As a mother of two young girls, I am keenly aware of the new release of Pixar's new animated movie, 'Inside Out.' My daughters have been reminding me constantly of the movie and we have plans in the next week or so to go see it. As a sociologist with an interest in social psychology, I am intrigued by the movie's focus on the innerworkings of our mind: the emotions and desires that 'control' us. Recently The New York Times published an article not-so-much written as a movie critique, but rather a commentary on the way the movie depicts the up and down roller coaster of human emotions. An excerpt from the article:
Ultimately, “Inside Out” treats Riley with dignity and offers parents and children a compelling defense of difficult feelings. The movie suggests that the bittersweet is a step up from untarnished joy and shows how frantic cheerfulness can stand in the way of genuine connection. In its latest release, Pixar helpfully and gleefully rejects the premise that all we should want is for our children to be happy.
