#for example when i was on the outer edge of the target audience for su - 13/14 - i got bullied by older teenagers and adults | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jackedspicer · 4 years ago

Text

i keep seeing that post going around that talks about how people should stop being overly critical of children’s cartoons and watch breaking bad or something, and as someone with adhd who has always had unconventional interests, ive never liked it but i also find myself agreeing with some of it. i think that some children’s media CAN and SHOULD be analyzed, but not without proper suspension of disbelief

what a lot of people like to do is insert dark and edgy concepts into cartoons (”mass hallucination” is a popular one) because they need it to make “logical sense” to them when that’s... . . Not what cartoons are about! some cartoons DO explore complex topics like philosophy, mortality, inequality, etc., but they can also be very nonsensical and silly! these can coexist! and content can’t be any less explorable just because it’s for kids - kids are smart! they are capable of understanding these concepts, even if it’s to a different extent compared to an adult. media shouldn’t be a black and white dichotomy of “for kids” and “for adults” because every person has different interests and different needs. adults and children have varying understandings complex topics, and it’s okay for anyone to participate in these discussions.

but the problem arises when adults start monopolizing the space designated for the content and claim it as their own (my little pony is a classic example of this). it’s okay for someone to be deeply invested in children’s media (let’s not forget the adhd and autistic communities) as long as they’re self aware of their place in the audience. something doesn’t HAVE to be dark and edgy and perfectly in line with reality to appeal to adults, and it doesn’t have to be the opposite to appeal to kids. i would argue that it’s therapeutic and even healthy to critically analyze material aimed at younger audiences, so long as you’re not actively finding people to fight with over it and you’re giving children the space they need.

#the adventure time example they provided kind of backfired anyway because adventure time HAS explored mortality #Literally. On purpose #when i talk about giving children space i mean to respect that theyre the target audience #for example when i was on the outer edge of the target audience for su - 13/14 - i got bullied by older teenagers and adults #children will be children. they can consume media in ANY way they like and you HAVE to understand and respect that. you cant get mad #HERES ANOTHER EXAMPLE dear god. i have a benson drunk moments compilation with an ungodly number of views #every other comment is ''they must be putting something in those wings... they have beer batter... they have drugs in them''#when what they fail to grasp is that it's a CARTOON. the wings are a METAPHOR. and event though it's not real booze -#it clearly has a similar impact on the characters - and you can analyze their behavior under that framework #playing with the silliness is PART of it. if youre gonna build a castle in the sandbox you gotta use the tools they gave you!#you gotta get creative! you gotta engage in the metaphors!#but back to consuming as an adult #i can't make the case that i do everything in the ''right'' way. im not the picture of healthy consumption. im an escapist mess #but i also do have adhd and hyperfixations are known to be obscure and unconventional #SO. moving on with that in mind #cartoons are what interest me the most and i absolutely love to pick it apart - in the context of the content #for example. NO i do not think chowder is a mass hallucination because it's silly and thats great but also #do i like to analyze the characters and consider the socioeconomic power dynamics in the town in a self aware way?#yes i do!#i do it in a way that's cognizant of the source material. a lot of the things i see they probably didnt intend #but it's a reflection of the thought processes of real life adults and that fascinates me #do i know that my gym partners a monkey is silly and for fun? yes! do i also hold the opinion it's a metaphor for having autism? yes!#do i know xiaolin showdown is a fantasy adventure? yes! do i also attempt to analyze how jack spicer's upbringing influnced his #thoughts and motives and how it ultimately constructs the framework for why hes in the position that he is? You bet #because that's something i was interested in even back when i was literally part of the target audience #children can HAVE questions like this. they can WANT to explore #and you can delve into these topics without ruining the wonder of it all or making it dark and edgy

26 notes · View notes