Teletubbies Essay examples - 2215 Words

Teletubbies Who (or what) are the Teletubbies? Many people are familiar with this relatively new cultural phenomenon, but for those who are not, they are rather hard to describe. They appear on a PBS television program designed for toddlers. One newspaper writer has described them as four roly-poly futuristic rugrats. They are brightly colored, alien-like technological babies, complete with baby talk and giggles. They live in a hilly, pastoral land, full of flowers and bunnies and sunshine, as well as technological gadgets, such as their caretaker/vacuum cleaner named Noo-Noo. They each have their own personalities and favorite toys, and they have taken America, as well as much of the world, by storm. PBS contends†¦show more content†¦I knew this was an issue worth investigating when one of my college professors said, I heard Tinky Winky (one of the teletubbies) is gay. This issue has been discussed on the Internet and in many newspapers. In the Reverend Jerry Falwells National Liberty Journal, an editorial claimed that Tinky Winky, who is purple, carries a red bag/purse, and has an inverted triangle on his head, is gay. Diana Butler Bass, in an article for the New York Times, stated that she and her husband, as well as many other parents also noticed that Tinky Winky bends gender. I watched three Teletubbies episodes in a row to get to the bottom of this controversy. While this does not make me an expert, I have to say that the red purse only appeared (on Tinky Winkys arm) for about 30 seconds while all four teletubbies were dancing around. This was in the 3rd episode that I watched. Tinky Winky, although he is the biggest and seemingly oldest of the tubbies, is s urely less than 4 years old, because I know 3-year-olds that can talk better and have better coordination. What does a 2-4 year old know about being gay? My son is 2 years old, and he once tried to put on one of my bras. Am I afraid that he may be gay? Of course not. Tinky Winkys red purse (which is also supposed to be magic),Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Queer 1988 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"uncanny†¦applies to everything that was intended to remain secret, hidden away, and has come into the open† (Freud 132). Upon closer inspection of the words, queer and uncanny, and Andrew Davenport’s popular children’s television show Teletubbies, we see that the Teletubbies are the exemplary, digital manifestations of â€Å"queer, uncanny doppelgà ¤ngers† (Cole). It is 2000. Sunday morning. I am 3. I wake up, pop out of bed, and sprint down the steps. Mom is in the kitchen cooking a hot, delicious breakfastRead MoreAnalysis Of The Pink Ribbon 1483 Words   |  6 PagesMadeleine Even after Madeleine was no longer herself, James does not become more dominant; although he technically has more control in their relationship at this point. Symbols are found in this story through the use of the â€Å"pink ribbon† and the Teletubbies doll â€Å"Dipsy,† although the â€Å"pink ribbon† is the most important symbol of the two. These symbols serve to show how James decided to indirectly take out his anger and frustration towards Mado—by being derisive and almost vindictive. Right at the beginningRead More Role of Childrens Television in the Global Marketplace Essay2171 Words   |  9 PagesHymowitz, who labeled the show an unwavering endorsement of American anti-intellectualism and cult of the cool ... (a) triumph of appearance over substance.10 Tales of Teletubbies While the research and distribution methods of Sesame Street are subject to debate, the phenomena of the latest British export, Teletubbies, may well be subject to fistfights. In Germany, for instance, Anne Wood, one of the shows main creators, is held personally responsible for televisions decline.11 On theRead More Busy Bubbles Laundromat and Car Cleaning Essay1614 Words   |  7 PagesTV is perched on a shelf very close to the ceiling the remote is a prize. If you can find it. If not you simply watch whatever is on. Another truly amazing thing is to watch several grown adults sit by the TV, and then pretend not to watch the Teletubbies. I wonder why people would rather watch a TV show with no words than pick up the newspaper right in front of them. Well, it is the Forum, so I guess I can make some allowances. Others bring their own entertainment, a book, homework, or whateverRead MoreMedia Role Models and the Effect on Children3275 Words   |  14 Pageswith their likeness. Now lets look at the effect that these media personalities have on children in the age group 5 and under. We assume that children are safe watching educational programming such as Blues Clues, Dora the explorer and Teletubbies, but are they really as safe as we think they are. First off, these types of television shows are educational and do in fact teach young children while keeping them entertained. This can be seen as a positive influence on our kids and these charactersRead MoreThe Role of the Media in Childhood Obesity Essay694 Words   |  3 Pagesfrequent use of cross-promotions with children’s media characters. McDonalds and Disney have an exclusive agreement under which Happy Meals include toys from top Disney movies. In the past, Happy Meals have also included toys based on the Teletubbies, which is aimed at children under 4. One study found that 1 in 6 food commercials aimed at children promise a free toy. Many commercials also use cartoon characters to sell products to children, which research has shown to be particularlyRead MoreNp Case Study732 Words   |  3 Pagesmodern day police to slave patrols. All of this is part of ESPNs rapid fall from sports giant to a political activist organization that pretends it understands sports. Last week, Sportscenter was trounced in ratings by a Nickelodeon airing of Teletubbies in eight of the nine time slots ESPN aired. Highly Questionable and First Take also lost to the kids show, while Around the Horn and Outside the Lines barely managed to escape. In March it was reported by Broadcasting and Cable that ESPN had goneRead MoreWatching Tv Makes You Smarter, By Steven Johnson872 Words   |  4 Pageswatch more television. This author is really against the use of television to making you smarter and argued that it gives useless information to people watching. Stevens believes that society is being sucked into the idiot box. She mentions the Teletubbies and how it is rotting children s brains. She argues that children are considered sponges in the television industry and that they will watch these dumb shows. On the other hand, she explains h ow she monitored what people were watching in publicRead MoreTelevision is the Downfall of our Society Essay616 Words   |  3 Pagesshow for preschoolers, school-age children, teenagers, and adults, many choose to spend their time viewing these shows because they feel a sense of belonging when watching the shows. For preschoolers, shows such as Sesame Street, Barney, and Teletubbies have been created. Many of these shows are very educational, but it has been proven that most children learn quicker with hands-on-training. Children are more likely to learn also by speaking. Children can?t speak to the television; thereforeRead MoreChildren Watching Television All Day869 Words   |  4 Pagesal., (2010) also mentions that children watching television intended for their age has resulted a clear positive impact on school readiness. For example, shows such as Sesame Street demonstrated a higher level of school readiness than watching Teletubbies. Disadvantage of watching too much television On the contrary to Becker (1977 Koolstra Van der Voort (1996 as cited in Alloway et al., (2013) in a research analysis it did not clearly demonstrated the negative impact of watching television