Don’t let nostalgia disrupt the underlying message

Nostalgia can be a heartwarming feeling. However, it can easily blur the lines of your ability to address problematic contexts. If you remember something so fondly, it’s hard to differentiate the good from the bad, because you have developed some sense of bias. We often struggle to adjust our thinking after the fact in order to critically think about things. 

When it comes to things like movies, we all have some that we hold dearly from childhood. Due to nostalgia tied to certain movies, we sometimes forget or blur out aspects that are in fact problematic. Re-watching movies from the past today can really shed some light on what we missed or what we didn’t account for. It can be hard for us to think poorly about movies we loved so much, even after learning of their issues. It is important to understand, nostalgia aside, what we have internalized from a young age. 

 Here I will (hopefully) ruin some childhood classics for you in order to prove my point.

1)    Sixteen Candles

To sum up just a few of the many problems:

The main love interest (Jake) decides to pursue the main character (Sam) whilst he is still very much in a relationship with his then girlfriend (Caroline). Then at a party he takes advantage of his very drunk girlfriend by allowing someone he barely knows (Ted the “Geek”) to drive her home, all while a drunk Caroline is thinking it’s Jake taking her home. Safe to say let’s stop idolizing Jake as the “dreamy” love interest he’s meant to be!

Ted the “Geek” proceeds to take advantage of the situation by getting his friends to take pictures of an unconscious Caroline and him as “proof” of the situation. Not to mention the next morning there is an implied occurrence of sexual assault that took place with an intoxicated Caroline and sober Ted.

And if all of that isn’t bad enough, there is the foreign exchange student character (Long Duk Dong), who was solely used in the movie as an exacerbated racist stereotype for a cheap laugh (I suppose). Update: it’s not funny.

2)    Most Disney princess movies pre early 2000s 

These movies as a whole are clear cut examples of childhood classics that are particularly problematic for their age demographic – mainly young girls. Movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas, are just a few of the movies in this genre that convey problematic and concerning messages that are easily internalized at a young age. These movies depict instances of kissing without consent, needing a prince to make your dreams come true, giving up one’s own voice to be able to be with a man, lack of female independence and autonomy or support of that, racialized stereotypes and eroticized depictions of women of colour, and many more concerning messages and plot points. I would think twice before showing these movies to young kids nowadays. 

3)    Space Jam

Continuing on the topic of negative portrayals of female characters I thought I’d throw in Space Jam. I agree, the movie is a classic for many, however there is a lot to unpack in terms of female-based objectification. Let’s remember Lola the Bunny, who although is not technically human, is still very much depicted in the same regard as a human woman. Is she really an empowering female character? Sure, they emphasize her basketball abilities – but just remember what she wears, and how she acts. It’s not hard to come to the conclusion that she is an overtly sexualized character solely there as a love interest of Bugs Bunny. If you re-watch the movie, I promise you won’t be able to unsee this fact.  

Nostalgia aside

As much as we fondly recall these childhood movies, there needs to be clarity in terms of understanding what is really being conveyed. Think to yourself: what am I learning? What is being normalized? What is the main takeaway? If nothing good comes from such critical thought than it’s clear that these movies lack progression. It’s perfectly fine to still watch them and still love them because of the memories that they bring, just don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgement. 

Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her to. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.