There is little to no editing.
Meh.
I was sitting and listening to ‘Them kids’ by Sam Roberts and scrolled down on Youtube to read a few of the comments under the video. One said, “He’s comparing what life was like back in the day compared to know. The 'family' was wholesome - and now it’s like, the girl texts, the boy plays guitar hero instead of a guitar, just how life has kind of taken a nosedive.”
I think that is maybe part of it but it got me thinking—always dangerous yes I know. But what really has changed? It seems all a little arrogant to presume that I would have any idea what has changed considering I am merely on the verge of turning 23. Goodness knows that I hate when giddy first years try to tell me anything about life, the same way any ‘real’ grown up would hate to hear my views on relationships, family, work, and life in general. But in my own, thus far short, (and just getting started) life it seems that even I can point out some things that have gone by the way side.
I would like to start with cartoons and family friendly television. Oh sure, there is a lot of family channel and tree house programming out there, a hell of a lot more than when anyone of our underachieving generation was little. But it’s all changed. I was up late with my brother last night just talking and flicking channels when I came across Boy Meets World. Oh course, I ignored his initial protests and selected Family West for my viewing please. I do love getting all nostalgic after all. But as we watched and laughed at the no-drinking-after-school-special type message featuring a plethora of that nauseating soundtrack to the 90’s—you know that sound commonly heard on Full House; a set of strings and keys to signify a deep moment was occurring—it also hit me. So what? So what if there was some cheese…at least it was showing something..well, worth showing. For one the whole episode really focussed on Cory and Sean’s awesome friendship (if you are one of the douchebags who thinks that Frodo and Sam were homoerotic than you can piss off around here.) Basically the self deprecating, pseudo-orphan punk Sean was trying to take the blame for what was Cory’s (as he called him: Teenage America) fault. At one moment, while Cory was drunkenly bemoaning over his break up with Tapanga he professed how maybe Sean was the one he could not live without. Now again, shut up insecure males…they are just friends!
Remember Recess, Hey Arnold, the forgotten PepperAnn, even the Weekenders. Yeah there was often a moral of the story, and sometimes just dumb humour but all that my little cousins and the like watch now are shows that incessantly try to dumb down the population. I know this is slightly less than revelatory—this ‘dumbing down of
We used to watch shows like that at two and then gradually move to older cartoons before being thrust into the adult mainstream. Although I watched 90210 at five, but then again this is not supposed to be a testament to how freaking special I am (though I may one day comment on that :P) However, now it is Dora and then carving up cadavers on CSI. And if these stunted kids from ages 8-14 are really lucky, they get into pop star idol worship in the form of Miley freaking Cyrus. The day the music died.
What fun children, what fun.
So maybe we think that kids should be taught not to drink and drive (google the name Jacqui Saborido for frack sakes) and maybe they should value being kids while still maintaining some living brain cells. Maybe, just maybe, they should know and see examples of devoted families and friends and not just sniff around rancid creepy fluff.
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2 comments:
I have a few comments on your post:
1) What has really changed? With the advent of technology, sure kids play guitar hero and text, but it's no different than what parents used to complain about in the "old" days. Parents/adults have always said that when they were younger things were different. And yeah, it's a slightly different society we're building, but the major things (i.e. attitudes towards and relationships with various people) are still coming up cyclically. The model family didn't really exist in those days outside of TV. It's just that now TV is maybe perpetuating a slightly different image. But who's to say people are listening to and modelling that image as much as they used to model the sugar coated image before. Need I mention the weird censorship laws of the 50s? I mean come on, in a normal household, parents slept in the same bed, so why did Lucy and Desi not do the same?
2) Maybe the kids I babysit are too young, so I don't see the problem with the programming. I prefer shows like Caillou or Dora the Explorer (though don't get me started on the whole Spanish thing) to old shows like Barney. But that's just speaking from an adult point of view of something that's entertaining. Although I do agree that kids should grow out of these shows fairly quickly.
3) And my last point: I LOVE(D) The Weekenders. I thought it was the shit. I mean, come on, the first cartoon where the kids actually changed clothes! And with that said: Later days!
True enough...but the 'model' family is not my concern but rather allowing kids to see more of reality and yet remain fun. They did not exist then I know. But the entertainment at the time et kids be kids and grow up at the same time. Whereas now it is all fake and high school musical...YEAH that is right people I DESPISE that crap. It really is hard to explain but essentially it feels like something is missing.
As for the 50's censorship....Duh, as a journalist I am not a fan. The Leave it to Beaver days are NOT the ideal in my eyes...but I just think its pretty damn sad how things seem to even be slipping from the freaking 90's.
And yes, the Weekenders was the shit. :)
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