Television
You have two choices for this blog. Either take a children's show and discuss how adult characters are portrayed (are they authority figures, are they childlike, are they a fantasy of childhood, etc) or take an adult's tv show and discuss how children are viewed (are they innocent, is their childhood constructed by the adults around them, are they consumers. etc). Is there an instance where the characters exist "somewhere in between child and adult" (Spigel 124)?
posted by cmartin @ 1:45 PM
24 Comments:
The Proud Family is an animated television show about an African American family. The main character, Penny Proud is a typical teenager who is subject to peer pressure, and is often made an example of to portray the moral of the episode. The central adult characters in this show include Penny’s parents and grandmother. Oscar Proud, Penny’s father tries to be the dominant male of the house, but is constantly overruled by his wife Trudy, or mother Suga Mama. Oscar is usually conveyed as a goofy character and is frequently unsuccessful in his business, “Proud Snacks.” Although Oscar tires to be strict and assertive, the fact that he constantly fails in his career and daily endeavors makes him less respectable. However, his wife Trudy is an ambitious sensible parent who provides practical advice and therefore more accurately represents the authoritative parent. This creates a more realistic family atmosphere because frequently in a home with two parents, each is disparate, and one is more lenient than the other. Suga Mama is an old grandmother, but she is just as active and silly as the kids in the show. She has a brewing love life, knows Tae-bo, and belittles her son with witty comments. If all else fails, Suga Mama is around to provide help or advice. Children often turn to a grandparent as an alternative to their parents. The adults in this show are conveyed in multiple ways. While some embrace a typical instructive adult character, others are wacky and more relatable to the kids in the show and in the audience.
Spongebob Squarepants has a very interesting take on adults. Even though all of the show's main characters are adults, they are portrayed in very different ways. For example, both Spongebob and Patrick are very liminal characters that are somewhere on the cusp between adulthood and childhood. Spongebob and Patrick have jobs, their own houses, etc., but still enjoy childish activities like blowing bubbles and pretending. Spongebob is seen as completely innocent and naïve, much like a kid. Patrick, on the other hand, refuses to grasp responsibility and reality, which seems to be a representation of many college kids and young adults who just won't grow up.
The shows other main adults, Mr. Krabs and Squidward, fit a more typical adult personality. Both are generally authoritative and serious, rarely getting to have fun. It is interesting to note, however, that when they are having fun, it usually involves them giving in to their childish side and playing one of Spongebob and Patrick's games.
This show portrays both sides of adulthood: there are adults that act like children, and adults that act like adults. Oddly, this combination works because through most of the shows, the viewer never really sees Spongebob or Patrick as an adult. Instead, you see them as children trying to live in a grown-up's world.
Response to kadler:
I have seen parts of this show before, so I understand the basic jist of The Proud Family. I think your analysis of the characters is right on. Trudy--the mother--is definitely the authority, which seems to be a constant in a lot of shows (just look at Family Guy, Home Improvement, or Rugrats...all shows where the father is goofy and the mother is more serious).
It seems to me that there might be some kind of "formula" for adult characters that many comedy shows go by. There tends to be the same three types of characters (goofy, authoritative, liminal) in every show, often in the same pattern (dad, mom, extended relative); I'm just not sure if this conveys that this is only combination that works, or if show creators are just that unoriginal.
I chose the show "Out of the Box,"on playhouse Disney. I think this is a very good example of how adults such as the hosts can still be friends with the children in the show, yet it still be clear that they have authority. The adults have fun with the kids while still maintaining a structured enironment. I think it can be viewed as a lesson that being a child and being an adult does not always have to be so black and white, the two can still co-habitate the same playhouse. The divide can still be visible through their instruction and lessons learned during each episode. I chose the show because it was a good representation of what Spigel was saying, there is a somewhere in between and I believe that place is the imagination.
