Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

US 238 Rethinking Children’s Animated Films


This course asks students to look beyond the marketing strategies that position classic children’s films as “innocent”, “magical”, and “fun for the whole family” in order to consider more carefully and objectively what lies beneath large media companies very successful, synergistic product promotion. In particular, the course would focus on the following: the evolution of media industries into an oligopoly where six or seven media conglomerates own most of the media in the US; the justification for media corporations promoting and protecting corporate images and marketing plans for classical animated films in particular; the appropriation and changing of original storylines to serve many purposes and ideas of not only the writers and producers; an exploration of the appeal for children of all ages as audience(s); film analyses to reveal subtexts embedded in the films (e.g. racial stereotypes, gender roles, consumerism); a study of how these subtexts have the power to impact our understanding of self and society; and, a look at the reception of children’s films by critics and consumers both at home and abroad in an increasingly global market. Particular emphasis will be placed on the Disney corporation as well as Dreamworks SKG, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and Hanna-Barbera Productions.