Stereotyping in Finding Nemo
Stereotyping in "Finding Nemo"
According to the textbook, Social Psychology by Aronson, Wilson and Ekert, stereotyping is, "a generalization about a group in which identical characteristics are assigned to virtually all members of the group, regardless of actual variation among the members" (Aronson et al, 597). In other words, stereotyping occurs when assumptions are made about a group and its members, regardless of whether all the members possess the attributions of the assumptions. Some stereotypes are formed to make us feel better about ourselves and about the group to which we belong, while other stereotypes are formed to help us better understand and categorize the world around us. Stereotyping and other theories closely related to it will find meaning and explanation in the movie "Finding Nemo."
An example of a (neutral) stereotypical statement would be, "All tomatoes are red." While it is true that most tomatoes possess the characteristic of being red, some tomatoes are not red. Therefore, the exemplified stereotype that "all tomatoes" are red is erroneous. The errors committed by stereotyping are demonstrated time and again in the movie "Finding Nemo". The first scene which poses an example of stereotyping takes place when Marlin, Nemo's dad, is swimming Nemo to his first day of school. On their way, the pair of clown fish are joined by three other fish-parents. The three parents then coerce Marlin into telling them a joke. They are presuming that because he is a clown fish he will also be funny. The fish parent addressing Marlin says, "Hey! You're a clown fish! You're funny right? Tell us a joke!" Marlin responds, "Well, actually, that's a common misconception. Clown fish are no funnier than any other fish." This scene serves as a perfect example of stereotyping. It is assumed that because clowns are generally funny, Marlin, the clown fish, would also be funny. When in fact, Marlin is very poor at telling jokes. As the movie
According to the textbook, Social Psychology by Aronson, Wilson and Ekert, stereotyping is, "a generalization about a group in which identical characteristics are assigned to virtually all members of the group, regardless of actual variation among the members" (Aronson et al, 597). In other words, stereotyping occurs when assumptions are made about a group and its members, regardless of whether all the members possess the attributions of the assumptions. Some stereotypes are formed to make us feel better about ourselves and about the group to which we belong, while other stereotypes are formed to help us better understand and categorize the world around us. Stereotyping and other theories closely related to it will find meaning and explanation in the movie "Finding Nemo."
An example of a (neutral) stereotypical statement would be, "All tomatoes are red." While it is true that most tomatoes possess the characteristic of being red, some tomatoes are not red. Therefore, the exemplified stereotype that "all tomatoes" are red is erroneous. The errors committed by stereotyping are demonstrated time and again in the movie "Finding Nemo". The first scene which poses an example of stereotyping takes place when Marlin, Nemo's dad, is swimming Nemo to his first day of school. On their way, the pair of clown fish are joined by three other fish-parents. The three parents then coerce Marlin into telling them a joke. They are presuming that because he is a clown fish he will also be funny. The fish parent addressing Marlin says, "Hey! You're a clown fish! You're funny right? Tell us a joke!" Marlin responds, "Well, actually, that's a common misconception. Clown fish are no funnier than any other fish." This scene serves as a perfect example of stereotyping. It is assumed that because clowns are generally funny, Marlin, the clown fish, would also be funny. When in fact, Marlin is very poor at telling jokes. As the movie