Morality and Adventure
Morality
Mary Poppins (1964)
Children Know Their Nannies
The end credits appear on screen of Mary Poppins (1964). I think to myself, from this 139 minute film I saw beautiful colors presented in Technicolor, sang to countless musical numbers, and learned how the children should be the one to pick the proper nanny. Mary Poppins is an engaging children's film that typifies how young children need to be listened too and need to have the proper care.
From our class discussion about morality, I ask myself if this film would be appropriate for young children to watch and I definitely think so. There aren't any expletives or even strong words to imply expletives. The violence in the film is mainly Bert hitting himself in the one man band or one could say the other applicant nannies blowing away from the heavy winds. The film can teach children and adults how interacting with each other doesn't need to be "boring" and too headstrong.
The father in this story, Mr. Banks, is portrayed as the head king of the household, what he says goes. He runs a tight ship and he hardly interacts with his children. This film was made in 1964 which is not too long after WWII had ended. Men had come home from the war and the main focus for them was to now live a wealthy life. The culture of England and even the United States of having a large home and a high income, one has a nanny for the home. These nannies like the one in Mary Poppins present themselves of being more of the parent than the nanny. The nanny truly knows how the children are doing and what are their goals and desires. The two children want to be listened too but Mr. Banks never gives them the chance.
So, the "practically perfect in every way" nanny arrives. How does she arrive in the film? The viewer sees her prepping herself in the heavens above. She then glides down from the clouds holding her umbrella. She's not a witch though because "witches have brooms" as Jane Banks says to Michael Banks. The viewer sees this angel like woman come down to Cherry Lane. Now giving the idea to children that they can have a perfect, saint like nanny who doesn't do wrong isn't the best moral suggestion. Children need to understand that people aren't perfect, even nannies. Also, snapping your finger won't magically clean your whole room. I think I might have tried that one before as a kid and I was definitely disappointed. Cleaning is work but the film teaches how cleaning one's room can be enjoyable. Mary shows how if one can listen to them and teach them how to have fun while working, children's behavior can improve and they can have more joy.
Despite the presentation of the heavenly nanny, this film is one that all children can view. The majority songs that they can learn are written for them. There are only a few songs that children might think are more for adults like the duets between Mr. Banks and Mrs. Banks or between Mary and Bert. When I think back to my childhood, I can see my young red headed self near my mom cleaning my room singing "A Spoonful of Sugar". Singing the song at least made me think of something else rather than my dirty laundry under my bed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLkp_Dx6VdI
The ending of the film the audience watches Mr. Banks change in that his family, specifically his children are more important than the success at his job. The father chooses to be happy, even sings a Mary Poppin's song, and wants to play with his children. Simply, he wants to fly a kite with his family. His character arc shows how even parents can change and that its not too late to change to spend more time with your children.
Adventure
Treasure Island (1883)
Treasure the Joy in the Journey
What three things would be a must if you were in search of buried treasure? Friends, the treasure map, and a bottle of rum? In Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Lewis Stevenson, a young boy, Jim Hawkins, finds himself with those three things on a search for buried treasure. This adventure packed story ignites a child's imagination of what it would be like to journey with pirates in search of a captain's buried treasure. It also helps children explore and engage with "strange" characters that aren't your "normal" human, the symbol of the buried treasure, and to show how the journey itself impacts a person.
Pirates sing loud and clear, "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum." (Stevenson, 1883. Chapter 1). As a child, one can be familiar with walking the plank by using their toy figures walk on the tub faucet as if it were the plank. Not all kids play cops and robbers. Some also play pirates. This story helps children see a perspective of how pirates can act around young children. They can see that pirates are not all bad and they are not all good. Regarding the exposition of the story, Long John Silver is introduced as being a drunk who has a wooden leg.
Long John Silver as a character is an important one for children to read about. His appearance is daunting and even his very old parrot who sits on his shoulder is frightening. He is not your typical pirate. Long John Silver appears to be on the good side yet he is mainly in finding the treasure for himself. This is is important for children to engage with a character like Long John because they will encounter people like this in real life. Stranger danger is a real thing as we discussed from the story of Little Red Riding Hood (1697). Children can make judgement calls throughout the whole story if Long John will help Jim Hawkins.
What does the treasure chest hold? Will the treasure be worth the journey? I think any child who hears there's buried treasure then that means someone has to find it and someone needs to know what is the treasure. I love the symbol of the treasure. Children have buried treasures in their lives that they all are seeking that is not hidden in a chest underneath the ground. A child's buried treasure could be receiving that A on the report card, having a best friend to play with, or conquering a type of anxiety. The treasure in the story is sought out by multiple people; it's not just one person who wants the treasure. The reader can see that this goal is applicable to everyone and that you can have help finding it along the way.
Jim cannot simply walk out the door and find the hidden treasure six feet away from him. There is a map. The map shows the true distance of the treasure. There needs to be distance traveled in able to reach the X on the map. Jim's journey to the treasure teaches children how exciting the journey itself can be. Finding the treasure map is similar to a roller coaster by having ups and downs. Children can see that the map itself isn't enough to find the treasure. A part of the adventure's story involves supporting characters who help or hurt the main character with their goal. The principles and lessons that are learned on the journey are priceless. Children can see the changes in Jim Hawkins from when he begins his journey to the end. Jim's bravery empowers the timid boy he once was.
