Who doesn't like Fairytales????!!!!!!!

Blog #4 Christensen: Education Beyond the Classroom: Media Literacy ( Reflection) 

We are all told from a young age that Fairytales like the ones described in this article are not real. But this is a very hard lesson to learn and accept. Fortunately I already learned that people don’t always mean what they say when they are 15-18 years old. Promises are shot to hell, feelings get hurt, hearts get broken and friends decide to walk out of your life for whatever reason. Learning that life does not always go how you picture it at 15 years old was a huge life lesson for me when I was 18 years old because I was destroyed and angry and sad that “MY FAIRYTALE” didn’t have a happy ending” 

I like that this author developed a term “a secret education” - which describes the bigger message that these stories implant into the minds of anyone who reads them or watches the movie. A secret education gives readers a deeper message of what these stories are trying to tell us. 

“Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education. We are not only taught certain styles of violence, the latest fashions and sex roles by movies, magazines, and comic strips, we are taught how to succeed, how to love, how to buy, how to conquer, how to forget the past and suppress the future. We are taught more than anything else, how not to rebel.” 

The first time I read through this article I thought that the high school students where a little dramatic in their responses but the truth is I was just like these students a couple of months ago. Whenever someone asked me if I was ready to go to school or excited for my birthday I would say something along the lines of, “I want to go backwards and be 8 again.” but the point is we cannot go backwards we have to push forward and learn from the tough lessons that life throws at us and stop living in the past and embrace the future. It’s ok that the fairytales that were read to us and the cartoons that we watched growing up are not everything we thought they were. 


I like the idea that the students had for a project about analyzing and grading the cartoons that are on TV and giving them a report card to hand out to parents with their findings when the students analyzed the shows while watching them in a different way. We could do this project with cartoons from any generation. Cartoons from the 90's include: 

Another reason why I think this article didn't bother me (as much as it would have bothered my Senior in high school self) is because my FAVORITE show on TV right now is called Once Upon A Time. The writers of this show put a spin on the fairytales that we love and know. The Evil Queen cast a curse that sent all the characters into REAL LIFE and they are trapped living in Stroybrook Maine. On her 28th Birthday, Emma Swan meets the child she put up for adoption 10 years before. Henry believes Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, prophesied to break the powerful curse and being back everyone's "Happily Ever After" 

This show is now in its second season and is on ABC on Sundays from 8-9 p.m. 
(P.S. if anyone is interested I just bought the first season on dvd from target I won't be giving it out but id be more than happy to watch it again...and again...and again....)  

 My Senior Trip To Disney!!!!! Grad Night 2010 <3 <3 <3 <3 

Cumberland High School class of 2010 

Students who went on Senior Class Trip Grad Night 

THE CASTLE <3 

Me and Cinderella <3

My Best Friend Katelyn and I in DISNEY! She goes to Tampa University and this was my first time seeing her since she came home for winter break...
We spent the day in Animal Kingdom!!! 

The Big Hat at Magic Kingdom I believe?????!!!!!!!
P.S. space mountain is my favorite Ride in this park my good friend Bryanne and I did it about 20 times in a row because we where stuck in a thunder storm and had nothing better to do... 

 The HUGE and AWESOME firework display at the Grad Night Party we got to run around Magic Kingdom until 3 Am <3 

Epcot!!! 

I think I may me going to Florida for spring break to visit Katelyn (i've never actually been to see her at her school before) and we want to take a trip to DISNEY!!! 

       
I know that a good number of friends from my graduating class have had the opportunity to take part in the Disney College Program   which allows college students to live and work for Disney for an extended period of time. I've tried to look into this program in the past but I had a hard time finding information for opportunities for Education Majors. I've heard a lot of good things about this program and I've been meaning to take the time to ask Dr. Bogad if she knows anything about the Disney College Program and if it would be a good opportunity for Education Majors.... 


Thinking Points: Wether you've run through Disney's parks or spent time WATCHING a disney movie do you think you will share the Disney experience with your students or future children someday?