Written Expression
In this class we learned how to write creatively, persuasively, and analytically. At the beginning of each class we were given a prompt and free writing time for 30 minutes. We also wrote various essays.
Prompt Day 1: Write about the first time you were inspired by food.
A Home for the Crickets
At the age of three I walked through the miniature door into a real life gingerbread house. Having seen Hansel and Gretel weeks before with my mom, I was prepared for the worst; rotten witches with warts on their noses, being stuck in a cage, and fattened up to be cooked into soup. However, this room was in no way the nightmare my favorite fairytale had turned out to be. A San Francisco toy store had made the display for the holidays, probably to entice children into begging for mountains of candy for Christmas to parents who couldn’t say no.
Everything was magical. For starters, the door was Annie sized, which at the time was well under 3 feet. The smell of sugar and chocolate has stuck in my memory, as this was one of the first memories I retained. I knew I belonged there, for to me, there is no greater smell then that of candy and gingerbread. Beyond the Christmas decorations lovingly hanging from the ceiling, the baubles sparkling under the spotlights and the glistening tinsel cascading from the rafters, the walls delicately piped with royal icing took me in. Not one inch of the room was uncovered by the beautiful strands of sweet sugar, and with each spot you looked the designs changed and morphed into something even more beautiful. Upon closer inspection, the icing created a picture scaling the entire room. A forest scene of towering cedar trees strung with gumdrop garlands, bunnies deer and skunks resembling those from Bambi were piped on the baseboards and sprinkled with silver sugar, sparkling like snow under early morning sunrays.
Children ran about the room hyped up on free candy canes and screaming for more. I stood silent and mesmerized at the piece of art before me. I wanted to make a room made of cookies, to make a castle out of cupcakes, a tree out of frosting. My mom pointed to paintings on the wall made entirely of jellybeans, but revealing an image of gingerbread men. There were rugs made of laced licorice and a chandelier made entirely of shiny ribbon candy. A chair with pillows of cotton candy caused my mouth to water, but I didn’t dare touch anything in the room in fear of ruining it in it’s perfection. A woman dressed as an elf handed me a candy cane, for which I was grateful, as it would satisfy my ever-growing sweet tooth. I could have stayed in the gingerbread room for hours, never tiring of the intricate work that had gone into it or the sweet aromatics of cinnamon and chocolates that seemed to swirl through you as you walked. Alas, mom had grocery shopping to deal with.
Once in the store amongst the bananas and spinach, away from my dream world of candy, I spotted a miniature gingerbread house on display by the bakery section. After begging my mom to help me make one myself, she decided it would be best to start small. She bought graham crackers and a small package of gumdrops to decorate with.
At home, I watched her mix confectioners sugar with a speck of water and saw it magically turn into icing glue. Gluing the graham crackers together to make a crude looking rectangular house was much more difficult then I have anticipated. We propped up soup cans around the walls so that they could dry before falling down. Once dry, I glued on another cracker as a roof, and started placing gumdrops everywhere I could fit them. Having little to no dexterity at the time resulted in a lumpy house covered entirely with the sparkly candies. I decided it was so small; it was fit only for cricket. Being that San Francisco isn’t hopping with crickets, I placed it in our tiny back yard hoping some chilly creature could call it home for the holidays.
At the age of three I walked through the miniature door into a real life gingerbread house. Having seen Hansel and Gretel weeks before with my mom, I was prepared for the worst; rotten witches with warts on their noses, being stuck in a cage, and fattened up to be cooked into soup. However, this room was in no way the nightmare my favorite fairytale had turned out to be. A San Francisco toy store had made the display for the holidays, probably to entice children into begging for mountains of candy for Christmas to parents who couldn’t say no.
Everything was magical. For starters, the door was Annie sized, which at the time was well under 3 feet. The smell of sugar and chocolate has stuck in my memory, as this was one of the first memories I retained. I knew I belonged there, for to me, there is no greater smell then that of candy and gingerbread. Beyond the Christmas decorations lovingly hanging from the ceiling, the baubles sparkling under the spotlights and the glistening tinsel cascading from the rafters, the walls delicately piped with royal icing took me in. Not one inch of the room was uncovered by the beautiful strands of sweet sugar, and with each spot you looked the designs changed and morphed into something even more beautiful. Upon closer inspection, the icing created a picture scaling the entire room. A forest scene of towering cedar trees strung with gumdrop garlands, bunnies deer and skunks resembling those from Bambi were piped on the baseboards and sprinkled with silver sugar, sparkling like snow under early morning sunrays.