In response to chelsey c:
I like the fact that we can still see adult and childlike tendancies even in cartoon characters. Afterall, they were created to represent a certain type of person. About Spongebob and Patrick, they facinate me how they can entertain themselves with Barnacle Boy and Mermaid Man and yet still be so very serious about working at the Krusty Krab.It seems as though arguements could be made to both sides whether they should be considered children or adults. I guess to me they are the definition of a child at heart. I like how characters in TV shows can be anything that they want.
In response to amanda schafer..
I have only seen “Out of the Box” a few times, but I immediately recognized the interaction between adults and children. When I watched it, I felt like the kids were in a daycare and the adults were there to entertain, but most importantly teach and supervise. I think this show parallels the idea that adults create childhood and control their environment. The hosts do have an underlying childish attitude portrayed by their optimism and enthusiasm while playing with the kids. As an older viewer I find it awkward to see adults acting in such a childish manor, but I understand how the young audience would probably appreciate an older person showing them attention and acting as their equals. By singing upbeat songs and participating in fantastical games, the gap between childhood and adulthood becomes blurry. I agree with Amanda that this shows displays those liminal characters that Spigel describes.
Full House is a show for children and adults alike. There are many roles that are good examples of all the different characteristics adults and children could have. The single father, Danny Tanner, is the sensible authoritative figure who keeps the house under control. His best friends from college are Joey and Jesse. All three live together with Danny's three daughters. Joey is the childlike adult- always goofing off and not acting serious. Jesse goofs off as well, but he has serious momemts too. The three daughters- DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle- also portray different characteristics. In the beginnings of the show, Stephanie and Michelle were portrayed as innocent while DJ faced peer pressure, etc, in middle school. The kids are somewhat influenced by the adults around them. When they are with Joey, they are usually laughing and having a good time. When with Danny, the mood is more serious. As the show progressed, DJ crossed over into the adult realm of the world, Michelle stayed innocent, and Stephanie had to deal with pressure. There was an episode when she was in junoir high and was pressured to smoke in the bathroom. This show is interesting in that because it went for so many seasons, it was able to show the progression of the kids getting older and crossing over into the 'adult world'.
in response to jhunt...
I think while channel surfing one day, I stumbled upon this show. I definitely agree that the father seems to almost be stuck in a child stage; however, he does what he feels is good on behalf of his family. I also agree with you that the roles may not be fully accurate. The extent of the father's behavior does not seem realistic and the daughter's high maintenance attitude is also extreme. The mother seemed like the one who held the house together and the son was not shown much in the episode I saw. In the scenes he was in, he seemed like a typical middle school kid. I think it is interesting that there is entertainment based off of the childlike behavior of adults, yet it is twisted into a positive way.
In the show Hey Arnold! on Nickelodeon, the line between child and adult is somewhat hazy. The grandfather in the show, acts as Arnold’s father since his parents are not around. He is the usual wise old man. Although sometimes out there, the children still go to him for advice. He is always there to tell some story about his childhood that the kids can use in their daily lives. Grandma on the other hand is crazy. She is more like a child than an adult. Every time you see her on the show she seems to be on some wild adventure and brings Arnold along for the ride. When it is just Arnold and his grandma he takes on the adult role and guides her in what to do and what not to do. The “adult” in this show is not always the older person, just the person that is more responsible.
Boy Meets World, a very popular children’s/ adolescents television show has many adult characters that are depicted in different ways. George Feeny acts as a mentor to Cory, Shawn, Topanga, and Eric. Feeny helps them through rough times and also has to act as their authority figure, being their teacher in grade school and then their professor in college. Many sentimental moments are shared with Mr. Feeny, however he can take a laugh too, especially when it comes to Eric, who will never let go of Mr. Feeny and who wants Mr. Fenny in his life forever. Alan Matthews, Cory and Eric’s father also is an authority figure but acts like one of the kids when it is appropriate. He teaches the boys life lessons but also has fun with them. Amy Matthews, Cory and Eric’s mother, acts as the mother figure for all of the kids as they grow older. She loves her children and will do anything for them but knows when to put a foot down when situations get out of control. The last of the adult figures is Jonathan Turner, who arrives during the kids high school years. Mr. Turner is the cool teacher who lets Shawn stay with him in a time of need. Mr. Turner is a very good teacher but also has many adolescent like qualities. He wants to hang out and be one of the crowd, not just a boring adult figure they have to look up to. The adults in this show are portrayed in many different ways, but in the end, they are all teachers to the characters as they grow up and become adults themselves.
