Finding Nemo - Losing Us

Top 2. Jul 29, 2003 9:56 AM

» Raven200330 - Re: Nemo...

In response to message posted by Red:

I am a single mom of 2, my fiancee was killed in a car accident last year. I was disgusted with your article on finding nemo, as this is only a film, and it is supposed to be light hearted fun where as you have taken a film and made into a prejudice issue 'disney has lost us' There are fathers out there who have been struck with the tragedy of being a single parent who would do anything for their child and it's a refreshing change to see a film with a SINGLE FATHER. There alot of films out there about single mothers and are set from a womans point of view, whereas the issue of a single father is a taboo subject and it shouldn't be. i know that if my fiancee had been alive i know that he would do anything for his children. This article is narrowminded and i can see that the author is very bitter!

-- posted by Raven200330

Top 3. Jul 30, 2003 8:15 AM

» kerryhook - Re: Re: Nemo...

I am very sorry to hear that your fiancee was killed in a car accident. I recently lost a good friend in a house fire, so I know it is a difficult thing to deal with.

That said, I think that you have missed the point about Disney. Taken in isolation (e.g., if this were the ONLY film like it OR if there were ANY female parents within this film), I might agree with you, but there is a pattern with Disney wherein moms are noticeably absent.

Please see this link:
http://www.petersnet.net/research/retrie...

This "type" of analysis is not something that was dreamt up by some "bitter" or "narrowminded" woman. It is a thinking piece, and this type of thinking is not limited to bitter, narrowminded women. The article in the link above was written by a man, and notes the absence of "families" in Disney movies.

I think there is a place for critical analysis of Disney films. Disney films do play a very large part in our culture. They help form the way we think about things. If you aren't interested in this type of "analysis" there are plenty of places on the net for more light-hearted "entertainment". The articles found here are seldom light entertainment pieces, and for that I do not apologize.

There simply is not a lot of films out there about single moms that show us in a positive light. The movie, "Stitch" could have been one such movie, but I have no doubt that Disney did not make this a movie about single moms, because contrary to your opinion it is in fact the single mom who is taboo. We are unjustly blamed for many things. You can be sure that Disney makes a very conscious decision to avoid movies about single moms. A single father is considered a "hero", unlike the single mom.

The topic of single fathers is NOT a taboo subject. It is indeed, all the rage right now in the media.

Finally, I would say that I am sure your fiancee would have been a good father, but this article is not about your fiancee, and it is certainly NOT against the many good fathers out there.

-- posted by kerryhook

Top 4. Oct 18, 2003 12:29 AM

» Salvo29 - "no other female characters"... well maybe for the ignorant...

I just wanted to say, that in the article when it says "there where no other female characters in the movie ...etc" is actually wrong!!!

so my reply is basically towards who ever wrote it (the part with the quote in it)

what about deb and peach? the navy blue stripy fish, and the star fish (respectively)?? these two act like mother figures towards nemo when he is placed in the fish tank.
PLUS! at the day care thing there where female characters!!
how about the fish that releases her children into the play area from her mouth, or what about the two mothers playing with their babies on those spongy thingies??
SO HA! there where other female characters in the movie, u just might have been to ignorant to see them!
and how do u know that none of the turtles where female??? huh?? you don't!!

ohh and one more character, the little squid that plays with nemo? i belive that she was female, hence the two little pony-tails tied on the top of her head.

So maybe before u go critising a movie, u should actually pay attension to it, and not be so ignorant!

don't destroy a perfectally good movie...

-- posted by Salvo29

Top 5. Oct 18, 2003 11:24 AM

» orbitgal68 - Re: Re: Re: Nemo...

In response to message posted by kerryhook:

I agree with your analysis of Disney's films, I disagree with your presenting it to parents in this forum...a home and family forum. If you were a college professor in a modern media class or women's studies class, which are more appropriate forums for this type of discussion.

I can understand your need to bring to light all of Disney's flaws in their movies. You could find injustice and prejudice for every minority group in Disney's films, past and present. You can look deep enough and find racism in Dumbo. You can clearly find misogny in most of Disney's films with princesses. I agree with your analysis of Nemo to a certain degree, but like I said before, this forum doesn't quite fit the discussion topic.

Instead of finding everything WRONG with what Disney has done in its films, why not offer some alternative films that have gotten YOUR vision of the single mother correct.

Instead of picking apart a CHILDREN'S film, how abouth elping parents learn how to ask questions with their children about what it is they are watching on tv or in the movies? My son and I only watch videos so we can do just that. I have taught him since he was old enough to watch tv that not everything he sees on tv is right, ture or real. We talk about this all the time. We talk back to the tv. We ask questions like, "What would you have done differently than Angelica?" "How could have Chuckie handled that situation better?" And with Nemo, I asked him how it made him feel to see a movie about a single father, since he does not know his father. We had great discussions about Nemo and he never once brought up the fact that he thought it made the femal characters look bad. We watched it again after I read your article and he still couldn't pinpoint any negative characteristics about the female characters. He actually said that Dorry reminded him of his aunt Tammy, who is very forgetful and was probably the inspiration for Dorry's character! LOL! My sister talks like Dorry, has facial expressions like her, etc. So does that mean Disney is saying all women are absent-minded? NO, it's just showing ONE TYPE of person...period.

If I were to give you may analysis of Disney films, you would see that you and I agree and disagree on several levels. It all depends on where you are in your life and how you view reality. It's all perception. I tend to view films as a source of entertainment and I don't look beyond that, unless my son mentions something or asks me questions. Like I said, we talk back to the movies and tv shows, we ask ourselves questions and see how the movie or tv show's creators share out values and morals.

Ultimately, it's up to you as a parent to set the tone for how your family believes. You can set it up to where they are always looking at the world through broken (and pissed off) lenses or you can set it up so they will see through them clearly, without rose tints.

Nemo is a great film about FAMILY and DIFFERENCES and TOLERANCE. Dorry needed a family. She had a "handicap" (short term memory) but she also had a strength (she could read). Nemo needed a family and had a handicap. The fish in the tank were a family. They also had their own quirks that made them special. The turtles were a helpful family. The movie showed how good friends can be our family and how we all get through tough stuff with each others' help. What is so wrong with that message?

Thanks for listening...

-- posted by orbitgal68

Top 6. Oct 28, 2003 12:43 PM

» ErinKinloch - opinions

The great thing I love about suite101 is everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Did I miss a recent sale in Disney stocks? Why is everyone defending a multi billion dollar company? I loved your article and it really made me think about what my son watches on tv and in movies, thanks and keep up the good writing.

-- posted by ErinKinloch