I read this interesting article about how cartoons, a seemingly minor part of our semantic environment, are actually largely present in our lives and shape our generation.
Here's the link:
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2009/01/14038/growing-up-in-the-renaissance-how-90s-cartoons-shaped-our-generation/
So what do you think? Why do cartoons in particular have such a large impact on our lives even through college? The author of this article his opinions and reasoning towards the end. Do you agree or disagree?
Personally, I find that the author makes a strong point about why we still remember all these old cartoons and even wear t-shirts that represent such shows. He says its because we are at a crossroad between adulthood and childhood. We can still appreciate the shows emotionally while recognizing their complexity. This actually reminded me of the time we were watching Mulan in art history while the seniors were on their trip. While watching the movie, we were reminded of the first time we watched it and even specific thoughts about different scenes. At the same time, we got into a discussion about the historical and cultural aspects of the movie. We discussed earlier how graphic novels can prove to be good teaching tools. Who says that these types of shows/movies can't do the same?
Mary Quien
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6 comments:
I find that often nostalgia plays a big part in such situations. After all, if you hadn't been exposed to it as a child, the chances of you going back to look for a cartoon/animation etc. are rather slim. It helps to forge a bond between our past and our present - something vaguely glorified by our slight fixation upon the past.
On the other hand, as you mentioned and as the author briefly mentioned, there is the different perspective we bring to the movie/show as a teenager. While you probably remember the vague details of the plot and your reaction to it, chances are that you don't recall the entire experience. Nevertheless, by rewatching something you refresh your memory and are able to compare your analysis of the movie to your simpler reaction to it years before.
Just like many people keep older "relics" around as mementos (i.e. vinyl records), we watch cartoons because they provide a sort of interactive experience with our past.
While I'm not disputing the fact that we can learn from more unorthodox materials, does much of the learning stem from the actual content or the nostalgia that Tiffany mentioned? We are able to analyze childhood media, you mentioned Mulan, because we do have the prior background/experience with it. We rewatch it with a preconceived idea on how it is "supposed" to be and that supposition is either confirmed or contradicted after the movie is finished. We build from the ground up and use our childhood perceptions as a foundation for the more complex analyses of the motifs, themes, whatever in the movie. But without the initial exposure, would it just be another trite cartoon?
Do we defend our old childhood staples like Disney movies, Harry Potter etcetc because of nostalgia, a genuine belief in their worth as good literature/cinema/whatever, or is it a combination of the two?
Although cartoons seem like they may be delivered to your very own television screen in a pretty little package, that's hardly ever the case. Just think back to the shows you used to watch. The characters were never drawn perfectly (Ed, Edd, and Eddy). The main character didn't always get all of the ladies (Doug). The protagonist never had perfect facial features (Hey Arnold!). Tom never quite caught Jerry. Before long, the characters became the underdogs of television. We could easily relate to their struggles. Maybe, like coyote, we were unable to catch the roadrunner. We saw in cartoons what we were experiencing ourselves. A bunch of these shows were continued from episode to episode; rarely was there ever a "happy ending" in a broad sense of the term. Maybe, just maybe, cartoons reflect/reflected reality more than any other form of entertainment ever does/did.
(Sam Maliha)
Well, it's certainly interesting. Many times I've experienced this sort of nostalgia for cartoons together with my classmates (Do you remember Arthur from PBS! Oh yeah, what a great show!). As Tiffany said, I believe much of that is due to our preoccupation with the past, and how these older cartoons can remind us of our childhood. Whenever I watch Arthur or Dragon Tails, I reminisce to an earlier, simpler time, when I looked up to Arthur and Buster and the rest of them. Later on, as I began to outgrow the protagonists of my favorite shows, I almost regretted leaving my friends behind (I'm sorry Arnold. You'll be in fourth grade forever, while I move on...).
Nowadays, when I look back on those cartoons, it's mainly to reflect on the good old days. Although it's always interesting to view these shows from a new, more experienced angle, often watching these shows is just a sort of catharsis for me.
-Eric W
I agree with both Tiffany and Eric that nostalgia plays a large role. I often find myself thinking back to "the good old days" when I didn't have homework, when I could play in my backyard on a warm spring afternoon, and when stress levels were low. I associate cartoons with this era of my life. When I had the time to watch TV without feeling guilty for leaving my homework unfinished. I think we've all experienced this at least on some level. And as we grew out of these shows and into new seasons of life, I agree with Eric that it was like leaving old friends behind. Especially during these years of growth and change in our lives, we cling to what we know best. I almost cringe at the idea of critically analyzing my favorite cartoon characters, almost as if that's questioning their value. I realize that's not the case, but it reflects the emotional attachment that we can have for cartoons.
Emily T.
I, too, believe that nostalgia plays a large role. A few times when I happen to be flipping through TV channels and I encounter an older cartoon show which I used to watch when I was younger, I linger instead of pressing the channel up/down button. At first, I laugh at myself for doing so because I get the feeling that watching an old cartoon show would mark my regression back towards childhood. However, I usually ignore this feeling and continue to watch in amusement. What always interests me the most is the stark change in my own perspective which I notice immediately as I realize that, no matter how much I would like, the period of life in which I'm free to relax whenever I please is utterly completed and lost to history.
Like Emily, I currently look back upon those days when I watched "Arthur" and "Hey Arnold" as the "good old days." What's unfortunate and deeply depressing is that my parents and other adults tell me that I'm still in the "good old days" because life only gets more difficult as all manner of "school" (high school, college, graduate school, etc.) ends and "real work" (generating one's own income) begins. And to think that things could not get any more stressful or difficult (a sigh is necessary)! I just can't seem to grasp the idea that I will eventually look back upon high school as the "good old days," but perhaps I simply have too gloomy an outlook on life.
(Janet Lee)
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