Children ran about the room hyped up on free candy canes and screaming for more. I stood silent and mesmerized at the piece of art before me. I wanted to make a room made of cookies, to make a castle out of cupcakes, a tree out of frosting. My mom pointed to paintings on the wall made entirely of jellybeans, but revealing an image of gingerbread men. There were rugs made of laced licorice and a chandelier made entirely of shiny ribbon candy. A chair with pillows of cotton candy caused my mouth to water, but I didn’t dare touch anything in the room in fear of ruining it in it’s perfection. A woman dressed as an elf handed me a candy cane, for which I was grateful, as it would satisfy my ever-growing sweet tooth. I could have stayed in the gingerbread room for hours, never tiring of the intricate work that had gone into it or the sweet aromatics of cinnamon and chocolates that seemed to swirl through you as you walked. Alas, mom had grocery shopping to deal with.
Once in the store amongst the bananas and spinach, away from my dream world of candy, I spotted a miniature gingerbread house on display by the bakery section. After begging my mom to help me make one myself, she decided it would be best to start small. She bought graham crackers and a small package of gumdrops to decorate with.
At home, I watched her mix confectioners sugar with a speck of water and saw it magically turn into icing glue. Gluing the graham crackers together to make a crude looking rectangular house was much more difficult then I have anticipated. We propped up soup cans around the walls so that they could dry before falling down. Once dry, I glued on another cracker as a roof, and started placing gumdrops everywhere I could fit them. Having little to no dexterity at the time resulted in a lumpy house covered entirely with the sparkly candies. I decided it was so small; it was fit only for cricket. Being that San Francisco isn’t hopping with crickets, I placed it in our tiny back yard hoping some chilly creature could call it home for the holidays.
Prompt Day 2: Describe your 5 favorite cuisines or dishes, and why they're your favorite.
Perfect Bites
There is no greater cuisine to me than Italian. It never fails to satisfy me neither in the kitchen nor in my mouth. Simplicity is the key to this cuisine; letting the ingredients speak for themselves. Most Italian dishes contain very few ingredients, and often, similar ingredients. It hard to find and Italian dish that doesn’t contain tomatoes or Parmesan cheese, but as a lover of both, I have no problems with that. Each Italian dish that I’ve cooked or eaten has similar warmth that fills me to the brim with comfort and satisfaction. Italians love their food, and most meals are consumed as a family, something that I believe isn’t done enough in the United States. Food brings people together world wide, but the Italians do it in such a welcoming way. They seem to be willing to feed anyone they can, always make too much, and never turn down another helping.
My second favorite cuisine would have to be French, but specifically French desserts. Though I do love some French savory dishes, especially Duck Confit, the desserts are what truly impress both my palette and my eye. The very first memorable dessert I ever consumed was a simple vanilla Crème Brulée. Nothing was more perfect than that first bite. The combination of the sweet creamy custard with the slightly warm crunchy and bitter caramel crust blew my mind. Following that first Crème Brulée, I became obsessed. I ordered it everywhere I could, was constantly stocked up on Ben and Jerry’s Crème Brulée ice cream, and even got a dessert blowtorch for my fifteenth birthday. This dessert drew me into the world of French desserts and pastries. Having only made cookies and basic cakes in my life, the delicate layers of pastry dough and butter seemed daunting. But through watching countless shows on Food Network and TLC, reading as many food magazines and cook books I could get my hands on, and experiments in my kitchen, I grew to appreciate the love and attention that goes into each and every French dish. And, almost as importantly, I realized how much I love butter.
Beyond French and Italian, languages and countries that I love and strive to learn more about, my cultural palette isn’t extremely adventurous. However there are some dishes and combinations that I find myself craving year after year from more exotic cuisines.
Thailand created one of my favorite desserts: sticky coconut rice with mango. At a Thai restaurant in Middlebury Vermont, the perfect plate of this dish appears on my table at the end of each meal. The dish consists of mountains of coconut rice formed into pyramids and coated with sesame seeds, and delicately sliced juicy mango drizzled with a sweet coconut sauce. The dish gets better with each bite. I simply can’t go without licking the plate clean.
