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My kids (4 and 7) have subjected me to all three movies in Disney's 'The Descendants' series today.
It may be the resulting brain rot speaking, but I think the entire series is actually a great example of #Criminology in action.
1/15(!?!)
My kids (4 and 7) have subjected me to all three movies in Disney's 'The Descendants' series today.
It may be the resulting brain rot speaking, but I think the entire series is actually a great example of #Criminology in action.
1/15(!?!)
2/
The Descendants’ world is set up with the ‘good guys’ living in a fairytale paradise (Auradon) of castles, riches, and sunshine.
The villains of the world have been banished to a small island (Isle of the Lost), which is filled with darkness, poverty, and crime.
The Descendants’ world is set up with the ‘good guys’ living in a fairytale paradise (Auradon) of castles, riches, and sunshine.
The villains of the world have been banished to a small island (Isle of the Lost), which is filled with darkness, poverty, and crime.
3/
Right off the bat, we have criminal justice history:
This movie series recreates what England did to 'criminals' back in the day -- banished them to an island (Australia).
Also, there's blatently more racial/ethnic diversity in the Isle of the Lost than Auradon. (Redlining?)
Right off the bat, we have criminal justice history:
This movie series recreates what England did to 'criminals' back in the day -- banished them to an island (Australia).
Also, there's blatently more racial/ethnic diversity in the Isle of the Lost than Auradon. (Redlining?)
4/
The villains’ kids are also stranded on the island with their parents. No escape, no redemption. They are raised among squalor and crime, and have to adapt to that life to survive.
This is worse than a school-to-prison pipeline, it’s a womb-to-prison pipeline.
The villains’ kids are also stranded on the island with their parents. No escape, no redemption. They are raised among squalor and crime, and have to adapt to that life to survive.
This is worse than a school-to-prison pipeline, it’s a womb-to-prison pipeline.
5/
So here we have an example of the stigmatizing label of a criminal conviction, and the collateral labeling effects on the children. (Later we have examples of primary vs. secondary deviance, as a response to labeling).
So here we have an example of the stigmatizing label of a criminal conviction, and the collateral labeling effects on the children. (Later we have examples of primary vs. secondary deviance, as a response to labeling).
6/
Anyway, Ben, the newly-crowned king of Auradon (son of Belle + Beast), goes to a super ritzy private school w/ other heroes' kids.
He decides that the children of the villains should be given a chance, and shouldn’t be held guilty for the crimes of their parents.
Anyway, Ben, the newly-crowned king of Auradon (son of Belle + Beast), goes to a super ritzy private school w/ other heroes' kids.
He decides that the children of the villains should be given a chance, and shouldn’t be held guilty for the crimes of their parents.
7/
Ben decides to do a test run by allowing 4 villains’ kids to attend his school in Auradon, to see if they can change their ways.
In essence, he’s proposing an experiment with school bussing of disadvantaged youth.
(Non-RCT, small N, no control = any results are suspect)
Ben decides to do a test run by allowing 4 villains’ kids to attend his school in Auradon, to see if they can change their ways.
In essence, he’s proposing an experiment with school bussing of disadvantaged youth.
(Non-RCT, small N, no control = any results are suspect)
8/
The four chosen are the kids of Maleficent, The Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella deVil.
Of course their ‘evil’ parents want them to carry out a plot to free them.
Cue the problem - do the 'bad kids' listen to their 'bad parents', or to their new 'good' friends/peers?
The four chosen are the kids of Maleficent, The Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella deVil.
Of course their ‘evil’ parents want them to carry out a plot to free them.
Cue the problem - do the 'bad kids' listen to their 'bad parents', or to their new 'good' friends/peers?
9/
Also, residents of the Isle of the Lost are 'the truly disadvantaged'.
No stable employment, tons of crime, poor housing, & a food desert (no fresh fruit, kids have never tried chocolate, poor fishing options, etc.).
Also, there's apparently no schooling system? 100% urchins
Also, residents of the Isle of the Lost are 'the truly disadvantaged'.
No stable employment, tons of crime, poor housing, & a food desert (no fresh fruit, kids have never tried chocolate, poor fishing options, etc.).
Also, there's apparently no schooling system? 100% urchins
10/
Most of the first movie is how the 'bad' kids adapt to their new life of absolutely sickening wealth and privilege.
The private school lottery was a turning point in the 'bad' kids' deviance trajectories. They now have pro-social influences, & internalize these new morals.
Most of the first movie is how the 'bad' kids adapt to their new life of absolutely sickening wealth and privilege.
The private school lottery was a turning point in the 'bad' kids' deviance trajectories. They now have pro-social influences, & internalize these new morals.
11/
The 'good' students of Auradon react as you'd expect -- the criminal label of the parents follows the 'bad' kids around. But by being outsiders, they're also seen as the cool kids. Kids watching the movie clearly view the 'bad kids' as cool, and the others as uncool.
The 'good' students of Auradon react as you'd expect -- the criminal label of the parents follows the 'bad' kids around. But by being outsiders, they're also seen as the cool kids. Kids watching the movie clearly view the 'bad kids' as cool, and the others as uncool.
12/
At this point some of the 2nd/3rd movies are blending together in my brain, but one highlight was Princess Audrey warning about using a little magic as 'gateway magic!'
This is a clear riff on marijuana as a gateway drug. (In Descendents 3, she goes from narc to rogue cop.)
At this point some of the 2nd/3rd movies are blending together in my brain, but one highlight was Princess Audrey warning about using a little magic as 'gateway magic!'
This is a clear riff on marijuana as a gateway drug. (In Descendents 3, she goes from narc to rogue cop.)
13/
At one point Ben has to infiltrate the Isle of the Lost, and he's given lessons on how to fit in with that ('bad') crowd.
This is basically the same lessons that Geoffrey Canada wrote about in Fist Stick Knife Gun. How to 'walk' in a way that doesn't invite victimization.
At one point Ben has to infiltrate the Isle of the Lost, and he's given lessons on how to fit in with that ('bad') crowd.
This is basically the same lessons that Geoffrey Canada wrote about in Fist Stick Knife Gun. How to 'walk' in a way that doesn't invite victimization.
14/
Spoiler alert:
At the end of the third movie, the Isle of the Lost is reunited with Auradon, releasing the villains. It's pitched as a good thing, but I assume a Descendants 4 movie will center around the RIDICULOUS SPIKE IN CRIME that is definitely going to happen.
Spoiler alert:
At the end of the third movie, the Isle of the Lost is reunited with Auradon, releasing the villains. It's pitched as a good thing, but I assume a Descendants 4 movie will center around the RIDICULOUS SPIKE IN CRIME that is definitely going to happen.
15/
There were honestly a ton more examples I saw as my brain melted through these movies (routine activities theory, risky lifestyles, social control theory, primary vs. secondary deviance, etc.), but at this point I'm tapping out.
There were honestly a ton more examples I saw as my brain melted through these movies (routine activities theory, risky lifestyles, social control theory, primary vs. secondary deviance, etc.), but at this point I'm tapping out.
