Directions: state an argument (thesis) that you believe both texts support. Note: Your thesis does not have to be exactly "values Teare and Hade see being promoted by children's book series that are linked to lucrative franchises," but it's a good place to start.
If you have difficulty devising a thesis, go to your LBH and read pages 36-41.
Perform exercise #1 under “Writing as a
Reader” on pg. 573 of Inquiry, but
write a paragraph rather than an essay. Your paragraph should be approximately 200 words, but no more than 300. (Due before the beginning of class on the 29th.)
Replies: As usual, you are here to help and learn from your classmates.
Obviously, children view and interact with the world much differently than adults do. So it goes without saying that children will also have different interests than adults do. Just because we as adults have the wisdom to understand that mastering every minute detail of a video game has very little “real world” application does not mean that expertise in this area lacks validity, purpose, or enjoyment. In ten years that interest will slowly change from video games to YOUR car and the neighbor’s son or daughter. At that time, many adults will wish for a return to those halcyon days where their child’s biggest concern was in knowing all of the Pokemon names and abilities. Eventually their interests and areas of expertise will hopefully turn towards solving the world’s problems, and they’ll look back and get a good laugh at how much they thought they knew. Everything is new in the eyes of a child, and they pursue their interests with a fervor and tenacity that few adults could hope to muster. And if you are of the mindset that a child’s interests are trivial or otherwise useless maybe you should ask a five year old what they think of your hobbies and areas of expertise.
ReplyDeleteThesis: Authors and publication companies are targeting young readers with consumerist doctrine.
DeleteObviously a work in progress.
You have a great start to your thesis and just need to expand it more, but it sounds good so far. : )
DeleteThesis:
ReplyDeleteTo say that books such as the ‘Harry Potter’ series as well as the ‘American Girl’ promote franchises and commercialism is a valid argument in some ways. Children’s literature for the most part has been geared for entertainment and to promote sales, however if the authors claim educational benefits, then presenting real life values should be the focus, rather than a romanticized view.
Exercise 1:
In the writings by Teare and Hade, both authors seem to argue the point of the deception that franchises and corporations make in order to promote sales and sell their products by backing stories that are romanticized. If the general reading population buys into the ideals promoted in popular culture stories, then it can be said deception sells products. It is a matter of separating what is practical and what is fantasy, and the theme then is that fantasy sells, and reality does not. It does not necessarily mean that books like these are bad, but it is a matter of teaching the young readers the difference between entertainment and real life. Reading fantasy or even watching movies based on fantasy or inaccurate history can be a positive break from the daily monotony, but need to be defined for what they are.
Exercise 1:
ReplyDeleteThroughout the writing “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books” by Daniel Hade, Hade not only anticipates but also addresses any disagreements his reads may present. Hade starts his essay by providing the history of the Pleasant Company and the extensive background of the products. He follows up by acknowledges the companies accomplishments and successes including appearances of their books on the 100 all time bestselling children’s book list. After the author established his credibility with his knowledge of the company, he then goes on to persuade the audience that the American Girl Books are no more than clever. The author take one passage from the Meet Kirsten book and in the following seven passages breaks down every historically inaccurate fact. Hade points out misspelled names, inaccurate routes, and misleading statements. After explaining the inaccuracies, the author explains why such inaccuracies exist. Hade states that the American Girl Books have fallen into the same feel-good display of history as our American history books. Hade sums up his argument by claiming that the ultimate goal of the American Girl books is ultimately the American goal of consuming stuff.
Thesis:
Winston Churchill once said “The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Although these words seem simple as best, their meaning and message hold true. Americans often forget to look at the past for what it really is. It is important for people to not just know but also understand where they come from and why. History is a part of people; a part of America. The next generation will be better prepared for the future once they have taken a step back to learn from histories mistakes. There is just one problem with this concept. As a society America is not teaching its youth the reality behind history. From history books to children’s fiction books reality is distorted by a romanticized image. It is this romanticized image that shelters America’s youth from the truths of reality.
Thesis:
ReplyDeleteChildren’s literature has become a large part of franchising and commercialization. The standard for educating our children has now been reduced to a romanticized view rather than reality and historical facts.
