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Childhood cartoons and how they influenced us 

Report by: Myia Wright, Tymeria Davis, and Andrew Fiscu   Section 006

Our report is on three cartoons we watched as children growing up. These three cartoons have all influenced children's lives because of their philosophical meanings hidden in the animated shows. The three cartoons we focused on are Sesame Street, Scooby Doo: Where Are You, and Blue’s clues. Our report also explores how these cartoons contributed to our lives through pop culture. 

First, we looked at statistics on children watching cartoons. The average American child aged 2-5 years old watches an average of 32 hours of cartoons a week. While American children ages 6-11 years old watch 28 hours per week. A child's brain develops the most within the first five years of life but develops most rapidly during the first three years of life. Studies show that children's brains actually work more than the average college students' brain. Knowing this information, we then did the research over our cartoons. 

For Sesame Street, America’s longest running children's television show, many philosophical meanings are present through the 50 years the show has been on. There are episodes with hidden philosophies about knowledge, life, love, friendship, and death. I chose to focus on the philosophical meaning of love and friendship present in this well know cartoon. My research shows that the connection between Sesame Street and philosophy is Aristotle's book called, Nicomachean Ethics, where he explains his philosophies about love and friendship. Aristotle claims that love and friendship are both interconnected through the virtue of goodness. To have a happy and full life, one must seek goodness. From seeking goodness, you will encounter love and friendship. For love, Aristotle says that self-love is the most important. One cannot fully engage in a meaningful or “good” friendship if one does not love themselves. Sesame Street teaches children to be proud of who they are and that loving yourself is important. For friendship, Aristotle says that a good friendship is based upon someone wishing for someone the things that he deems good, for the sake of that person and not oneself, and the accomplishment of these things to the best of one’s ability. Sesame Street has numerous episodes on what a friend is and what it means to be a friend to someone.  

For Scooby Doo, Tymeria focused on the philosophy of knowledge that the cartoon is based upon. The whole cartoon is about friends trying to uncover mysteries. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge, especially with regards to its methods, validity and scope. Analyzing the nature of knowledge and how it relates to similar notions such as truth, justification, and belief. While also dealing with skepticism about different knowledge claims. At a young age the show also teaches us that the real monsters are the people who lie to us to make us afraid to see the truth. 

For Blue’s Clues, Andrew focused on how the main character of the show, Steve Burns, left the show and how that impacted children mentally and philosophically. The theory hidden in the cartoon was created by Doctor Robert Firestone, called separation theory. Separation theory explains how early trauma can help form defense mechanisms in a developing child. This theory can be reinforced as a child gradually becomes aware of his or her own morality.

DQ:

• Do you think there are other parts of pop culture from our childhoods that formed us into who we are today?​
• Do you think its possible that creators of tv shows for children purposely animate shows to help us develop into better people and form our philosophies at a young age?​
• Do you think the TV shows we grew up on positively or negatively affected our development?​
• Do you think that the kids watching these TV shows are more prepared to develop their own philosophies on the tough issues in life?​
• Do you think children's shows today offer the same insights on life?

Quiz Questions:

1. How many hours of tv do 2-5 years old children watch?​
2. When was sesame street first aired?​
3. What is epistemology?​
4. Who was the original host of blue's clues?​
5. Who developed Separation Theory?