A certain Indian meal that I’ve ordered every time I’ve gone to Indian restaurants has proven to be a personal favorite. Mango-chicken with rice and Poori. The chicken is coated in a sweet sticky sauce full of diced mango and delicate spices. The rice, always a vibrant yellow, perfectly cooked and free flowing. And the Poori, a fried naan bread that puffs as it cooks and comes out of the kitchen looking like a fat flying saucer, is the optimum utensil for scooping up a piece of tender chicken, mango sauce, and rice. I always eat too much, and never have anything left to take home.
Finally, an American classic. You can’t go wrong with a spread of thanksgiving food. Making each perfect bite of juicy turkey that’s been roasted with brown sugar and maple syrup, soft fluffy mashed potatoes laced with butter, tart cranberry sauce sweetened with clementine juice, warm thick gravy, and a few kernels of corn. Though it may seems tedious to construct each bite this carefully, when it tastes that good, it’s worth the effort and time. Plus, it gives you more time to digest as it takes approximately 30 minutes to finish one plate. Each family eats a different thanksgiving meal, but in my house, so long as I’m able to create my perfect bite, I could care less what other side dishes are brought to the table. I’m always willing to try them, but only on their own, as you simply can’t perfect the perfection, of the perfect bite.
There is no greater cuisine to me than Italian. It never fails to satisfy me neither in the kitchen nor in my mouth. Simplicity is the key to this cuisine; letting the ingredients speak for themselves. Most Italian dishes contain very few ingredients, and often, similar ingredients. It hard to find and Italian dish that doesn’t contain tomatoes or Parmesan cheese, but as a lover of both, I have no problems with that. Each Italian dish that I’ve cooked or eaten has similar warmth that fills me to the brim with comfort and satisfaction. Italians love their food, and most meals are consumed as a family, something that I believe isn’t done enough in the United States. Food brings people together world wide, but the Italians do it in such a welcoming way. They seem to be willing to feed anyone they can, always make too much, and never turn down another helping.
My second favorite cuisine would have to be French, but specifically French desserts. Though I do love some French savory dishes, especially Duck Confit, the desserts are what truly impress both my palette and my eye. The very first memorable dessert I ever consumed was a simple vanilla Crème Brulée. Nothing was more perfect than that first bite. The combination of the sweet creamy custard with the slightly warm crunchy and bitter caramel crust blew my mind. Following that first Crème Brulée, I became obsessed. I ordered it everywhere I could, was constantly stocked up on Ben and Jerry’s Crème Brulée ice cream, and even got a dessert blowtorch for my fifteenth birthday. This dessert drew me into the world of French desserts and pastries. Having only made cookies and basic cakes in my life, the delicate layers of pastry dough and butter seemed daunting. But through watching countless shows on Food Network and TLC, reading as many food magazines and cook books I could get my hands on, and experiments in my kitchen, I grew to appreciate the love and attention that goes into each and every French dish. And, almost as importantly, I realized how much I love butter.
Beyond French and Italian, languages and countries that I love and strive to learn more about, my cultural palette isn’t extremely adventurous. However there are some dishes and combinations that I find myself craving year after year from more exotic cuisines.
Thailand created one of my favorite desserts: sticky coconut rice with mango. At a Thai restaurant in Middlebury Vermont, the perfect plate of this dish appears on my table at the end of each meal. The dish consists of mountains of coconut rice formed into pyramids and coated with sesame seeds, and delicately sliced juicy mango drizzled with a sweet coconut sauce. The dish gets better with each bite. I simply can’t go without licking the plate clean.
A certain Indian meal that I’ve ordered every time I’ve gone to Indian restaurants has proven to be a personal favorite. Mango-chicken with rice and Poori. The chicken is coated in a sweet sticky sauce full of diced mango and delicate spices. The rice, always a vibrant yellow, perfectly cooked and free flowing. And the Poori, a fried naan bread that puffs as it cooks and comes out of the kitchen looking like a fat flying saucer, is the optimum utensil for scooping up a piece of tender chicken, mango sauce, and rice. I always eat too much, and never have anything left to take home.
Finally, an American classic. You can’t go wrong with a spread of thanksgiving food. Making each perfect bite of juicy turkey that’s been roasted with brown sugar and maple syrup, soft fluffy mashed potatoes laced with butter, tart cranberry sauce sweetened with clementine juice, warm thick gravy, and a few kernels of corn. Though it may seems tedious to construct each bite this carefully, when it tastes that good, it’s worth the effort and time. Plus, it gives you more time to digest as it takes approximately 30 minutes to finish one plate. Each family eats a different thanksgiving meal, but in my house, so long as I’m able to create my perfect bite, I could care less what other side dishes are brought to the table. I’m always willing to try them, but only on their own, as you simply can’t perfect the perfection, of the perfect bite.
