Question

Watch one entire episode of any cartoon such as spongebob, rugrats etc or children related series for ages 2-6. Give a quick synopsis of the plot. Describe any images that represent racial, ethnic or economic diversity, then evaluate these images. For example, do the images portray any stereotyped traits? For example, are males perceived more positively than females? Are positive attributes more evident in images of Caucasians than in images of other ethnicities? What about indicators of economic prosperity? Finally, how do you think these portrayals influence children’s growing perception of the world and their place in it? Do this for both the show and the commercials. If you watch the show on a medium that does not have commercials (i.e. Netflix) make sure to youtube a few commercials aimed at children in addition to your show. need a 400 words response

Answer 1

As you know, our modern society developed with technology, our beliefs, traditions, faiths, and entertainment all are affected by technology. Modern children spend their time with cartoons their imaginations strongly related to stories and animated characters appeared in cartoon channels.

I have seen most of the cartoon series and found some common characteristics-

1- All cartoons targets children but the content developed by adults so that we can see the mutual symbols of children and adult needs.

2- Cartoon characters shows the traditional values of society like racism, gender identities, and cultural factors. The influence of these characters can be seen in the behavior of children.

3- Cartoon characters assigned with traditional values of the society so that they show conservative values, creative ideas, and social norms.

Actually, our imagination cannot go beyond the experiences earned by our civilization so that we can manipulate ideas but not able to create completely new ideas or symbols. Every cartoon character shows the traditional and modern values and development of the social structure. In these series, we can see the gender discrimination, labeling and social norms.

The cognitive development of children do not allow them to discriminate the moral and social values, they accept everything showing in the cartoon series and reacts as per stories.

We know that entertainment is essential for every human but it should be healthy because children see everything and implement in their behavior, not only cartoons but video games also influence the behavior of children.

Recent studies suggested that video games and cartoons changing the imagination of children and causing aggression, maladaptive behavior, and social isolation. Cartoon series creates an imaginative environment while we have to live in real social and physical environment so that we need to develop social characteristics.

Actually, the cartoons and video games are part of the economy so that advertisements shown in these series help the companies to sell their products. Parents experience the demands of their children while these demands are useful or not is not an issue for businesses.