Because we werent assigned a reading this week, I took the

opportunity to write more about Twenty Feet From Stardom and how it
ties into the Hooks reading in more ways than cultural appropriation,
and how Borderlands ties in with the idea of the Other. When our class
discussed the movie, it was interesting to highlight how front-line men
(lead singers, individual artists, successful men) were the ones sharing
background singers struggles, and that their points were backed up by
the background singers themselves. I felt like the framing of Twenty
Feet From Stardom was specifically shaped in order to gain more
viewers, and to potentially make it easier to understand for viewers
who 1. Are not in the music industry, 2. Are not familiar with the
background singers and/or the songs featured in the film and 3. Will
not see the movie advertised about black women, but will rather see
the movie as an evaluation of the music industry in and of itself.
Regardless of salience and how the story was presented, the main idea
and the takeaway all stayed the same through specific priming,
whether viewers understand through the stance of the background
singers themselves or the stories told by producers and famous
performers. Instead of being seen as sex symbols, it was important
that viewers understood the power of background singers and how
they impact music on an intense level.
When it comes to childrens media and Disney movies, salience and
priming are of utter importance. Because the main audience for such
movies is widely children, its obvious that plot lines are kept rather
general and not-so-complex. Disney movies often dissect cultures and
gender roles, but it seems like Disney does this in a rather creative
way. Though children tend to be the audience members who are
targeted to sell Disney media to, the parents of children are likely
going to watch the popular movie one hundred times over as well. That
being said, Disney faces the challenge of making a movie interesting
enough to hold the attention of a five year old for 90-120 minutes, but
also must do so for grown adults. No matter how it is achieved, every
viewer must be entertained and draw the same conclusion through
salience. Priming for both sets of viewers often differs; while children
might come to a conclusion through the drama of a story, parents
might come to the same agenda through a completely different path,
whether it be hidden discrimination or even through dry humor. A
Disney movie teaches all viewers the same moral, theyre just framed
specifically so both sets of audiences can be entertained throughout
the film.