In response to Leslie Scott-
I agree that Full House grew as a television show, showing the progression from childhood to adulthood. I also believe that the adults had more of a difference in how they acted, be it Joey acting goofy and making his silly voices, or Danny having to act as the father figure for when situations get out of control. Full House is an excellent example of a television show for all ages, and that is exactly why is it still on today so that younger children can watch and learn.
Arthur is a show that has been on PBS for many years. Arthur has many friends his age but there are also adult characters such as his parents, his friends parents and other adults that live in his town. The adults are usually portrayed as "adults"(there are many definitions for this term) They keep the kids in line and help out with any problems that Arthur and his friends may have. The adult figures usually help the children with typical problems that they face growing up. There is usually a moral or lesson in each episode and the adult figures are there to guide the kids through. Arthur's dad is sometimes portrayed as the goofy parent but that seems to be the case in a lot of t.v. series.
in response to chelseyc:
I agree with your comment about the characters in SpongeBob Squarepants. This is a great example of the hazy line between adulthood and childhood. Even though the characters are of adult age they still have childlike fun, go on adventures and get into childlike trouble. It is interesting that you say that SpongeBob is an adult with childlike qualities such as naivity and innocence because these are personality traits almost exclusively used to describe children.
The Flinstones.
The television classic The Flinstones needs no introduction. Ironically in this children’s show mostly all the characters are adults. First we have the husbands, Fred and Barney. These guys are definitely childlike. Fred is always thinking up crazy schemes and Barney is always right by his side. Their job at the quarry is portrayed as boring; an assumption most children make about the adult workplace. After work they so fun things like go bowling and think up ways to strike it rich.
The wives are at the other end of the spectrum. Wilma and Betty they are the authority figures. Whenever Fred and Barney get into trouble Wilma and Betty yell and punish them. Fred and Barney are always afraid of Wilma and Betty finding out what they’re up to because it’s usually no good. The Flinstones is a fantasy portrayal of what, as children, we think adulthood is.
IN RESPONSE TO CHELSEY C……..
Spongebob Squarepants is definitely on that fence between childhood and adulthood. I agree that they portray each character very differently. They take a group of characters who are supposed to be the same age and represent each stage in life. I never thought about it that way, but from now on I definitely will when I watch the show.
In the long running show Seventh Heaven, the Camden parents play traditional and conservative roles as religious and overprotective authoritarians. However, their efforts to control their many children go in vain. The plot reads like pamphlets in a guidance counselor’s room – the producers set up hundreds of melodramatic situations like drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, etc.
The show attempts to relate to overprotective, older audiences while being didactic for young viewers. The Camdens have children of all ages, from toddlers to a man in his early twenties at medical school. Constructing rigid boundaries for their kids, the show epitomizes the way “hard nose” parents deal with contemporary issues. Although, the Camden children often take-on concerned roles that transcend sibling guidance. There they transcend from child to adult in a way that is separate from the mother and father’s often heard wisdom.
