Media Letter to the Disney Channel

This is the letter I wrote for class to the President of Disney Channel..

Dear Gary Marsh,

I am currently taking the class Media, Family, and Human Development at Brigham Young University. I have learned a great deal about how media impacts families and children’s development. I grew up watching That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, and Even Stevens, and I absolutely loved these tv shows. These shows were usually set within the familial context of a mother and father, along with siblings living together under the same roof. These shows depicted everyday problems that teens face such as challenges with friends, feuds with annoying siblings, crushes on school boys, failures in academics, and the struggles of making the transition from childhood to adolescence. However, the Disney Channel shows today are not relevant to what the majority of children throughout the nation are going through.

Many of the Disney shows today focus on becoming famous, something that many teens today cannot relate to. According to Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, children are likely to imitate behaviors they view not only in person, but also in the media. Whether you like it or not, the characters in your shows are role models to children around the country. I believe that too many of the young actresses in your shows wear too much make up, their hair is perfect, and their clothes are top notch. Why exacerbate the problem of girls growing up too quickly, as well as girls feeling bad about what they cannot afford to buy?

The characters in tv shows help children know how to respond to certain situations. However, the tv shows you air today are not portraying situations that kids today find themselves in. How does a red carpet event or signing with a record company help children of our society today learn about their part in the world around them? Why this gradual shift from everyday family life to portraying the life of only a dozen young people today who do find themselves in Hollywood? I remember an episode of That’s So Raven when she saw her parents splitting up. It showed her trying to prevent her parents from separating and receiving comforting advice from her friends about the situation. With divorce rates at an all time high, where is that episode today in your tv shows?

Although parents should also hold the responsibility of teaching their children how to behave, many children today are born out of wedlock, or are children of divorced parents. Their working single mother or father may not have a lot of time to spend with them and teach them how to behave. When parents are out working, children are left to watch television. Boys and girls may turn to the television to know how they are supposed to be a ‘man’ or a ‘woman,’ respectively. You have enormous power. Why use it towards shows that children cannot relate to? My proposed goal is to initiate a shift out of the Disney Channel era of fame and wealth and reintroduce everyday familial, academic, and peer situations in a realistic context. If that is unreasonable, reruns of past Disney Channel shows (not at two in the morning) might be refreshing for children who are bombarded by media today that is soaked in fame, wealth, and sex.

McFarland, USA

Over the weekend, my family and I saw McFarland, USA in the theaters and I loved it! It's about a community of hardworking Hispanics who watch their teen boys go to the California state championship in cross country. It was a very inspiring movie and I would recommend it! The community was very poor, so I did not see many cell phones, televisions, or social media displayed in the movie. It was refreshing to see the absence of media and how the boys focused on work, school, and running. It was very uplifting and had a great message about family and hard work. I am grateful for movies like this that focus on hardships and perseverance, rather than sex, wealth, and drugs. 

General Conference

I am so grateful that through the media today, I can hear council from modern Prophets of God. I think General Conference is the best 8 hours of tv watching spent! It is a time to be with my family and listen to much needed council. My family has developed traditions surrounding General Conference as well. It is one of my favorite weekends of the year! I particularly liked President Uchtdorf's talk on grace and I am grateful that I will be able to watch it again and reread it on the church's website. Media can be very uplifting and I am grateful for television, in that I can watch and listen to general authorities of the church. 

Kids in Mind App

In the past, I have been pretty naive going into movies. I don't really know exactly what will happen or how clean the content is. I am grateful for the kids in mind app that let me see ratings for sexual and violent content and profanity. It writes out specific scenes that may even be of question. Before I see a movie, I always like to look at the ratings on this app to see the content breakdown. Although it may be a subjective rating system, I think it offers a lot more information than a basic PG-13 rating. Warning that it does indeed describe inappropriate scenes for some movies. So far, I have liked it and it has helped me in my decisions of whether or not to see a movie. 

Disney Remakes

I've sometimes thought how Disney can continue to make up new story lines for movies. Don't you think anything that could be done, has been done? Obviously that's not the case. However, lately there have been several remakes of old, classic Disney movies. The storyline and characters are already in place, making it easier. Perhaps this is where the next wave of movies ideas will spring from. I've enjoyed them so far and am curious if remakes of old movies will replace those old ones. Will me kids grow up on the cartoon Disney movies or the recent ones? 

