Comments on: Akeelah and the Bee: Sticks to the Letter, but Still Spellbinding http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/ "If an otter can't have fun doing something, it just simply won't do it." Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:15:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: theotter http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-236 theotter Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:20:34 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-236 Yes, as bad as most of the "High School Musical" songs are, I did like it that, rather than a simplistic version of the "be yourself" message, the movie dealt with kids who were trying things outside their comfort zones, outside their designated peer groups. The one good song (musically and lyrically) is "Stick to the Stuff You Know" (meant ironically). It's got some of the movie's best dancing, too. :) Yes, as bad as most of the “High School Musical” songs are, I did like it that, rather than a simplistic version of the “be yourself” message, the movie dealt with kids who were trying things outside their comfort zones, outside their designated peer groups. The one good song (musically and lyrically) is “Stick to the Stuff You Know” (meant ironically). It’s got some of the movie’s best dancing, too. :)

]]> By: Dormouse http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-235 Dormouse Mon, 23 Oct 2006 23:25:58 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-235 <i>Plus, I think it CAN (not that it always necessarily does) create even more angst in the teenage years, when kids may start to realize that there isn’t just one essential “self” they can be true to</i> This is an excellent point. I've long since reconciled myself to having more than one 'self', or as I fully admit, more than one personality (in the non-clinical sense), and it amuses me to reflect that in my wardrobe. (At the conference I attended last year, a woman approached me on the last evening and commented--in a flattering way--on my eternally-shifting appearance. She'd first seen me in a novelty t-shirt and jeans with my hair in braids. The next day, she attended my paper presentation and saw me in a button-down top, slacks, and dress shoes with my hair pinned up. On the night in question, I was at a ball, and thus was wearing a little black dress and killer heels. I was delighted to have someone notice the multiple reflections of a multiple self that determine my outfits.) At the same time, though, I think the message of "being yourself" is ideally meant to encourage kids to figure out who that self is. I haven't seen all of "High School Musical" (since you mentioned DIsney), and maybe Porpoise could fill me in here, but as I recall, a major part of that movie was pointing out how you can be more than one person and fill more than one role, but all of those things go into making you who you are. Plus, I think it CAN (not that it always necessarily does) create even more angst in the teenage years, when kids may start to realize that there isn’t just one essential “self” they can be true to

This is an excellent point. I’ve long since reconciled myself to having more than one ’self’, or as I fully admit, more than one personality (in the non-clinical sense), and it amuses me to reflect that in my wardrobe. (At the conference I attended last year, a woman approached me on the last evening and commented–in a flattering way–on my eternally-shifting appearance. She’d first seen me in a novelty t-shirt and jeans with my hair in braids. The next day, she attended my paper presentation and saw me in a button-down top, slacks, and dress shoes with my hair pinned up. On the night in question, I was at a ball, and thus was wearing a little black dress and killer heels. I was delighted to have someone notice the multiple reflections of a multiple self that determine my outfits.)

At the same time, though, I think the message of “being yourself” is ideally meant to encourage kids to figure out who that self is. I haven’t seen all of “High School Musical” (since you mentioned DIsney), and maybe Porpoise could fill me in here, but as I recall, a major part of that movie was pointing out how you can be more than one person and fill more than one role, but all of those things go into making you who you are.

]]> By: theotter http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-234 theotter Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:08:57 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-234 Yes, "be yourself" can be an important message, if not force-fed to kids excessively. My problem with it, other than its ubiquitousness on the Disney Channel, is that it's the current message adults stick into kids' movies, TV shows, and books because they think it's good for them, not because kids are actually interested in such a message. Plus, I think it CAN (not that it always necessarily does) create even more angst in the teenage years, when kids may start to realize that there isn't just one essential "self" they can be true to. No doubt in a few years adults will change their minds about what they think it's good for kids to hear, and then they (educators, entertainers) will start bombarding them with some new, and possibly contradictory, message. Yes, “be yourself” can be an important message, if not force-fed to kids excessively. My problem with it, other than its ubiquitousness on the Disney Channel, is that it’s the current message adults stick into kids’ movies, TV shows, and books because they think it’s good for them, not because kids are actually interested in such a message.

Plus, I think it CAN (not that it always necessarily does) create even more angst in the teenage years, when kids may start to realize that there isn’t just one essential “self” they can be true to.

No doubt in a few years adults will change their minds about what they think it’s good for kids to hear, and then they (educators, entertainers) will start bombarding them with some new, and possibly contradictory, message.

]]> By: Dormouse http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-233 Dormouse Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:15:37 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-233 But isn't being relaxed and playful all part of "being yourself"? I know we tend to disagree on issues of sentiment, but no matter how trite and annoying the "be yourself" messages are, they're still important and need to be reinforced. Especially as they're constantly undermined by the real messages of "be yourself as long as yourself isn't weird/ugly/Goth/potentially threatening in anyway (real or imagined)/too smart/too dumb, etc." In other words, be yourself as long as yourself falls within the confines of social expectations of teenagers. Maybe it's just a problem of expression. But the concept of being true to yourself is crucial, I think. But isn’t being relaxed and playful all part of “being yourself”? I know we tend to disagree on issues of sentiment, but no matter how trite and annoying the “be yourself” messages are, they’re still important and need to be reinforced.

Especially as they’re constantly undermined by the real messages of “be yourself as long as yourself isn’t weird/ugly/Goth/potentially threatening in anyway (real or imagined)/too smart/too dumb, etc.” In other words, be yourself as long as yourself falls within the confines of social expectations of teenagers.

Maybe it’s just a problem of expression. But the concept of being true to yourself is crucial, I think.

]]> By: theotter http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-232 theotter Sat, 21 Oct 2006 12:37:59 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-232 And I should add that sometimes "letting our light shine" entails refusing to play the game of success in the way the world expects us to. Sometimes we're the best witness possible by being relaxed and playful about our work. At least that's what an otter would say. And I should add that sometimes “letting our light shine” entails refusing to play the game of success in the way the world expects us to. Sometimes we’re the best witness possible by being relaxed and playful about our work. At least that’s what an otter would say.

]]> By: Pop Otter http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-231 Pop Otter Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:19:59 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2006/10/akeelah-and-the-bee-sticks-to-the-letter-but-still-spellbinding/#comment-231 I'm sorry that it took a New-Agey person to say it, but I think it is true for Christians as well. I agree that many Christians have a "false humility" emphasis. Many others hold a "no competition, no striving for excellence, no insisting on effort" emphasis. It is true that Christian values ought not be driven by worldly success, but excellence at whatever we do honors God, and we ought not have to apologize for it. Indeed, we ought to seek it. Hurray for your observation. I’m sorry that it took a New-Agey person to say it, but I think it is true for Christians as well. I agree that many Christians have a “false humility” emphasis. Many others hold a “no competition, no striving for excellence, no insisting on effort” emphasis.

It is true that Christian values ought not be driven by worldly success, but excellence at whatever we do honors God, and we ought not have to apologize for it. Indeed, we ought to seek it.

Hurray for your observation.

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