I just saw "Happy Feet" and couldn't help but feel that it shows just how far our society still needs to come. It wasn't one big thing, but a lot of little things that many will probably people ignore as irrelevant. Yet all these little things send messages to children that they pick up on, even if not consciously. For example, Happy Feet had blue eyes, why? None of the other penguins had blue eyes, there were other ways you could tell him apart from the other penguins. It's just like how most children books have white children in them, not minorities, showing that these are the people who count in the world. Also the Mexican penguins, how would you describe them? Short, loud, funny and not characters who would seriously think through a problem and solve it. Is this true? No, but it conforms to a lot of the stereotypes people have about Mexicans. As a white person, it can be hard to see the stereotypes because I myself have not been a victim of them. It's time we wake up...
2006-11-24 12:35:11 · 11 answers · asked by kasejenn 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
OMG! its a children's movie! children dont pick up on things like that, consciously or otherwise! He was set apart from the other penguins because he was the main character. it doesnt teach you to discriminate, it teaches you to embrace. you need to loosen up. you think way to much.
2006-11-24 12:39:03 · answer #1 · answered by Raven S 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Take a few deep breaths and stop over analizing things, you're heading for a coronary! If all the other penguins had blue eyes and the main character had black eyes so you could easily tell him apart, would you say that the movie makers are saying that only minority groups would be different from everyone else? I'm thinking yes you just might. Coming from a person who went to watch the film with my three best frineds - one from Nairobi, one from Istanbul, and one from Newfoundland - I think you just may have read too much into this. HOWEVER please take your obvious analytical skills (I am NOT being sarcastic here) and put them to good use. You seem very insightful.
2006-11-24 13:27:06 · answer #2 · answered by I Can Preach Too! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you that we have a long long way to go with correcting our stereotyping, but I am also guilty of laughing at the streotypes all the same. Even Lovelace was a stereotype. They have to put some adult humor in the movies and unfortunatly this is one thing that will make most laugh. Even if we know these things aren't true they are still funny...
I would be interested to see how it has made the hispanic population feel... Did they laugh at those parts too? Or are they crushed?
2006-11-26 11:52:23 · answer #3 · answered by Ang 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow o.o i think your sort of right ..but im hispanic and didnt even notice some or most of these things. about the penguin's blue eyes i though it was so the audience could tell him apart from the other penguins...
about the hispanic(mexican?) penguins being short , loud and funny, i didnt even realize that...i just thought they were cute
i dont think i should feel offended because i know its a movie and they also in other movies there are stereotypes about whie people too..i think kids learned about people being different but nothing being wrong about it, like mumble(?) not being able to sing and practically being asilated ...
2006-11-26 16:08:42 · answer #4 · answered by DisenchantedMe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True, there are many stereotypes in films. But how do stereotypes originate, they just don't arrive out of thin air. All stereotypes are exaggerations based on some degree of truth which just like any generalization doesn't always apply. For instance one stereotype is that ALL Germans are strict and humorless, and although it's obviously not true, it's obvious to see how people could make that assumption (Hitler, the Halocaust). So my point is we can censor everything and check and recheck every film to make sure there is no shred of stereotypical expression. We can purposely make charecters the opposite of their stereotypes but isn't that still acknowledging the stereotype?
2006-11-24 12:45:10 · answer #5 · answered by pinkfloydfan54 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wow! Most of the stereotyping is created by the stereotyped.
This is a convenient word to hide the obvious.
Why don't we think that Norwegians are short and loud? Because they ARE NOT!
Why do we think certain minorities are short and loud? Because they ARE!
Forget this utopian idea that we are all equal.
Do you think that Americans could be stereotyped in Mexico as being ignorant, short and illegally crossing their borders?
Get with the program!
2006-11-24 12:44:23 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Sabetudo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh stop being so tight be 4 some kid read or here u say that kids don't see any of that stuff its just funny 2 them and thats the way it should stay.Kids don' t care about those things or wouldn't even think about it if the adults stop munkin things up .please don't go see any more kids movies.
2006-11-24 12:57:02 · answer #7 · answered by djonecat@yahoo.com 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jeez... now we have people running around because they have problems with a little movie about animated penguins? Does anybody else see a really dumb argument coming on here?
2006-11-24 12:46:22 · answer #8 · answered by High-strung Guitarist 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How come every race gets scholarships based on race except white people... how come, if I were to ask that question about latin people or blacks, everyone would jump all over me?
How come people like you have to *itch and moan over Happy Feet? Why cant you just let their feet be Happy?
2006-11-24 12:54:13 · answer #9 · answered by yo mama 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps we should turn the ACLU and some minority associations lose on the movie makers
I am with you. I am appalled at the stereotypes used in cartoons and it really should stop
2006-11-24 12:37:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