Prompt Day 3: If you could have any super power, what would it be, and why?
A Utopian River
A super power you ask? I don’t believe I possess any for I can’t fly, I can’t become invisible, I can’t breathe underwater, and no, I don’t have spider webs shooting out of my hands. But if I could have one, it wouldn’t be any of those, nor would I have a cape, a sidekick, or have grown up an orphan. No, I’d just want to be able to purify. This may seem vague and frankly superficial, but to be able to turn anything, a body of water, a field of wheat, someone’s soul, into what it could be, should be, at it’s purest state, a Utopian world could be created that certainly wouldn’t by simply flying around looking muscular.
Beginning with water, the most important substance needed for all living creatures, the building blocks of life and of ourselves. I would purify every drop of water I could. Erasing all pollutants to allow this earth the nutrients it deserves. So that all animals and humans can drink the purest of the pure, filling their bodies with what it needs, not what it wants. Life would not exist without water, alas, mankind has desecrated this sacred source and humans aren’t realizing how precious the small amount left is. Purifying the water of this planet can start mankind anew. Perhaps by filling them with the pure necessity of life, their outlook on what this earth gives them will grow to love, rather then the abusive relationship it’s become.
For those who aren’t cured by this, and still feel hatred, greed, or wrath, I would purify a soul. Nobody begins this life angry, full of jealousy and longing for revenge, they’re corrupted by an outside source. Someone who kills for pleasure, abuses the innocent, or steals for their own gain, may be seen as a terrible person, but there is a reason they came to that mental state. It wasn’t inflicted upon them through an impure soul; their soul was polluted and couldn’t heal itself. To purify ones soul doesn’t change who they were, but can influence how they’ll become. A purified soul gives a second chance to live a life of happiness, which everyone deserves despite their past.
A super power of purity wouldn’t only affect those who have done wrong. It would calm and clear the minds of those who’ve felt pain, sadness, those who are stuck in a world they believe wasn’t made to accept them and that they long to escape from. Purifying those who care not to live for too much pain has been inflicted upon them will allow them to start living with fresh eyes. To see this life as a place they belong, a place they want to be.
Utopia isn’t born over night, nor is it permanent. I think that everyone needs a jumpstart, a chance to do things the right way and learn from mistakes. I’m not saying we should wipe our memories clean and start from scratch; I’m saying our point of view is skewed as to what a happy life is. A happy life isn’t one in which you strike oil in your backyard, invent computers that feel emotions, or roll in piles of cash. At least it shouldn’t be. The idea that Utopia can be created with what we have, not what we strive to attain, has been buried deep into the ground. A super power to purify would bring that idea back to the surface, become enveloped in the clean water that covers this earth, flow through our bodies, soak into our minds, and become a reality.
A super power you ask? I don’t believe I possess any for I can’t fly, I can’t become invisible, I can’t breathe underwater, and no, I don’t have spider webs shooting out of my hands. But if I could have one, it wouldn’t be any of those, nor would I have a cape, a sidekick, or have grown up an orphan. No, I’d just want to be able to purify. This may seem vague and frankly superficial, but to be able to turn anything, a body of water, a field of wheat, someone’s soul, into what it could be, should be, at it’s purest state, a Utopian world could be created that certainly wouldn’t by simply flying around looking muscular.
Beginning with water, the most important substance needed for all living creatures, the building blocks of life and of ourselves. I would purify every drop of water I could. Erasing all pollutants to allow this earth the nutrients it deserves. So that all animals and humans can drink the purest of the pure, filling their bodies with what it needs, not what it wants. Life would not exist without water, alas, mankind has desecrated this sacred source and humans aren’t realizing how precious the small amount left is. Purifying the water of this planet can start mankind anew. Perhaps by filling them with the pure necessity of life, their outlook on what this earth gives them will grow to love, rather then the abusive relationship it’s become.