Writing as a Reader, Exercise 1
While reading the articles by Teare and Hade on the “American Girl” series and the “Harry Potter” series it was brought to the reader’s attention that these books are now linked to lucrative franchises. As parents, educators, and role-models it is crucial that our children are able to distinguish the difference between reality and a romanticized view. In Hade’s article he points out that “the ultimate goal of these books, the dolls and the accessories seem to be to connect American girls, not with their history, but with the ultimate American goal-consuming stuff.” While reading Teare’s article, she points out that in Rowling’s world, as we might expect, expensive items must be bought in order to perform and magic. Commodities are used and nonetheless marketed and consumed as ours are when speaking about wands, potions, cauldrons, and spell books. After looking over both websites for each series I have come to the conclusion that both are strictly meant for the purpose of profit. Both are set up for purchases before you even click into anything else and neither one of the websites give you any detailed information on how incredibly educational or realistic they are, so I believe it is safe to say that both series of books have now become strictly for franchising and commercialization.
Sara Patch
Thesis: The articles by Teare and Hade convey that larger corporations use popular books to bring children into the world of commercial consumerism, by turning the books into commodities.
ReplyDeleteIn Teare and Hades articles they convey that larger franchises use books for their company’s personal gain, by turning popular books into commodities that attract children into the world of consumerism. A visit to the American Girl website will show a doll front and center, this doll is the girl of the year. The doll is the perfect idealized girl that is used to attract children to click on the link, under the word NEW, to learn more about the American Girl. Even the Warren Bros. Harry Potter web site is a quick click away from looking closer at items that come with a price. The Harry Potter books and the American Girls books have become commodities that have been used by franchises to attract children into consumerism, the American Girls and the Harry Potter web sites are used to keep that attention.
Thesis:
ReplyDeleteIt is safe to say and concede that the “Harry Potter” and “American Girl” franchises started with the intention to inspire and/or educate the children reading these book series at the expense of commodity and consumerism. However, it is plainly obvious that these two series have not only fallen to the allure of commodity, but have undercut their original mission and voice through doing so.
Exercise:
DeleteThe message and vibe of Teare’s and Hade’s essays are ones that scream the danger and poisonous effect that consumerism and commodity can have to child readings. Not that it is a bad thing to have, on the contrary, consumerism and commodity is more or less what drives capitalistic societies. However, they both write that too much commodity and consumerism can certainly be harmful. Especially when it is selling historical fallacies, like in the “American Girls” franchise, and in essence contradicting the values to why the stories were being written in the first place like the “Harry Potter” series. At first, the “Harry Potter” books was written with a warning. That being to consumed with money and “stuff” to greatly can only be dangerous for someone. A fitting example of this is the dimwitted, self-centered, and fabulously wealthy character Gilderoy Lockhart from the second “Harry Potter” book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. However, after many years the Harry Potter books have become commoditized and fallen to consumerist pressures. By taking a visit to both the websites of the “Harry Potter” and “American Girl” franchises, it’s not a challenge to find buttons and links that lead to “stuff” to buy. The websites further show and convince an interested reader of Teare’s and Hade’s claims. Commodity and consumerism has invaded our children’s books and it has become almost militarized. But the most depressing problem is that we not only do not care but that we do not even know that it is there.
Michaela Pakenham
ReplyDeleteInstructor Taylor
Eng 122
January 29, 2013
In reading "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magi" by author Elizabeth Teare and "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me," by Daniel Hade, an argument about the values they see being promoted by children's books series that are linked to lucrative franchise arises. In "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic," Teare gives examples of author J.K. Rowlings novels and the many ways it has been used as a commodity and turned into a phenomenon. Teare explains children's literature critic, Jack Zipes argument: "it is exactly because the success of the Harry Potter novels is so great and reflects certain troubling sociocultural trends that we must try to evaluate the phenomenon."(552) Teare continues to give Zipe's opinion that J.K Rowlings novels are nothing more than conventional and nothing special. The novels have instead been used to turn the middle class children to commodities. Author Daniel Hade reveals a similar argument in "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me." He explains the American Girl Collection produced by the Pleasant Company and expresses concern over the historical accuracy of the books. To conclude both authors explain an argument of values they see promoted by children's book series that are linked to lucrative franchise.
Thesis: In the articles by Teare and Hade, both authors express great concern about the agendas of authors as well as large corporations in the promotion and sales of children’s literature. Although this may have all started as something innocent, it has turned into a large scheme of selling commodity without realizing the effects it has on children everywhere. It is perfectly acceptable to have fantasy mixed in with reality, however, that must be clearly defined and stated.
