Let's talk about cartoons!

I heard about an episode of Spongebob that was deeply disturbing to some adult viewers.

Subliminal mature themes in cartoons are nothing new. Tom and Jerry had drunkenness, Ren and Stimpy had every crude joke imaginable, and Hey Arnold was a cornucopia of sad, realistic life lessons.

A popular one, shared often on Tumblr.com, is a clip from an episode of Rugrats. The father is making fudge for a child, late at night. His wife pops into the kitchen and asks why he is doing it. With tired eyes and in a depressing monotone he replies, "Because I've lost control of my life".

Spongebob, like any cartoon, has had its violence, drunkenness, drug references and even some sexual references. What has got people fired up is that this episode, "Are You Happy Now?", deals with depression and suicide.



My question for you: is there a problem here? Is it okay to show these adult themes to children as long as they cannot fully comprehend what is going on? And also, why do the animators choose to do this?

Influence and Responsibility of the Media

I got to talking with someone online, about the way that the media portrays every day events.

The other day I read a news article about "Two Pit Bulls Loose in Neighborhood". The dogs did no damage, were actually friendly family pets who got loose. Yet the damage was done right in the title, and in that they actually took the time to publish said article. If two labs were to be loose in this neighborhood, would there have been a story? Are we being conditioned with the phrase, "pit bull" as something that is worthy of fear?

I see the same exaggeration of importance when supposed "terrorist acts" are commit against the US. Funny thing is, when the US goes out and does the same (or worse) things in another country, Americans do not consider it "terrorism". The concept of terrorism as we define it today is fairly new, as off the 1960s and 70s. The smallest instances which we now consider terrorism as would not have been seen as a "big deal" at a different time.

I worry about the things that I am made to fear. I am not sure if some of what I fear is warranted, or if I have just been conditioned by what I have seen and heard. I personally believe the media holds a strong responsibility as to how what it pumps out affects other people.

What effects, if any, do you think the media has had on what we as a society fear?