For those who aren’t cured by this, and still feel hatred, greed, or wrath, I would purify a soul. Nobody begins this life angry, full of jealousy and longing for revenge, they’re corrupted by an outside source. Someone who kills for pleasure, abuses the innocent, or steals for their own gain, may be seen as a terrible person, but there is a reason they came to that mental state. It wasn’t inflicted upon them through an impure soul; their soul was polluted and couldn’t heal itself. To purify ones soul doesn’t change who they were, but can influence how they’ll become. A purified soul gives a second chance to live a life of happiness, which everyone deserves despite their past.
A super power of purity wouldn’t only affect those who have done wrong. It would calm and clear the minds of those who’ve felt pain, sadness, those who are stuck in a world they believe wasn’t made to accept them and that they long to escape from. Purifying those who care not to live for too much pain has been inflicted upon them will allow them to start living with fresh eyes. To see this life as a place they belong, a place they want to be.
Utopia isn’t born over night, nor is it permanent. I think that everyone needs a jumpstart, a chance to do things the right way and learn from mistakes. I’m not saying we should wipe our memories clean and start from scratch; I’m saying our point of view is skewed as to what a happy life is. A happy life isn’t one in which you strike oil in your backyard, invent computers that feel emotions, or roll in piles of cash. At least it shouldn’t be. The idea that Utopia can be created with what we have, not what we strive to attain, has been buried deep into the ground. A super power to purify would bring that idea back to the surface, become enveloped in the clean water that covers this earth, flow through our bodies, soak into our minds, and become a reality.
Prompt Day 4: Write a fictional news story about an adoption agency selling shaved apes as babies
BREAKING NEWS: Bundle of Joy or Bundle of Smell?
The number of adults longing to adopt children has skyrocketed since Angelina Jolie made it the new hip thing to do. However, most adults want to adopt a baby rather then a grown child, as they believe the baby will feel more like their biological child if they raise him or her from birth. Due to the increase in baby adoptions, the number of available babies has dropped significantly. Instead of pushing the adoption of older children, The Montpelier Adoption Agency decided to attempt fooling the public.
Having connections with the San Diego Zoo, the Montpelier Adoption Agency requested all newborn apes from Southern California be shipped to the green mountain state. In taking the apes away from their mothers, this allowed the minute primates the chance to latch onto a human as its provider. The Montpelier Adoption Agency shaved the baby apes and passed them off as human infants. Adults, so desperate to be parents, overlooked the facts that their arms reached the floor and their ears scaled most of their head.
The Adoption Agency business thrived, as apes required significantly less paperwork upon adoption. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the first ape was adopted that the hair began to grow back, not just on top of the head in a cute baby peach-fuzz fashion, but on every square inch of the quickly growing primate. The hair, the ears, and the lengthy arms, (not to mention the significant increase of banana thieving in their neighborhood) prompted a google image search by the parents, only to determine that they had indeed been deceived, and as this was technically a wrinkly bundle of joy in their arms, it wasn’t quite what they signed up for.
The irate parents returned to Montpelier demanding a refund and an explanation. Montpelier Adoption Agency has refused to comment on the subject since the incident. Multiple other families have attempted to infiltrate the Agency to get their money back and send the baby apes back to their biological mothers, but the Agency closed it’s doors last Wednesday morning and has yet to reopen.
To all the desperate adults out there craving an infant to care for, do yourself a favor and avoid Montpelier Vermont as a source. We also suggest you avoid the southern California area, as having ape babies has become very popular there within the last week.
However, if it’s a primate companion you seek, you’re in luck. A brand new Ape exhibit has opened within Dewey Hall on the New England Culinary Institute Campus. The exhibit is welcoming viewers and potential adopters daily. Participating in etiquette and motor skills classes daily, the apes have already learned personal hygiene, how to tie a tie, how to make a bucket of sanitizer solution, and how to fold a napkin properly. If it’s an assistant you’re looking for, or just a friendly houseguest, these apes are the companions for you.
The number of adults longing to adopt children has skyrocketed since Angelina Jolie made it the new hip thing to do. However, most adults want to adopt a baby rather then a grown child, as they believe the baby will feel more like their biological child if they raise him or her from birth. Due to the increase in baby adoptions, the number of available babies has dropped significantly. Instead of pushing the adoption of older children, The Montpelier Adoption Agency decided to attempt fooling the public.
