Sunday, January 13, 2008

Childhood's End

In The Sunday Times I write about the politics of children's television.
Posted by Bryan Appleyard at 7:00 am

7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2008 8:32 am

    "Nightmare", "apocalypse", "perverse". A sub-industry entirely built on state-directed spending is losing out because that direction is faltering. Oh dear.

    If you are looking for a vision of a particularly perverse post-apocalyptic nightmare, I give you the world conjured by the Teletubbies - surely that baby-sun is the most frightening thing on TV...

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  2. NigeJanuary 13, 2008 10:58 am

    That entertaining pastime of blowing up Airfix kits lasted some way beyond childhood, if memory serves....

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  3. Bryan AppleyardJanuary 13, 2008 11:27 am

    Still do it - man should have a hobby.

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  4. Ian russellJanuary 13, 2008 11:47 am

    Sesame Street was on the other day, apparently it was an educational programme inspired by advertising and marketing techniques. The Americans know what the kids want, the British only know what they ought to have, I guess. Horse to water, school is for education, telly is for entertainment.

    I wonder how the Scruton kids will raise their own, with or without television?

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2008 1:59 pm

    Sic Transit Political Correctness. It's not surprising neurotic parents and educational specialists are now reduced to under-fives. Bob Newhart once did a hilarious show where he replaced a crusty old 1950's era MC who played a pirate who liked to steal treasure and terrify the kids by making them walk the plank or feeding them to the sharks. Bob and the parents thought it was too violent, so they introduced inclusive feel-good songs and non-competitve games based on "our friend, the ocean". Of course it was history within weeks.

    Why would any but the dullest kid suffer shows touting personal hygiene, energy-saving measures and tolerance for--take your pick--when he/she can switch on the Nintendo and squish Mario?

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2008 7:24 pm

    Oh, boy -- am I glad my kids aren't little anymore. Sesame St. was dull, Pokemon was boring, and Barney the Purple Dinosaur gave me the creeps. Yet, I saw my kids go through shows like developmental stages. ALL 2-year-olds love Barney. Four and ups love Power Rangers. Pokemon and other anime shows hung on until my son was nearly 10. The funniest thing, though, is to watch kids who are about 7 scorn the young Barney watchers. They can't believe they EVER liked him, though of course we parents remember when he was the bomb.

    Now the boy's favorite shows (he's 14) are: The Simpsons, Futurama, Heroes, and the Survivor series. Daughter (19) loves Gray's Anatomy and Real World shows by MTV. I, a grump, hate everything. Give me a book!

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  7. Neil ForsythJanuary 13, 2008 11:29 pm

    As a moderately neurotic parent, almost instinctively, it seems, I have been trying to limit the amount of television my two little Einsteins watch each day. However, not wanting to be a complete killjoy, I do let them watch news and current affairs programmes (except the sport segment on the news), most wildlife documentaries (apart from ones that are excessivly violent or sexually prurient), anything on BBC4 and occasionally, as a treat, the Antiques Roadshow. Oh, yea, and they never miss SpongeBob SquarePants.

    I enjoyed the article, Bryan. I read it to my 3-year old at bedtime. He seemed to enjoy it too. I just hope it doesn't give him nightmares.

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