OK- so my kids sometimes watch this show called Barnyard- its a spin off from the movie of the same title. Computer animated farm animals have a secret life of pizza orders, movies, joyrides in the farmer's truck. They usually walk on 2 legs when the humans aren't around- lots of plot lines revolving around not getting exposed as talking rational animals. I have a couple of issues with it though. The first is just a silly thing- but goes back to my point about how far removed from an agrarian lifestyle we've come. The main character on the show is a cow named Otis- its a male cow, or as some might call him a bull, or if he's had some modifications, a steer. He's definitely a male- male name, male pronouns, has boys' nights out, whole show about being a long lost son of another cow etc. He also happens to have an udder. You know- large pink round thing with nipples sticking out of it- cow's udder. Only female cows have udders- males have other appendages in that area. No one seems to care. Probably most kids wouldn't recognize him as a cow if he didn't have an udder- all cows have udders, right? Wrong. But obviously not an issue for the Japanese animators. (maybe cows are different there?)
Second complaint has to do with a ferret who is best friends with a chicken. Obvious carnivore/herbivore conflict there- but he has chosen the alternative lifestyle of being a vegetarian and he and his 'best friend' live in the same barn stall together happily. Do we really need to push the PC barriers so far? I mean this is way over kids' heads, but I think most adults would get the idea of acceptance for psuedo gay stall mates and gender-bending cows.
Most people would say, "its just a cartoon show- get over it" and for the most part I am- just felt like venting, because when its on and I tell my kids to try and find something else to watch, they wouldn't understand these dilemmas I have. This is why I have a blog- to get this stuff out of my head. You can go back to your regularly scheduled programs now.
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1 comment:
in light of this post, i think you might appreciate http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/.
hope you are well. i'm enjoying being immersed in youth ministry in a traditional episco-setting. :)
peace.
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