Having connections with the San Diego Zoo, the Montpelier Adoption Agency requested all newborn apes from Southern California be shipped to the green mountain state. In taking the apes away from their mothers, this allowed the minute primates the chance to latch onto a human as its provider. The Montpelier Adoption Agency shaved the baby apes and passed them off as human infants. Adults, so desperate to be parents, overlooked the facts that their arms reached the floor and their ears scaled most of their head.
The Adoption Agency business thrived, as apes required significantly less paperwork upon adoption. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the first ape was adopted that the hair began to grow back, not just on top of the head in a cute baby peach-fuzz fashion, but on every square inch of the quickly growing primate. The hair, the ears, and the lengthy arms, (not to mention the significant increase of banana thieving in their neighborhood) prompted a google image search by the parents, only to determine that they had indeed been deceived, and as this was technically a wrinkly bundle of joy in their arms, it wasn’t quite what they signed up for.
The irate parents returned to Montpelier demanding a refund and an explanation. Montpelier Adoption Agency has refused to comment on the subject since the incident. Multiple other families have attempted to infiltrate the Agency to get their money back and send the baby apes back to their biological mothers, but the Agency closed it’s doors last Wednesday morning and has yet to reopen.
To all the desperate adults out there craving an infant to care for, do yourself a favor and avoid Montpelier Vermont as a source. We also suggest you avoid the southern California area, as having ape babies has become very popular there within the last week.
However, if it’s a primate companion you seek, you’re in luck. A brand new Ape exhibit has opened within Dewey Hall on the New England Culinary Institute Campus. The exhibit is welcoming viewers and potential adopters daily. Participating in etiquette and motor skills classes daily, the apes have already learned personal hygiene, how to tie a tie, how to make a bucket of sanitizer solution, and how to fold a napkin properly. If it’s an assistant you’re looking for, or just a friendly houseguest, these apes are the companions for you.
Persuasive Essay: Pros of Disney Princesses
Positive Influences of Disney Princesses
Young girls begin preparing their Halloween costumes shortly after Christmas. A witch, puppy, or a cowgirl, they all require months of preparation before the big day. Months of deciding on hairstyles, finding the perfect hat, and choosing the correct vessel for optimum candy carrying. They’re all serious considerations requiring much planning and time. I don’t know one girl who never dressed as a Disney Princess; the ultimate Halloween costumes, the girls they dreamed of becoming. If a Disney princess was the costume of choice, it had to be done perfectly. The same flowing dress, the same sparkly shoes, the same curled hair, and the same perfect red lips. No costume from K-mart could ever compete with a genuine Snow white dress from the Holy Grail destination of 5 year olds; Disney World.
Some people see Disney princesses as bad role models for kids. They see them as rich girls gallivanting about the screen with slim perfect figures, and believing that rodents are their friends. I believe these princesses inspire children. They show that young ladies have values, strength, and character. Each and every princess teaches viewers various life-lessons.
Snow White taught me to be selfless. The seven dwarves never asked her for help. She willingly cleaned their house and cooked for them asking for nothing in return. Though she didn’t ask for it, by helping them maintain the house, they never dreamed of denying her protection after that. Snow White allowed me to see that if you do good unto others, the favor will be returned. She also taught the lesson that talking to strangers is a very bad idea, as we all learned through the evil ways of the witch. There isn’t a child in America who hasn’t been told, “Don’t talk to strangers,” by the time they’ve reached Kindergarten. If their parents hadn’t gotten around to it yet, Snow White got the job done.
Cinderella taught the valuable lesson that while situations aren’t always ideal, hard work, determination, perseverance, and staying true to yourself will be enough to get you through. Living with an evil stepmother and being forced to clean is clearly not idyllic. Cinderella made the best of a bad situation by befriending animals and dreaming of a better life. Believing that greater things were possible was a skill Cinderella secreted unto young viewers such as myself. She gave hope to those dreaming of happiness.
Ariel, the little mermaid, was unhappy with her life and longed to explore other possibilities. Her sense of adventure and curiosity lead her to the unknown pastures of life above the sea. Having a hunch that greater worlds existed beyond what she knew, caused her to rebel against her family and do what she thought was best for her. Leaving home, whether it’s to explore the world, go to college, or to spend the night at a friend’s house, it’s an inevitable event in life. It’s a lesson that I certainly needed before going to college, but fleeing the nest to explore the world is a vital stage in everyone’s life, and Ariel demonstrated it with flare.
