Imperfections
A little like Bruno, from the Disney film, Encanto, we don’t talk about imperfections in the classroom.
We are all aiming for and expecting that A+, perfection, right?
Even though we say “C” is “average”, we don’t accept nor strive for average.
Everything is about competition and being the BEST!
In the movie, Encanto, which, by the way is a brilliant film with so many underlying meanings and symbolism (like most Disney films) there are several themes addressed: identity, power dynamics, family, generational trauma, healing and forgiveness.
Just a side note, Disney films originated with taking fairy tales, fables and myths from other cultures and turning them into films for story-telling purposes of teaching lessons (like the original intention of these genre of literature).
So, let’s talk about Bruno, even though “we don’t talk about Bruno”!
Bruno represents the perceived “imperfection” of the Madrigal family, and he is willing to talk about it.
Unfortunately, he is perceived as “not a good person” because of that and is villainized by his family. So, he exiles himself from the family and lives in fear of his own potential.
Identity crisis, power dynamics, generational trauma…
Think of how much this plays out at home and in the classroom every day…with students and with teachers, especially since the pandemic.
Why don’t we talk about these issues? Why can’t we be vulnerable?
When we perceive that we have imperfections or we are told that we do…repeatedly… we begin to believe them. Then, what?