Listen to the music from Muppet Treasure Island (1996). The emotions of adventure come sweeping in and motivate you to grab your sword and to sail the seven seas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX9VxBwvFFo
Mary Poppins (1964)
Children Know Their Nannies
The end credits appear on screen of Mary Poppins (1964). I think to myself, from this 139 minute film I saw beautiful colors presented in Technicolor, sang to countless musical numbers, and learned how the children should be the one to pick the proper nanny. Mary Poppins is an engaging children's film that typifies how young children need to be listened too and need to have the proper care.
From our class discussion about morality, I ask myself if this film would be appropriate for young children to watch and I definitely think so. There aren't any expletives or even strong words to imply expletives. The violence in the film is mainly Bert hitting himself in the one man band or one could say the other applicant nannies blowing away from the heavy winds. The film can teach children and adults how interacting with each other doesn't need to be "boring" and too headstrong.
The father in this story, Mr. Banks, is portrayed as the head king of the household, what he says goes. He runs a tight ship and he hardly interacts with his children. This film was made in 1964 which is not too long after WWII had ended. Men had come home from the war and the main focus for them was to now live a wealthy life. The culture of England and even the United States of having a large home and a high income, one has a nanny for the home. These nannies like the one in Mary Poppins present themselves of being more of the parent than the nanny. The nanny truly knows how the children are doing and what are their goals and desires. The two children want to be listened too but Mr. Banks never gives them the chance.
So, the "practically perfect in every way" nanny arrives. How does she arrive in the film? The viewer sees her prepping herself in the heavens above. She then glides down from the clouds holding her umbrella. She's not a witch though because "witches have brooms" as Jane Banks says to Michael Banks. The viewer sees this angel like woman come down to Cherry Lane. Now giving the idea to children that they can have a perfect, saint like nanny who doesn't do wrong isn't the best moral suggestion. Children need to understand that people aren't perfect, even nannies. Also, snapping your finger won't magically clean your whole room. I think I might have tried that one before as a kid and I was definitely disappointed. Cleaning is work but the film teaches how cleaning one's room can be enjoyable. Mary shows how if one can listen to them and teach them how to have fun while working, children's behavior can improve and they can have more joy.
Despite the presentation of the heavenly nanny, this film is one that all children can view. The majority songs that they can learn are written for them. There are only a few songs that children might think are more for adults like the duets between Mr. Banks and Mrs. Banks or between Mary and Bert. When I think back to my childhood, I can see my young red headed self near my mom cleaning my room singing "A Spoonful of Sugar". Singing the song at least made me think of something else rather than my dirty laundry under my bed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLkp_Dx6VdI
The ending of the film the audience watches Mr. Banks change in that his family, specifically his children are more important than the success at his job. The father chooses to be happy, even sings a Mary Poppin's song, and wants to play with his children. Simply, he wants to fly a kite with his family. His character arc shows how even parents can change and that its not too late to change to spend more time with your children.
Adventure
Treasure Island (1883)
Treasure the Joy in the Journey
What three things would be a must if you were in search of buried treasure? Friends, the treasure map, and a bottle of rum? In Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Lewis Stevenson, a young boy, Jim Hawkins, finds himself with those three things on a search for buried treasure. This adventure packed story ignites a child's imagination of what it would be like to journey with pirates in search of a captain's buried treasure. It also helps children explore and engage with "strange" characters that aren't your "normal" human, the symbol of the buried treasure, and to show how the journey itself impacts a person.
Pirates sing loud and clear, "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum." (Stevenson, 1883. Chapter 1). As a child, one can be familiar with walking the plank by using their toy figures walk on the tub faucet as if it were the plank. Not all kids play cops and robbers. Some also play pirates. This story helps children see a perspective of how pirates can act around young children. They can see that pirates are not all bad and they are not all good. Regarding the exposition of the story, Long John Silver is introduced as being a drunk who has a wooden leg.
Long John Silver as a character is an important one for children to read about. His appearance is daunting and even his very old parrot who sits on his shoulder is frightening. He is not your typical pirate. Long John Silver appears to be on the good side yet he is mainly in finding the treasure for himself. This is is important for children to engage with a character like Long John because they will encounter people like this in real life. Stranger danger is a real thing as we discussed from the story of Little Red Riding Hood (1697). Children can make judgement calls throughout the whole story if Long John will help Jim Hawkins.
What does the treasure chest hold? Will the treasure be worth the journey? I think any child who hears there's buried treasure then that means someone has to find it and someone needs to know what is the treasure. I love the symbol of the treasure. Children have buried treasures in their lives that they all are seeking that is not hidden in a chest underneath the ground. A child's buried treasure could be receiving that A on the report card, having a best friend to play with, or conquering a type of anxiety. The treasure in the story is sought out by multiple people; it's not just one person who wants the treasure. The reader can see that this goal is applicable to everyone and that you can have help finding it along the way.
Jim cannot simply walk out the door and find the hidden treasure six feet away from him. There is a map. The map shows the true distance of the treasure. There needs to be distance traveled in able to reach the X on the map. Jim's journey to the treasure teaches children how exciting the journey itself can be. Finding the treasure map is similar to a roller coaster by having ups and downs. Children can see that the map itself isn't enough to find the treasure. A part of the adventure's story involves supporting characters who help or hurt the main character with their goal. The principles and lessons that are learned on the journey are priceless. Children can see the changes in Jim Hawkins from when he begins his journey to the end. Jim's bravery empowers the timid boy he once was.
Listen to the music from Muppet Treasure Island (1996). The emotions of adventure come sweeping in and motivate you to grab your sword and to sail the seven seas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX9VxBwvFFo
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