Horton Hears a Who and Politics in America

Even though Horton Hears a Who is a cartoon presented to viewers of a younger age, it still has a very good story line and very valuable lessons. There is a saying that says if you can not hear, feel or see something that it does not exist. This is not true. This movie proves this because even though the animals in the jungle could not see the Whos, they were still there. This movie taught that it takes faith to believe in things that we may not be able to see, hear, or feel. Another lesson that this movie tries to teach kids is learning to accept other people and their differences. The saying in the film " A person is a person, no matter how small" tries to say that even though a person is different or small than you, they still deserve respect. Everyone deserves acceptance and compassion, no matter how different they are. This film had a lesson about team work. The Whos worked together to make themselves known because that was the only way. This teaches that sometimes things can not happen unless you work together as a team. This film also teaches forgiveness. Although Horton was put through hell and back by Jane the kangaroo, he still forgave her. Practicing forgiveness is the only way it will happen more often. It is a give and take world. Something else I learned about the film is that is shows that caring for others will help make you feel better about yourself at the end of the day. If you are so caught up about caring for only yourself, you can never see the happiness that you can bring to other people's lives by helping them.

Walker State of Play Blog

In State of Play, we see the relationship between government and the influence the media has on the public's perception of politics. The amount of coverage given to certain issues and the amount of slant put on the issues affects the public's exposure to, and knowledge of such issues. The media is the public link to the government, and greatly effects public perception of current events. In the scene where Sophia’s death as a suicide is being headlined, it is clear that there aren’t hard facts behind that assertion. This shows that the press can choose what information to describe and what to ignore. That's not to say the media is always purposefully biased and deceitful, but it is a sobering thought that facts could easily be skewed by the media for political gain. It is our duty as American citizens to not just take the news at face value but to use varying sources of information in order for us to form our own opinion based on facts and not on biases fed to us by the mainstream media.

Gentner State of Play REVISED

Without the press, we would be unable to see both the good works and failings of politicians running for office. The press has the ability to allow us to make an educated decision regarding whom we want in our political offices. The press, though, easily abuses this power. The press has the ability to slant stories in order to fit what they desire to write about and what they think will sell. A sex scandal, for instance, will get much more publicity than a good deed performed by a politician because it is more interesting to read about. This is one of the large downfalls of press for our government. On the other hand, if the newspaper were to use the paper for good, it has the power to transform our society into active members of government, keeping us informed as to what is going on in the world and our country without bias.

The film allows us to see this delicate relationship between the press and politicians first hand. For example, take the scene between Cal and the Congressman towards the end of the film. Cal basically threatens the Congressman into cooperating with him. Although the Congressman does not cooperate, this dialogue shows the power that the press has over politicians – REPUTATION. The press can so easily destroy a person’s reputation, and similarly, it can easily create a hero out of someone. We are able to see, then, the problem with both free press and government: everyone is working in their own self interest.

Gentner State of Play

Tricamo-Palmer-State of Play

State of Play shows the relationship between the press and democracy in America, or at least how it is suppossed to work. The idea, as I see it, is that with a free press, able to report anything that happens, will give people the truth about politicians so that people know who they are voting for. Politicians are then expected to keep their image up so that they can get re-elected.

The scene in State of Play where the main guy meets with the congressman on the steps of the congress building shows this relationship. The main guy threatens to print some bad stuff about the congressman. This is not exactly how the relationship between democracy and free press is supposed to work, but when we see this we understand how the press is able to keep the politicians in check.

However, the movie also shows how this system is failing, for two reasons. The first is demonstrated in that same scene. After the congressman is threatened, he completely dismisses the main guy and it is clear that he actually has more power than the press. The other way in which the system is failing is shown in every scene with the editor. She continually explains that their job is not to dig around and do police work but to print stuff that will make them money. The movie is saying the the press has chosen non-important news over difficult subjects that need to be dealt with, because that is what makes them more money.

Tricamo-Palmer-Horton

Horton hears a Who is a a kids movie but it full of political and social commentary. The main political messages come from the conflict between Horton and the kangaroo, and The who and the rest of his town. The conflicts here are the same for Horton and the Who. They believe one another exist, while everyone else thinks that they are crazy for thinking this. In response, the other people try to stop them from telling people about each other. This is good social commentary, showing how new ideas have often been dismissed and punished, even if they ended up being true.

The political implications became clear to me when I saw what years the movie came out. It seems it was released during the 2008 presidential election. I believe the political message of the movie was the same message that liberals have been trying to throw at young people for a while now. That is, "You can change the world if you stick to your beliefs" or something like that. It was a movie celebrating new ideas and change, which are what the democratic used as the selling point for Barack Obama in his campaign.

I think that the movie has a pretty heavy handed in trying to get its message across, but I guess it was for kids, who might not get it immediately.

Duhe's Horton Hears a Who

Horton hears a who was one of the best animated films I have seen in a good while. The not so subtle undertones of this film serves the purpose of reinforcing the rather serious concepts the film is based on. A large focus of the political message of this film is one of the "Big Brother" crisis being pointed out around our country. At what point does the opinion of the leaders surpass the opinions of the individual. If we believe something to be a truth (i.e Marijuana should be legal) then why does the opinions of our leaders preside over the opinions of the citizen? It doesn't and that that is the message this movie sends across. We should always question those that lead and order us and always fight for what we believe to be right regardless of authority. The themes and undertones were very complex and refreshing in the this film and I enjoyed it thoroughly.