The lion king : similarities and differences in adult and child perceptions

Abstract

This study explores the similarities and differences that exist between adult and child perceptions of Disney's animated feature 'The Lion King.' Three focus groups were conducted, two with children, aged seven to eleven, and one with adults. Segments of the animation were shown, after which questions were asked on particular dimensions of the film. Through these discussions and an analysis of the data, the similar and different ways child and adult audiences understand, perceive and interpret . The Lion King' 'text' were discovered and a number of conclusions were made. The data indicates that the children's and adult's general perception of the plot and story is very similar to one another. However, upon looking closely at their perceptions registered a number of differences emerged. In this age group, children view situations literally and concretely. They do not have as broad a knowledge base, as adults do, and therefore view things that make sense to them but do not see beyond the concrete meaning On several occasions the children give opposed or negotiated readings of the 'text' while the adults mostly reproduced the preferred readings, interpreting the 'text' in ways the producers intended. Adults, conversely to the children, can also see what things imply and suggest and thus think in more abstract and symbolic ways. Immediately and automatically, they impose their world views on their construction of meanings. The concluding results could be further tested using more participants.