RESPONSE TO AMANDA:
Out of the Box was a very interesting show where the adults were also playmates. They led the children in a way that a teacher leading a grade school class would. That is an interesting way of depicting a fun playtime experience of Disney
In the show Lost, children are viewed as being innocent and impressionable. This is demonstrated in the efforts of “The Others” to take the children on the island and incorporate them into their society. Danielle’s child, Alex, is taken from her when her ship wrecks on the island and as we see later, “The Others” have molded her into one of them. “The Others” also take Walt because they view him as special. Walt’s innocence and childhood is seen through flashbacks to his life. Claire is kidnapped when she is pregnant so that “The Others” can have her baby when it is born. The survivors of the flight show their passion and regard for children as they do everything possible to rescue Walt and Claire’s baby, clearly they see the child as innocent and in need of rescue and support. These examples demonstrate a view of childhood as one that can be molded and supports Locke’s idea of tabula rasa. The people of the island see children as blank slates and impressionable and that is why attempts are made to kidnap all three of the children on the island and integrate them in the society of “The Others”.
In response to leslie scott…
I love Full House and the lessons it gave through the interactions of the adults and children. I agree with your comment on the progression of Stephanie and DJ through their teenage years into adulthood. It was interesting to see the situations they were put it because it reflects what the adult writers assumes adolescents of that age go through today. Full House is an excellent show to comment on in the way adults and children are portrayed because there are constant interactions between them. Also, each character is a portrayed differently which shows diversity and facilitates interesting situations.
The Wiggles is a children's show featuring four grown men playing instruments, dancing, and singing songs about random things. Children love it. I know this because all of my little cousins and little brother watch it, own the DVDs, and sing the songs. I think these men, and also the other adults on the show are portrayed a lot like children. There are children on the show, but only as dancers. The children never speak or take part in the plot, and the adults do not use their authority over them...basically everyone is equal. There is no great adult/child divide. The lessons on the show do not extend much further than "be nice to your friends" and "eat your fruits" which is the reason this works. The simplicity makes it easy for children and adults to be seen, or the way I see it, as equal. I think the reason there are no children playing main characters are because of the practicality of it- the adults can act better.
The Wiggles can be seen either way: as chlidren because of the childish way they dance and sing, or as adults, because they are the ones teaching the lessons to the viewers at home. I think this is the perfect example of what Spigel refers to as "somewhere in between child and adult."
In responce to danielle e...
I remeber watching Hey Arnold and noticing the differences between Arnold's Grandma and Granpa, but never saw it as them acting as an adult or a child. Now that you mention it, I think you made an excellent point. I think a lot of times, with Arnold's maturity, he acts like an adult on the show. I remeber he was always the one giving advice to other children and doing what was right. Hey Arnold shows people of different ages acting as an adult by being responsible.
Right now a very popular show is Desperate Houswives. The show is based on a group of women who have secrets and hold drama filled lives. The many personalities of these women show through in their children. The character Bri, is an widow who becomes an alcoholic and becomes romanitically involved with her deceased husbands killer. Her son turns against her and wants money out of his trust fund and claims his mother physically abused him. Bri eventually throws her son out of the house. The instability of Bri's life and relationships are truly reflected by her son's actions. The character Susan is not very manipulative. She is sort of goofy but generally speaks very truthfully. Her daughter acts very similarly to her. When a handsome boy approaches her she tries not to show too much interest and generally speaks her mind. Lynette, a married woman struggling to work in order to support her family is always all over the place. She is very energetic but she barely has any time to breathe. Her children are very young and energetic, taking after their mother. Lynette's children always get into trouble and are rugged and injuring themselves a lot. Lynette is sort of clumsy and her children's physical actions represent her because she is constantly stressed and very busy, and her children are constantly running around creating a lot of commotion. Throughout this series there is a constant battle between children trying very hard to not be like their parents and the parents have a very difficult time controlling their children. However, as hard as the children try, their characteristics and actions continuously parallel those of their parents.
in response to leslie scott...
I agree that Danny Tanner was represented as the purely "mature" adult, where Jesse was somewhere in the middle and Joey was very immature and childlike. However, I truly feel that all three children throughout the series maintain youthfulness while experiencing adolescence and growing older because of the characters of Jesse and Joey. Each episode has a moral (usually pointed out by Danny). However, no episode holds constant seriousness to it because Jesse and Joey always revert back to fun and goofiness. I think this show is a great example of a balance because Danny tends to be overly mature in that he rarly shows a lot of joy or happiness and Joey never shows responsibility. However, Jesse is a great role model to the girls because he is balanced between his childhood and adulthood.