Belle, the beauty, of Beauty and the Beast, was the only Disney princess who spent her days reading. Her love of knowledge and literature was intoxicating and contagious to viewers. Not only was her intelligence inspiring, but her ability to see past the surface of the Beast and see who he truly was on the inside was admirable. At first, as so many others had, she feared the Beast. However, after giving him a chance, she saw him for the sweet caring prince he had once been. Eventually, her pure heart taught the Beast to love again. Belle didn’t judge a book by its cover, a virtue still taught to children today.
While each and every Disney Princess deserves their own novel for their beneficial influences; Jasmine for her love of Aladdin despite his low social status, Pocahontas for her ability to stay true to her culture, and Mulan for her selfless bravery, Disney princesses affect children in a positive way. While little girls may spend months getting ready to sport the costume of their favorite princess, they’ll spend the rest of their lives living the lessons learned through them, teaching them to others, and of course, living happily ever after.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Princess
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/disney-princess/articles/130383/title/pros-cons-disney-princess-each
Young girls begin preparing their Halloween costumes shortly after Christmas. A witch, puppy, or a cowgirl, they all require months of preparation before the big day. Months of deciding on hairstyles, finding the perfect hat, and choosing the correct vessel for optimum candy carrying. They’re all serious considerations requiring much planning and time. I don’t know one girl who never dressed as a Disney Princess; the ultimate Halloween costumes, the girls they dreamed of becoming. If a Disney princess was the costume of choice, it had to be done perfectly. The same flowing dress, the same sparkly shoes, the same curled hair, and the same perfect red lips. No costume from K-mart could ever compete with a genuine Snow white dress from the Holy Grail destination of 5 year olds; Disney World.
Some people see Disney princesses as bad role models for kids. They see them as rich girls gallivanting about the screen with slim perfect figures, and believing that rodents are their friends. I believe these princesses inspire children. They show that young ladies have values, strength, and character. Each and every princess teaches viewers various life-lessons.
Snow White taught me to be selfless. The seven dwarves never asked her for help. She willingly cleaned their house and cooked for them asking for nothing in return. Though she didn’t ask for it, by helping them maintain the house, they never dreamed of denying her protection after that. Snow White allowed me to see that if you do good unto others, the favor will be returned. She also taught the lesson that talking to strangers is a very bad idea, as we all learned through the evil ways of the witch. There isn’t a child in America who hasn’t been told, “Don’t talk to strangers,” by the time they’ve reached Kindergarten. If their parents hadn’t gotten around to it yet, Snow White got the job done.
Cinderella taught the valuable lesson that while situations aren’t always ideal, hard work, determination, perseverance, and staying true to yourself will be enough to get you through. Living with an evil stepmother and being forced to clean is clearly not idyllic. Cinderella made the best of a bad situation by befriending animals and dreaming of a better life. Believing that greater things were possible was a skill Cinderella secreted unto young viewers such as myself. She gave hope to those dreaming of happiness.
Ariel, the little mermaid, was unhappy with her life and longed to explore other possibilities. Her sense of adventure and curiosity lead her to the unknown pastures of life above the sea. Having a hunch that greater worlds existed beyond what she knew, caused her to rebel against her family and do what she thought was best for her. Leaving home, whether it’s to explore the world, go to college, or to spend the night at a friend’s house, it’s an inevitable event in life. It’s a lesson that I certainly needed before going to college, but fleeing the nest to explore the world is a vital stage in everyone’s life, and Ariel demonstrated it with flare.
Belle, the beauty, of Beauty and the Beast, was the only Disney princess who spent her days reading. Her love of knowledge and literature was intoxicating and contagious to viewers. Not only was her intelligence inspiring, but her ability to see past the surface of the Beast and see who he truly was on the inside was admirable. At first, as so many others had, she feared the Beast. However, after giving him a chance, she saw him for the sweet caring prince he had once been. Eventually, her pure heart taught the Beast to love again. Belle didn’t judge a book by its cover, a virtue still taught to children today.
While each and every Disney Princess deserves their own novel for their beneficial influences; Jasmine for her love of Aladdin despite his low social status, Pocahontas for her ability to stay true to her culture, and Mulan for her selfless bravery, Disney princesses affect children in a positive way. While little girls may spend months getting ready to sport the costume of their favorite princess, they’ll spend the rest of their lives living the lessons learned through them, teaching them to others, and of course, living happily ever after.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Princess
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/disney-princess/articles/130383/title/pros-cons-disney-princess-each