and the ruling bourgeoisie are the themes in this movie not only because they probably reflect Walt's own life but American life as well. Americans were thrust into the Capitalist ideal in the Post War years and I feel Pinocchio reflects that ideal.

After WWII Americans wanted to boost the economy. One of the ways of doing this was by propaganda. Pinocchio is a prime example of such propaganda. The economy was ghastly, buildings were flattened in Europe, and the process of "rebuilding" was daunting because Europe was demolished. In 1946 Pinocchio was playing in Europe but “no revenue was coming in due to the damaged economy,”(). The ideal was to be white, heterosexual, masculine, Protestant, bourgeois, young, and American as listed in the "Text Book" on page 186. To drive society into this ideal mass media was utilized. In Classical Marxist terms, "The mass media are a 'means of production', which in capitalist society are in ownership of the ruling class. According to this stance, the mass media functioned to produce 'false consciousness' in the working-classes," (

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...g and racism is looked upon as ignorant and politically incorrect. We no longer have separate water fountains and schools for whites or blacks, which is a great accomplishment, and we no longer find "No Irish Need Apply" signs hanging in employing restaurants. Pinocchio is a confirmation to the many changes that have taken place in today's society. Yet, if it were played now instead of then I know the film would never make it in the theatres. We have grown far beyond the ideals that Walt Disney portrayed in his Pinocchio movie and I am proud of that accomplishment. Instead of viewing the film with the innocent mind of a child unknowing and trusting I viewed the film as a scholar. I saw the film as abrasive and obviously its motive to me was full of propaganda to get our nation to work harder. It is a shame that our children had to be used to subject us to that model.

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