March Madness

March Madness is in the air and brackets are all over the place. I think March Madness is a way in which media helps connect people throughout the country. It is a time where basketball enthusiasts, or anyone that really likes basketball, can watch intense games for a chance at winning the championship. So much emotion is put into these games and I love it! During class, I'll see students watching games on their laptops (I've been guilty of that too). While it is distracting in class, I love basketball and it's a chance for my siblings and I to come together throughout the week to watch whatever game is being played. 

Unbroken

I recently watched the movie Unbroken, a true story about an Olympic runner who became a prisoner of war in Japan, and man was it intense. I don't handle emotional and intense movies very well so I don't know why I decided to watch it... peer pressure. However, the movie was extremely well done and the acting was incredible! It gave a great message of strength, perseverance, and forgiveness. However, the majority of the movie is very heavy and I walked away feeling depressed, rather than uplifted. I think that might have just been me personally, though. I have a hard time watching someone get beaten to death, over and over again, even if it's supposed to be inspiring. There were definitely several inspiring moments, but I felt that the graphic violence somewhat outweighed that. I do believe that the actors did an incredible job though and I would recommend it, but with a warning that it's sad! At least for me. I am also visiting Auschwitz in Poland this Spring so that might be a reason why it affected me the way it did. Overall, it was a VERY powerful movie.

YouTube- the Good and Bad

Lately, I've been thinking about how YouTube can be used for both good and bad. I have a BYU Speech on YouTube bookmarked on my web browser and another one of a classical piano video. It is a great and effective way for artists of all different kinds to send a message to the masses. However, I believe that YouTube can be dangerous, not only because of inappropriate material that can pop up or is easy to find, but because of how much time can pass when browsing YouTube. I'm sure many of us have been in a situation where we are watching a video and another video on the side bar looks entertaining, and so we click. And then we click on another video, and another until we end up watching the most random video about cats or behind the scenes footage of the Hunger Games. I'm reminded of the scripture in 2 Nephi of how Satan will pacify us and lull us away. I love YouTube for the uplifting and funny videos I can view but I am also becoming aware of how easy it is to waste time. 

Photoshop

I liked our lecture in class about photoshopping in the media. Too many young teenagers compare themselves to what they see in magazines and/or advertisements. I believe that the thin ideal is very prevalent among the media today and is truly influencing how young adults view themselves. Photoshopping is just giving viewers a false view of beauty and I would be curious to see what would happen to magazines and advertisements if photo-shopping became illegal. I found this video online about real women being photoshopped and their reaction to it. I love how they realized that their flaws, if you can even call them flaws, define who they are. 

LOST

A while back, my very favorite shows was LOST. My family and I were obsessed with it. I was hooked from the very first episode, probably because of how dramatic the show was. Seriously. Constant drama. I loved all of the different personalities on the show and each episode always left you with a cliff hanger. However, as the show progressed I found it getting more and more confusing. Halfway through the series I stopped watching because of how confused and frustrated I would get. It got me thinking, how do some series keep viewers' attention for 10+ seasons? How do certain series manage to maintain their viewers' intrigue? 

Basketball Stereotypes

I saw this video on Facebook and it had me laughing out loud; I had to share! I love how creative the guys were in coming up with these hilarious yet true stereotypes. I've sent the video to some family and friends and they have been able to identify themselves as one of these stereotypes. If you have the time to watch it, do it! I think I've watched it three or four times. Their acting is hilarious and the clip is very entertaining! 

Dance Moms

I was thinking about our lecture on reality tv and the harm it can do for children. I was particularly thinking about Dance Moms and how popular it has become (one of the dancers has 2.6 million followers on Instagram). I have seen it before on tv and was shocked at how rude the women, more so than the girls, were. Sometimes I believe that the confrontation that takes place in front of the girls is damaging to them. These poor girls should not have to watch grown women (mostly their moms) be aggressive towards one another. These moms are usually dolled up with their diamonds and dresses, constantly yelling and complaining. What I do not understand is how mothers would subject their children to this kind of confrontation. What message is that sending to girls who want to dance? How will young viewers treat their mothers?  But why do so many people watch it if it is full of contention and relational aggression? I have caught myself switching through the channels and stop on Dance Moms. Maybe it's because I am not use to that much drama in my life and that it is exciting. A part of me wants to see if people can truly be that crazy as well. The show is extremely entertaining, but a terrible model for viewers. 