ReplyDeleteExercise 1: While reading the articles of both Teare and Hade, there are many valid points being made about consumerism and how children’s literature is greatly affected by it. Many could argue that this dispute is blown way out of proportion and that franchise and consumerism are what drives this country. This is true; however, once it is pushed too far, it can lead to something very dangerous. Teaching children that they must have the latest dolls, wands, costumes and other materialistic things, takes away from the books themselves. Upon entering the "Harry Potter" and "American Girl" websites, it is abundantly clear to see the "not so hidden" agenda that large corporations have. The website offers Harry Potter mugs, necklaces, movies, slippers etc. It is shockingly difficult to find where to purchase the books on the website itself. That speaks volume. Since when could a person go to the Harry Potter website and struggle to find the books? Coincidentally, going to the “American Girl” website, the same thing happens. On the front page, a big doll is portrayed for sale. Words below the doll include: Shop, Visit our store, and download this application. This is so significant in demonstrating how much consumerism plays a massive part in our everyday lives.
Jay Filbert
ReplyDeleteProfessor Taylor
English 122- 115
29 January 2014
Thesis:
These two articles from Teare and Hade indicate internally and externally how commodity culture is revealed and utilized through the intentions of the authors and their books that these writers talk about.
Writing as a Reader, Exercise 1:
Elizabeth Teare's and Daniel Hade's articles talk about the impact of commodity culture on children that J.K Rowling and The Pleasant Company promote within their book series' and the external products that tie in. The websites directly associated with these books promote a theme that creates a fantasy world where the knowledge and merchandise are presented as necessities to live in these worlds. Pottermore.com, has created for fan's a virtual world of Harry Potter to show that there is more knowledge to be gained from the exclusive new writings from J.K Rowling, free accounts to sign up for so that the fans have their place in the wizard world with other fans, and games and activities for members to undertake. Pottermore then has a shop that intertwines with Warner Brother's HarryPotterShop.com, where the fan and members alike can purchase authentic Harry Potter related items; from a collection set of wands from the Tri-Wizard champions, to costumes and modern clothing, to collector special edition book and movie sets. This site not only promotes the books and the desire to read, it also promotes the value of interacting with other fans by being a member of the site as well as purchasing the merchandise, which is commodity culture that Teare points out. Another example is AmericanGirl.com, which creates a world for young girls to know the American Girls themselves, the history in which they lived, and draws them into participating in the girls' journeys. This is done through playing games, reading information on the girls' friends and families, and selling the dolls, books, and accessories. Therefore, this site shows Hade's concerns that the American Girls Collection is just another way to make profit through drawing girls into buying products in order to live in the fantasy world of American Girls. It shows how commodity culture is used through the website.
Thesis: The lucrative world of franchises have taken the popular literature of children’s books and turned them into commercial commodities to lure the children into becoming a consumer.
ReplyDeleteExercise 1: “The American Girls Collections was created to give girls an understanding of their past and a sense of pride in the traditions they share with girls of yesterday.” To educate little girls on how girls of the past lived and in turn trying to give girls of the present a sense of pride. As it is, it is the franchises that take control over such commodities and dramatize their contents. Hade, who wrote the essay on, “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me,” tells of how the Pleasant Company inaccurately tells the history of the girls and is a sanitized version of version of true history. It is clearly shown that history or truth is not its purpose but to romanticize their products to sell and make a profit. The popular book series Harry Potter was to inspire children into the fantasy realm of magic. But its commodities sell for a high price because they are artisan crafted. Each one of these franchises’ has its own web site to make the purchasing power easier for its products.
Thesis: As the world of technology progresses the value of originality of products is being consumed by the growing trend of consumerism turning reality into fiction for each new generation.
ReplyDeleteBoth texts have the argument on whether consumerism is taking over the value of seeing reality versus fiction in products. Teare covers this argument with evidence from multiple different resources, but mainly focuses on the evidence that is found straight in the Harry potter book. Teare explains how Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, pokes fun at the adults for portraying them as easily manipulated people being sold into worldly commodities. While also claiming that kids are so pure that it does not affect them in any way. The value that Rowling shows is that it is okay to have a false reality as long as it suits the reader’s interest. Hade’s similar position stands on evidence by first stating facts about what was going on in the American Girl Dolls company, then he moves into an explanation of the fallacies in the American girl’s dolls description, and lastly going in specifically onto one American girl dolls story that is full of misrepresentations on what it was really like at those times and places in history. Hade compiles all this up to theorize that the American girl dolls are strictly out to get money. The significance is that both of these text essentially encourage the readers to understand that consumerism is drawing a big line between quantity and quality in big manufacturer items.