Rugrats is a children's cartoon show that revolves around a group of toddlers/young children and adventures that occur in their every day lives. The series portrays adults in an interesting way. Even though the show is about young children and adults are commonly found around young children, they are rarely shown in the cartoon. Often led by the adventurous and brave Tommy, the group of kids (including Chuckie, Phil, Lil and Angelica) always seems to be doing something they know they should not be. The only time the parents appear, they are totally oblivious to the antics their toddlers are taking part in. The roles are almost reversed in regards to intelligence and cleverness. The children always seem on top of what's going on and know when the parents will appear. In addition, Tommy and the bunch are always planning and scheming (being productive in a way), while their parents are lazy and watching television or something of that sort, when they really should be keeping an eye on the children. The adults have no clue what is going on for the bulk of each episode. If and when the adults figure out that the kids are doing something wrong, they usually blame Angelica (the slightly older and meaner member of the bunch) showing that they still don't really have a grasp on the situation. In addition, Tommy usually saves one of his friends from getting hurt or other unpleasant situations, rather than an adult figure.
IN RESPONSE TO ADAM:
I agree that Seventh Heaven appeals to older audiences, especially overprotective ones. I think it’s harder for kids today to relate to, but I do agree that it’s a moralizing and maybe educational show for them. I think one of the greatest aspects about the program is the way the siblings look out for each other. This appears to be a result of the guidance of the concerned and domineering parents. I also think it shows how the children, regardless of age, exist somewhere between child and adult. This is because I think being selfless is a more mature characteristic, where children (especially young children) are consumed with looking out for themselves.
In response to laurenb…
I agree with you that the adults portray characteristics of both child and adult in Boy Meets World. They all seem to like to have fun and be one with the children, but also at the same time, they provide advice and act as role models. There is one episode that immediately came to my mind when thinking of these dual roles. The episode I am thinking of is the one where Cory gets upset because his dad always plays basketball with his brother, Eric, but never wants to play with him. He then finds out later that the reason his father does not play basketball with Cory is because he would rather have heart-felt adult conversations with Cory; he can not do that with Eric. In the end Cory realizes that he has a good relationship with his father and is not jealous of Eric’s relationship with him.
In response to laurenb…
I agree with you that the adults portray characteristics of both child and adult in Boy Meets World. They all seem to like to have fun and be one with the children, but also at the same time, they provide advice and act as role models. There is one episode that immediately came to my mind when thinking of these dual roles. The episode I am thinking of is the one where Cory gets upset because his dad always plays basketball with his brother, Eric, but never wants to play with him. He then finds out later that the reason his father does not play basketball with Cory is because he would rather have heart-felt adult conversations with Cory; he can not do that with Eric. In the end Cory realizes that he has a good relationship with his father and is not jealous of Eric’s relationship with him.
Nip/Tuck is a very adult show appearing weekly on the FX Network. The show revolves around two plastic surgeons in Miami and their involvement in various escapades. One of the platic surgeons is married with a young daughter, a son around 18, and a child on the way. In the show, the young daughter appears to be a typical child. Treated like a child, she plays with toys and friends. The older son tends to be treated as an adult and a child. Depending on the circumstances, the son appears to be treated as a child in one scene and an adult in the other. Most of the childlike treatment stems from the parent's inability to let their son grow up. The treatment of the children in the show depends upon the situation. With one child being young, she is treated as an innocent child. However, the elder child receives adult treatment when the subject is his parents well-being, but when it is his well-being, he becomes the child. The children are children in the show when the adult characters benefit from them being children. When they need the advantages of "older" people, the childhood disappears.
In response to JHunt:
It seems like the weird parenting that the adults use tends to be the cause of the problems with their children. The show almost feels a reverse to normal life. The adults seem like children and the children adults.
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