ESPN

The BYU-Zags game got me thinking about sports broadcasting and how much ESPN is a favorite channel across the country, particularly for men. Sports provides an environment where emotions run high and people can bond with each other. I have fond memories of watching ESPN's top not ten every morning before my brother and I took off for early morning seminary. I loved the commentators and how funny the clips were. I love sports but don't always have time to sit down and watch a full game. It's convenient to turn on ESPN and get the games' highlights. I also love how ESPN has a sidebar that lets you know what topics the anchors will be discussing next. Growing up, ESPN was usually background media. Now that I am at BYU, I watch ESPN more frequently to watch BYU football or basketball play. Here is ESPN's top ten plays of 2014. 

Because of Him

Last Easter, the LDS church put out a video about Christ and what he has done for us. I believe that media can be very powerful and influential, and I believe that this clip is an example of that. When I am feeling down or have had a stressful day, I love being able to watch this clip. It is incredible that I can access this clip in a matter of seconds and that inspiration is only a few clicks away. This video clip has been seen all around the world, something that could have never been so a few decades ago. Along with the negative content that permeates the media, it is a relief to know that there is incredibly uplifting media content that can truly influence others for good. I love this video and am grateful for its message and how it makes me feel. 

People Magazine

Out of all the magazines that are for sale, I only ever buy People magazine. I trust People and don't believe a lot of the latest gossip unless People has published it. I wondered why this was and I realized that growing up, my mom only ever bought People. People also prints stories about tragedy, food, and books, not just celebrities. Each issue has a crossword puzzle towards the back that I have always loved doing. I associate People with quiet time to myself, which may be why I enjoy it so much. Why do I think of some types of media as being more reliable than others? 

Facebook's Getting Annoying..

I first got a Facebook when I was in middle school and it was a way to see what my friends and extended family members were doing, and that's it. Now, Facebook has been blown up with personal articles, buzzfeeds, blogs, news articles... I can't scroll through Facebook without seeing an article that sounds something like.. "This Woman Was Just Shopping.. But What Happens Next is Shocking." I don't really care what happens next I just want to catch up with my friends. Facebook has been flooded with useless ads and articles that I would normally go to other websites to find, not a social networking site, but I think that is what social networking is turning into now. There is now a "trending" tab on the top right of the site that shows what topics and articles are the most popular. Because of all of these excess articles and news on Facebook, I now prefer Instagram, which shows pictures of only my friends and nothing else. When I go onto Facebook, I feel bombarded with media and it is a bit overwhelming.

What Happened to Disney Channel?

What happened to the Disney Channel? Growing up, my favorite shows were Even Stevens, That's So Raven, and Lizzie McGuire. They were all based on everyday family and friend experiences like yearbook pictures, high school crushes, and annoying little brothers. Nowadays, the Disney Channel is full of shows that, at least when I have watched one, turn my brain into goo. All shows now have a laughing audience in the background, where as Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire didn't. I also feel like the jokes on the shows today aren't as witty anymore, the clothes are brightly colored and mismatched, all of the actresses wear a lot of makeup, girls are wearing high heels, and the majority of the shows are about getting famous. Since when did getting famous become every child's dream? Children today are facing things like arguing with their siblings and hearing rumors about them at school, not the struggle of going to auditions and getting famous. Also, all of the Disney Channel stars have to sing and put out albums. What's that about? For a channel that is geared towards children and teens, they should include shows that focus on everyday experiences that teens are likely to have. Maybe I'm bias in thinking that the shows I grew up on are the best. Maybe children today will grow up and think that their tv shows were the best. 

The Middle

The Middle is one of my favorite tv shows. It isn't very well known and I just discovered it over this past summer. It is hilarious! I think the reason I like it so much is because it portrays what "real" life is like (doing homework assignments the night before they're due, duct taping the washing machine shut, teasing siblings). I also love how it shows the typical teenage jock, Axl, the typical good girl, Sue, and the typical antisocial nerd, Brick. They are all hilarious and have their own personality traits that make them unique. I think I laugh the hardest in this show, tied with Modern Family. I love how the writers have chosen to include everyday struggles that normal families face, when we so often see portrayals of family life that are not reality. 

