Introductory Post
Hi— I'm Derek, and this is my blog for Writing 101: Decoding Disney. The basics: I'm a freshman at Duke studying public policy (no, I don't know what public policy really is, but it looks cute on a resume); I'm from Los Angeles (yes, I do run into celebrities on the occasion); you can always talk to me about skincare, makeup, TikTok, or marketing.
Growing up, I was surrounded by distinctively vibrant forms of media – most of them in some way related to the Disney multiverse — that have shaped my current identity today: Hannah Montana depicted a simplistic tweenage tug-of-war between fame, fortune and pubescence, which I heavily related to as a queer tween constantly code-switching to accommodate family and classroom expectations; Mulan presented a nuanced portrayal of Chinese cultural customs, which I struggled with as an Asian-American; and more traditional narratives like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty ingrained in my head age-old hetero-patriarchal beliefs that, to this day, cultivate a nationwide culture of toxic masculinity that I am complicit in.
So yeah— this class means a lot to me, as I'm sure it does to all of my classmates. Though I'm not the biggest Disney fan today, I think we can all acknowledge the unprecedented impact that the Disney multiverse has had on our upbringings, our belief systems, and our ethical codes. As a columnist for the Duke Chronicle, I write a lot about how pop culture intersects with social justice, and I can't help but acknowledge that Disney has played an unparalleled role in shaping pop culture and pop cultural narratives for the better— or for the worst. I hope to explore that nuance through this class, and through this blog— so stay tuned!
Hey Derek! Like you, I was not an avid consumer of Disney media growing up, however I do find it interesting thinking about how much control Disney has by using storytelling to shape someone's childhood. As an Asian-American, I also enjoyed that Mulan helped bridge the gap between Chinese customs (albeit a bit outdated) and Western tales. I think DIsney is taking steps in the right direction to increasing this sort of representation in their content, and am excited to see what they have planned for the future.
ReplyDeleteHi Derek! Welcome! :)
ReplyDeleteAs an English major and arts advocate, it warms my heart to read that you're a columnist and that you write about pop culture and its intersection with social justice. One of the major challenges we face in academia is getting people to take pop culture seriously. There's a strong knee-jerk reaction that (1) if you enjoy it, it's not "academic" (whatever that means) and that (2) pop culture isn't important precisely because it's popular. Which, IMHO, makes it all the more important, given the pervasive platform it has. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Hi! Its so cool that you're a columnist for the Duke Chronicle I love reading it! I really agree with you about Disney shaping who you are as a person because it was such an integral parts of our childhood, especially in our generation. When I grew up my absolute favorite Disney Princess was Aurora and I shared in your disappointment as I grew up that she wasn't a more nuanced character other than the relationship she was in, which she didn't contribute much to anyways other than being the ideal "woman." I'm excited to work with you in this class!
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