Abstract

Popular media is a social phenomenon, especially for young audiences. This qualitative study examined how eleven Latino/a high school students and a Latino teacher understood the impact of media messages in an animated children's film. Findings suggest participants identified negative cultural messages embedded throughout the film regarding Latino/a as well as lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/intersex/ally (LGBTQIA) populations. Authors discuss implications and recommendations for educators and school leaders to consider when presenting media. These suggestions include integrating media literacy to engage students in understanding the construction of popular media and to critically reflect on the impact of such messages.

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