Robinson, T., Callister, M., Magoffin, D., Moore, J. (August 2007).The portrayal of older characters in Disney animated films. Journal of Aging Studies, 203-213, 12. Upon reviewing my understanding on the text, “The portrayal of older characters in Disney animated films,” the main argument that was presented was how the use and creation of older characters are either negatively or positively impacting children and how children perceive older characters in Disney films by continuing to consume media at an early age. When studied, researchers found that specific characteristics can affect how children perceive older people based on how they are portrayed in Disney films, which included the characters physical and emotional characteristics.
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The criteria was as followed: An appearance of retirement, extensive grey hair, wrinkles of the skin, extensive loss of hair or balding, cracking voice, use of aid such as a cane or wheelchair, the parent of a son or daughter who is middle aged or older, and evidence of children or grandchildren (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). By following such criteria, it became easier to identify older characters in films. As stated, “early studies also suggest that the distinction of the characteristics of older characters in Disney Films was not fine-drawn” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). Firstly, coders wanted to identity between the characters as “human” and “nonhuman” in their role in Disney films. After determining between the two, coders then moved on to reviewing the role of the characters in the film and the role they played in the films. However, when the method of coding was used, it was only focused on the characters who were vital in telling a story or important to a specific scene in the film. As a result, it was stated that “coders did not focus on characters used as extras in scenes due to the characters not being an important contributor to the impact of how they children viewed such characters” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). The coding of these …show more content…
“Out of the 93 characters coded, 24 (25.8) percent were seen as “nonhuman” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore). Following the next decades, there was an increase in the use of older characters in films ranging from 2.0 characters to now 3.8 characters per film. The next method that was researched to determine how these characters are portrayed to younger viewers was the gender and ethnic representations of older characters. It was seen that “majority of males (67%) dominate females (33%) in the roles of films, while the Caucasian ethnicity dominates any other ethnicity in films with older characters” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore). The use of older characters and the role they played in films whether that would have been a major role or minor role was also determined. According to Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore, 39% of older characters were placed as a major role, while 61% were in minor roles. In the Disney Films, the older males usually had a role of higher power, while the role of females usually played a negative character. Overall, each were coded and seen as negative characters in the films. The physical characters of the older characters and how they impacted the way children view them, are also seen as an important research conducted. According to Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore, they seen that 80% percent
The criteria was as followed: An appearance of retirement, extensive grey hair, wrinkles of the skin, extensive loss of hair or balding, cracking voice, use of aid such as a cane or wheelchair, the parent of a son or daughter who is middle aged or older, and evidence of children or grandchildren (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). By following such criteria, it became easier to identify older characters in films. As stated, “early studies also suggest that the distinction of the characteristics of older characters in Disney Films was not fine-drawn” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). Firstly, coders wanted to identity between the characters as “human” and “nonhuman” in their role in Disney films. After determining between the two, coders then moved on to reviewing the role of the characters in the film and the role they played in the films. However, when the method of coding was used, it was only focused on the characters who were vital in telling a story or important to a specific scene in the film. As a result, it was stated that “coders did not focus on characters used as extras in scenes due to the characters not being an important contributor to the impact of how they children viewed such characters” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore 2007). The coding of these …show more content…
“Out of the 93 characters coded, 24 (25.8) percent were seen as “nonhuman” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore). Following the next decades, there was an increase in the use of older characters in films ranging from 2.0 characters to now 3.8 characters per film. The next method that was researched to determine how these characters are portrayed to younger viewers was the gender and ethnic representations of older characters. It was seen that “majority of males (67%) dominate females (33%) in the roles of films, while the Caucasian ethnicity dominates any other ethnicity in films with older characters” (Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore). The use of older characters and the role they played in films whether that would have been a major role or minor role was also determined. According to Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore, 39% of older characters were placed as a major role, while 61% were in minor roles. In the Disney Films, the older males usually had a role of higher power, while the role of females usually played a negative character. Overall, each were coded and seen as negative characters in the films. The physical characters of the older characters and how they impacted the way children view them, are also seen as an important research conducted. According to Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore, they seen that 80% percent