Notes #1

Death in Disney Films: Implications for Children’s Understanding of Death

Portrayals of death by media, such as Disney movies may affect children’s concept of death. These death scenes may be good or bad for the children. Good, since those portrayals may help children understand death in a less fearful and harsh way. These movie scenes may help the children to learn on how to cope up and understand the situation when someone dear to them dies. Furthermore, since most of the parents or adults avoid talking about the grim reality of death with the children, these movies therefore will serve as a starting point for both parents and children to discuss freely the most avoided topic of death as depicted in the Disney movies by relating them to the reality, removing the unrealistic parts, and clarifying the parts which are exaggerated or perplexing. On the other hand, it may bad because it may affect the children’s concept of morality since most of the Disney movies depict the death of the bad guys – the antagonists, giving the children the perception that bad people really deserve to die. These movies also may distort the children’s concept of death when they depict unclear and exaggerated way of death or in relaying vague messages pertaining to death. And it is during these times that parents should freely discuss with their children to what is really happening or the reality in a way that is understandable to the children (Cox, Garett, & Graham, 2005).

Therefore, we can assume that death for children may be as simple as sleeping but when the media comes in, they change or distort it by persistently depicting in the movie scenes that bad people will die and deserve to die, and the good people may come back alive or there will be always someone who will bring them back in the world of living. And as result, the children may bring this perception until adulthood and may become their foundation on the concept of death.

Source:

Cox, M., Garrett, E., & Graham, J. A. (2005). Death in Disney Films: implications for Children’s Understanding of Death. (Unpublished thesis, College of New Jersey, Ewing). Retrieved from http://jgraham.faculty.tcnj.edu/scan/0009.pdf

Link from the insidiousdeath(common blog): http://insidiousdeath.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/notes-1/