Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us - by: Linda Christensen

ARGUMENT:

    Linda Christensen argues that "Our society's culture industry colonizes their minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream."

     Christensen argues that young society is manipulated early by things such as fairytales, cartoons, and toys. She then says that this early manipulations stays with those children into adulthood and the problem doesn't stop; it is in all media, advertising and surrounds us in our everyday life. Linda Christensen argues that analyzing these things can "develop their critical consciousness...(and) move them (the students analyzing) to action." She wants her students to not only critique these cartoons etc. but to also just become aware of the "secret education" and how powerful it really is. She first begins by asking the students to look at themselves and how it has affected them. She says that no one wants to believe that they have been manipulated but it is so obvious that they have. Once the students can become aware of these problems she then wants them to imagine a "better world, characterized by relationships of respect and equality." After looking at all of these issues in all media types, pulling out examples and relating it to everyday life, she then "create(s) the possibility for action." Once the students formed strong opinions about these issues they were able to create projects that could each about what they had learned. This made their projects real and meaningful, these issues are not just in the classroom they are in everyday life so this gave the students to opportunity to think about something, form an opinion and take action to try to make a difference. Linda Christensen makes the ultimate point, to not be manipulated and allow these stereotypes to become just accepted knowledge. In order to not do that she suggest becoming aware of the issues first and foremost, then analyzing them in order to form an opinion, and finally take action in order to create change. Linda Christensen made me believe that we can make a difference, don't just leave what you learn in the classroom - take it with you into the "real world".

      Adding to this post:

This video is kind of funny- it has mostly hidden messages that are sexual but I thought it went along with what Christensen is saying. I also realized that I used to watch these cartoons and would have never thought about these things as sexual but now I am more aware + also older and more knowledgeable.

                                                   
I feel that Christensen can relate to Delpit because most of the time the subliminal messages are those of the culture of power. This "secret education" that Christensen talks about revolves greatly around subliminally teaching the rules and codes of power. I do not feel that Delpit would agree with how it is getting done nor do I think she would agree with most of the messages because although they may teach these rules and codes of power they mostly do not respect diversity or individual cultures that are not of the culture of power.
  What I would have liked to talk about in class is probably the fact that people do not want to admit that they are/ were influenced or manipulated in any way. I found it interesting how there was a mix in the class blogs where some seem to openly admit they felt influenced and others denied it.