One of Disney's most successful shows, it follows the magical Russo family and their assorted friends. The eldest son, Justin, is a bright young mind who helps to tutor others both in the wizard world and the normal world. However, he has only one true friend Zeke, also a Brainiac. The two of them communicate in "alien" languages and spend their days arguing over science fair projects. This lack of friends perpetuates the idea that intellectuals have no friends. In the episode "Potion Commotion", Justin helps his sister fix a competitor with a love spell, so he can take his place at a World School Summit at the UN. This portrays intellectuals as greedy and manipulative to get what they want.
Though he can use magic to get what he wants, Justin is also a very strict rule follower and an insufferable tattletale. His staunch all work and no play attitude make him seem like he does not know how to have fun. In the episode "Alex's Spring Fling", Mr. and Mrs. Russo leave Justin in charge of their house. However, the power goes to his head and he becomes a bit of a tyrant. He bans his siblings from leaving the house and forces wizard worksheets on them while saying "being the authority figure is fun." The way Justin is portrayed perpetuates the stereotype that intellectuals are controlling and no …show more content…
The cultivation theory states "that those who spend more time watching television are more likely to perceive the real world in ways that reflect the most common and recurrent messages of the television world, compared to those who watch less television but are otherwise comparable in terms of important demographic characteristics" (Gerding, Signorelli 45). By this theory, children watching television shows that portray intellectuals as unpopular, emasculate, un-athletic, lonely and ______ are urging children to perceive intellectuals as holding these characteristics. If children perceive intellectuals a being discriminated against they are less likely to reach their full potential in