Superbowl Ads

I love watching football, so tonight was pretty fun! The last few minutes of the game were insane! I also love the Superbowl because of the advertisements. It blows my mind how expensive it is to run a 30 second ad during the Superbowl. I guess you would be willing to pay that much knowing that millions of people would see it. A few ads caught my attention, mostly because they were either creative or funny. One that I thought was really funny was the Kia commercial with Pierce Brosnan. I love how it compares reality to the typical action adventure movie. It got me laughing. I love how big of a deal these commercials have become. Superbowl commercials even have their own website (superbowlcommercials2015.com). 

R Rated Movies

Being raised LDS, viewing R rated movies was discouraged in my family, but not for some of my LDS friends. Recently, several of my friends and their parents have commented on how incredible the movie, American Sniper, was. It posed an interesting debate in my mind of why it is or is not okay to watch rated R movies. I am tempted to see it because of the reviews it has been getting, but I personally don't think I could sit through 100 something f words. I will admit I have seen three R rated movies, the Patriot, Slumdog Millionaire, and Bridesmaids, but I have never seen them all the way through. I would catch edited clips of them on tv and flip back every once in a while to watch them. I believe that there are several moments in R rated movies that can be hilarious, powerful, or uplifting. I've heard people say that they don't look at the rating as much as they do the content of the movie. I personally have never looked up the content of an R rated movie and thought, ya I'll go see that. I also find it interesting that most movies nominated for Academy Awards/ Oscars are usually rated R. I honestly don't know how reliable the rating system is; there are some PG-13 movies I won't even watch. I do believe that people perhaps have different sensitivities to media. I don't think I could sit through more than four or five f words or a lot of violence, but maybe others have different thresholds for certain things. Because it can be a grey area, I think it makes for an interesting thinking exercise. What are the reasons behind our choices, whether we choose to view certain media or not? 

Jack Johnson

Jack is my all time favorite artist. I listen to him in the car, when I'm getting ready in the morning, when I'm doing homework... I love how calming his music is (his voice and his lyrics). It makes me feel like all is well, which is something I frequently need during college! I can honestly be so stressed about something, listen to his music, and feel so much better after. I love the positive power that music can have on us. This is one of my favorite music videos of his. I love how he includes so many scenic, every day places in Hawaii (the beach, a random dirt road, a shack). I have an uncle in Hawaii so I have visited a few times and absolutely love it there. His videos are such a refreshing break from music videos that include clubs, nice cars, and wealth in general. I also love how it looks like it was filmed with a normal camera, not a super nice one. It makes me see him as a normal guy rather than a big star, where clips are perfectly edited. I love being able to listen to his clean, feel good music in an industry that is mostly dominated by vulgar lyrics and videos. Jack's the man and I WILL meet him one day!!

Instagram Boycott

My roommate and I decided to boycott Instagram for as long as we could. We both felt like it was taking up too much time and we felt good about the idea of only opening up Instagram if we were going to post a picture. We made a deal that the first one to cave had to deep clean the kitchen and bathroom.. We both made it for a month and decided to cave when she got her wisdom teeth taken out. Instagram was a usual part of my daily routine (cruise on it before bed and when I wake up in the morning). Without Instagram, I would fall asleep quickly and had more time to get ready in the morning. I also liked not knowing what other people were doing. It's easy to compare yourself to other people and the vacations they're taking, husbands they're marrying, and the cute clothes they're wearing. Most people will only post the best pictures of themselves, which may distort our perception of reality (cute outfit with hair and make-up done versus baby throwing up at 3 am). Although Instagram keeps me connected with many friends that I haven't seen in a while, it's also an opportunity to make comparisons and draw conclusions, which isn't always healthy. I've been back on Instagram for a few weeks now and I think it's time for another fast!!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

January 14, 2014

So Friends came on Netflix.. My roommate and I have started watching it from the beginning and I forgot how funny it was. I don't have to think hard when I watch it and it is such a great break from school and work. I love how I am starting to relate to some of the characters, now that I am about to graduate college and find a job. However, I also realized how sexual it can be. It's interesting how I think 20 years ago the media was conservative compared to now, which I am sure is partly true, but I am surprised how much content they let into episodes. Now a days, sex is everywhere so I wouldn't be surprised if the show was being filmed today... it's just something I wouldn't entirely expect from 20 years ago.