When I was very young, my favorite form of media was anything that had to do with Disney. My Mom took me and my siblings to Walt Disney World every May for as long as I can remember. A specific media-related family ritual for me would have to be watching Disney movies with my two older sisters. If there was one on TV, there wasn’t a doubt that we

would be there watching it. I truly did enjoy them and whenever I see the same Disney movies playing today it

makes me nostalgic for those times.

These experiences are so memorable because of the happiness these films evoke in young children. Disney films

in particular are known for their “happily ever after” endings, and good always triumphing over evil. These positive messages are important to learn when you are younger, and I think that I learned a lot of these values

through the movies. I enjoyed the various films that all told different stories, but for the most part demonstrated the

same lessons and morals.

I do believe that these movies influenced my life and how I view the world. I have always had a very optimistic outlook on life, and always

believe in being very honest and truthful. However, I also have a tendency to sometimes be naive or too kind, which I think are

qualities that can be found in these films as well. The morals and values that I have established are from a variety of experiences and lessons, but I also think that my exposure to these movies so often and from such a young age has had an impact on how I view things

today.

I do not think that any kind of negative judgement could be made about these films. If anything, it may be that they stray too far from reality, or are too idealistic, but then again they are children’s movies. I think that for the most part Disney movies have a positive effect on kids because they demonstrate such good morals and lessons that should be learned

at a young age. They are definitely valuable and I think a staple in a majority of the homes we all grew up in.

If this type of media were to fit into any of the media metaphors discussed in Chapter Two, it would be media as curriculum. The book mentions that from one perspective, films such as these Disney movies

promote “inadequate socialization because they offer inadequate mirrors of society.” On the contrary, it also discusses how these movies may not interpret the world perfectly as it is, but allows people to view

other potential realities, helping us to understand the world.

All movies in general have a wide effect on the human population. They are a way of conveying any type of message or story, be it political, educational, or for

entertainment purposes. They become a piece of art and history given the time period or culture they are produced

from. In terms of what I discussed in this project, I do think Disney films influenced me from a young age, specifically in having good morals and values. I think that overall, movies as a form of media serve the purpose of being informative,

entertaining, or both.