There is constant speculation when trying to figure out what is so different about the college students of today. And let’s face it, we are unique in a lot of ways; some good and some bad.
On one hand, this age group can install and operate a DVR faster than their parents can open the TV Guide and find out what time “The Price is Right” is on. Then again, this generation has fueled the historically shameful rise of Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” which can only be fun, fun, fun, fun for so long.
But what has shaped this current class of college students? Is it the age of technology? Or maybe the present political situations happening worldwide. Heck, it may even be that crazy rap music that all the kids are listening to these days.
These are all good guesses, but they are all incorrect. The answer is actually so simple it’s only one word: Disney.
That’s right, folks. Disney has left its mark on the children of the ’90’s, and it is not going away anytime soon.
The majority of college kids grew up with Disney movies on their televisions, and some of their fondest memories come from watching these films. Whether it be battling the Huns in “Mulan” or taking a magic carpet ride with “Aladdin,” everyone knows the classics. Even 20-year-olds working on pre-med degrees can on occasion go into the bathroom, stare themselves in the eye and ask, “Mirror, mirror on the wall … What the hell is my chemistry teacher saying?” And even if that answer never comes, we still keep going back, because we still believe!
To this day, students will gather to rewatch their favorite childhood movies. But should it still be socially acceptable for the leaders of the near future to still be watching films made for 8-year-olds?
In a word: Duh.
A lot of the satire in these films was aimed at parents, because in the end they were the ones paying for the movie and would be more likely to watch it if it was entertaining across multiple age groups. An example of this would be the genie in “Aladdin,” who makes numerous pop-culture references that would be way over the head of a young child.
Also, though many people don’t realize it, there is a lot of educational information in Disney movies that went unnoticed when we were still in elementary school.
Mulan can represent the pride that can be taken in overcoming gender-based stereotypes. Pocahontas shows the importance of reaching across racial barriers. Simba from “The Lion King” is a character that must persevere through personal doubt to reach a greater goal.
Timon and Pumbaa exemplify the importance of proper hygiene and eating habits. Characters like the magic carpet in “Aladdin” or Dumbo expose children to the wonders of creative aeronautics. “Bambi” hits home with its stance on the significance of environmental protection and safety.
Mulan was the first one that taught young boys that they become men when they are as swift as a coursing river, have all the force of a great typhoon, have all the strength of a raging fire and are, of course, mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Now that’s information that is going to get through a lot clearer than sitting down with mommy and daddy and having “the talk.”
Jasmine in “Aladdin” owns a tiger as a pet! There’s no real educational value in that statement. It’s just awesome and should be noted because children everywhere wish they had one after viewing that film.
The Princess Effect cannot go without mention. Little girls dream of become a princess because of these movies, and many had countless hours of delight when thinking of themselves as Cinderella or Snow White.
The power these films have on children cannot be understated. They can provide confidence for young kids who are happiest when envisioning themselves as the characters they see on screen. The true happiness and the smile on a child’s face that results from Disney movies cannot be replaced, and that’s the most important thing.
Why shouldn’t college kids still be able to openly watch these movies? If nothing else, it can transport us back to a simpler time, a moment when we were innocent and happy for the tiniest reasons. There is still a child in all of us, and denying that will only take us farther away from attaining that same gleeful smile we had when we watched Disney movies on a regular basis.
We may be the future of the world, but we must remember we are going to have to create that world. So let’s make it a whole new world, one that’s shining, shimmering and splendid. Even if we don’t have a magic carpet to get us there, we are the tech-savvy generation after all. We can probably just build one.