Angry Letter

Dear Disney Channel Staff Writers,
Like million of others, I have been a fan of your shows for years and appreciate the entertainment you've provided. Your shows have a diverse number of characters with unique and lovable personalities and humorous episodes with deep messages that people have enjoyed.

However, in recent years your shows have taken a turn that doesn't cope with your purpose as not only entertainment but also some education and rating. In your show, "Jessie," you've introduced a more diverse cast which leads to teaching about different cultures. The show takes on a family with four children, three who were adopted from around the world. Although the characters are lovable, they also act stereotypical based on character background or appearance stereotype. For some characters, the way they act doesn't correlate to their progression or their character history. In a review from a Web2Cars Seniors Writer, it states how the youngest, Zuri, "is the adopted daughter from Uganda, now raised by an upper-class white family. She's a sassy eight-year-old with a major attitude problem, whose catchphrases include 'mmmhmmmm' and 'oh no you didn't' - both delivered in a stereotypical black manner, despite the fact that she has little expose to black culture," (Prossnitz). Characters Emma and Luke, the two oldest children of the four, are portrayed as the "standard blonde" and "American boy," being into fashion and less intelligent and a flirt respectively. Ravi, despite having an interest in American culture, doesn't portray this well in the show until very late and in his later role in "Bunk'd." He's garbed in his cultural clothing and speaks of peace and order rather than his character engaging more on studying the American culture he has noted being so fond of.
Speaking of "Bunk'd," the show still retains a stereotypical atmosphere as well as a more adult sort of humor that doesn't cope with kids. The show is basically a summer camp with a variety of children and counselors who form bonds and enjoy the summer as best as possible. The character, Tiffany, is a young Asian girl with a strict mother who wants her to strive for the best and only the best, or she receives unknown consequences. This is based on the Asian stereotype of parents with high expectations. The show also contains humor that is reserved more for a teenagers, which in the channel itself seems to be the direction it's going for. Written by several people on a review several people have stated "some of the jokes were just immature (farting jokes)... they joked about making out... there was also a scene where a girl was acting VERY seductive and asked this, 'I made some hot wings. Wanna bite?' The boy she was talking to then said, 'I don't think she means the hot wings,'" (Common Sense Media). I'd probably suggest to put "Bunk'd" on Disney XD, as that channel is for shows that aim toward pre-teens and teenagers, which the show clearly displays in humor and character behaviors.

These shows are pretty good in humor and story, the characters being witty and clever occasionally that brings a laugh. I do congratulate that, and hope for the better decisions in characters for the children's viewing.


Sincerely,

Chaysen Agcaoili