The Psychosocial Implications of Disney Movies

In this volume of 15 articles, contributors from a wide range of disciplines present their analyses of Disney movies and Disney music, which are mainstays of popular culture. The power of the Disney brand has heightened the need for academics to question whether Disney’s films and music function as a tool of the Western elite that shapes the views of those less empowered. Given its global reach, how the Walt Disney Company handles the role of race, gender, and sexuality in social structural inequality merits serious reflection according to a number of the articles in the volume. On the other hand, other authors argue that Disney productions can help individuals cope with difficult situations or embrace progressive thinking. The different approaches to the assessment of Disney films as cultural artifacts also vary according to the theoretical perspectives guiding the interpretation of both overt and latent symbolic meaning in the movies. The authors of the 15 articles encourage readers to engage with the material, showcasing a variety of views about the good, the bad, and the best way forward

Who\u27s Afraid Of The Croc: Objections To the Convention On The Rights Of The Child

The painfully slow process of securing the United States ratification of human rights treaties is a well established part of American history

Anger Matters: Black Female Student Alienation at Predominantly White Institutions

Black female college students at predominantly white institutions commonly experience substantial alienation that impedes their social integration and sense of wellbeing. To probe the source of their isolation, we examine whether race and gender predict reactions to one of the most contentious contemporary social issues: police shootings of unarmed Black individuals. A random sample of 238 Black and white students surveyed at a small private liberal arts Mid-Atlantic college revealed that significantly more Black women felt very angry, depressed, vulnerable and distrustful of police compared to white males and females as well as Black males. We explore factors that could help explain why Black males react differently and how this divide among African Americans could exacerbate the isolation that Black female college students experience as they take on disproportionate responsibility for speaking out on social inequality. Awareness of these phenomena is an important step for instructors seeking more comfortable and productive discussions about racial inequality

Reticent on Race: Promoting Constructive Discussions about Race in a College Classroom

This case study details the classroom dynamics of a Race and Ethnicity course and how to create a comfortable and engaging environment. To determine what students believe leads to a productive dialogue, two colleagues at a small liberal arts college in Maryland used in-depth interview data from ten students to identify four key pedagogical techniques. These strategies were the basis for teaching a group that includes students who are resistant to the existence and implications of white privilege. The data revealed that students want to feel like they are being educated, and not directed. Students’ desire to give input can be inhibited by instructors that have already decided the direction of the class, which deprives students of the chance to shape the conversation, feel engaged, confident, and empowered. Navigating and participating in a conversation about race is an important skill that is also an antidote to the dearth of productive dialogue in this arena. Students appreciate the ability to draw their own conclusions and to hone their critical thinking skills

A library for the town of Milford : an addition to and redefinition of three buildings in an urban context

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1980.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Throughout the course of my architectural education, I have become increasingly committed to the idea of reinforcing the existing fabric of our towns and cities, and intrigued with the need to sometimes redefine the existing architecture within those cities. This thesis concerns itself with the design of a library on a site In Milford, Massachusetts. The site is defined by three proximate, albeit dissimilar buildings, one of which is the original and still operating Milford Public library. This thesis attempts to resolve the urban issues implied by the existing town context, the architectural issues implied by the three buildings on the site, and the programmatic needs of a contemporary library.by Kate Dundes.M.Arch

Symbolism of the US battlefield cross: how boots, rifles, and helmets reinforce masculinity

This paper explores the unconscious symbolism of the battlefield cross memorial, which is comprised of combat boots and a rifle, often with dog tags attached, topped by a helmet. While the memorial's manifest function is to provide solace, build solidarity, and convey respect for patriotic sacrifice in response to grief, the battlefield cross also exalts masculinity at a subliminal level. Because of the latent ways in which the components of the battlefield cross reinforce fallen soldiers' masculinity, the memorial provides an outlet for bereavement according to a masculine script that treats virility as sacrosanct. The resonance of the battlefield cross and its synergism with unrecognized gender coding in broader society illustrate how a powerful symbol intended to honor members of the military also valorizes machismo. This qualitative interpretation could help explain impediments to women achieving parity with men in the military