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Time Out -- Oh, the way PG used to be...Posted Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 2:49 PM
We recently took our boys to see the animated comedy Surf's Up. It was a unique story with the message or moral being that to be a winner you don't always have to come in first. If you ask my kids, they would tell you the movie gets two flippers up in their book. The thing that gets me as a parent is there is another underlying message that movies like this seem to send our youth. Remember the way PG movies used to be? They used to be wholesome films you could take kids of any age to see at the theater. Well, PG isn't what it used to be, my friends. If you look closely at the posters associated with these movies they do tell you that. (In very fine print I might add.)
"Mild language and some rude humor," they state. "Some material may not be suitable for young children." Now, I am not saying that any of these films could be compared to "Silence of the Lambs" for crying out loud, but I am questioning where parents draw the line. "A movie for the whole family" has kind of become just that. The story lines of some of these "kid movies" seem to surround some serious adult-like issues. And much of the humor is meant more for the adults than the young audience the film is supposed to be intended for. I have heard many jokes in such films that I know my kids didn't really get. How could they, when the punch lines were so mature? By no means am I downing this laugh-out-loud, state-of-the-art animated film or any other movie that is heavily marketed to our children via the television, or through those famously promotional happy meals. (Ha!) I'm just saying, Should parents break their kids hearts by telling them they can't go see these popular flicks? That would be a little extreme and sheltering. Remember the message adults were sent from one particular R-rated movie released in 1976: Shelter your child to the extreme and you could end up like the mother in that classic horror film Carrie. (And that subject my friends could be a whole other blog. Ha!) At the same time, however, by continuing to take my kids to these movies am I perhaps semi-consciously telling my young kids that its okay to use "mild language" under some circumstances, and that rude humor is okay as long as it is "humourous"? Just curious what other family movie-goers think. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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tough one...limit t.v. use to one hour a day...let them use thier own imagination and assure them there are better things to do with your time than watch movies...but then of course you must convince them of that. as a child I found the simplist things like a stick enjoyable. My father limited my t.v. to one hour a day and encouraged me to play outside. I do not remember going to the movies when I was young that much. I do remember one! Rodger Rabbit. We walked out within 20 min of the film and I was told that was not something we watched and then was explained to why. As a child I had plenty of fun outside w/out the use of t.v./movies...of course I liked to play video games, but with my father limiting that too, I learned to find enjoyment in other aspects of life!
I completely agree! So many movies today that are rated PG are not appropriate, in my mind, for young children. I miss the good old days when movies were wholesome and had good messages. And be still being in my 20's, although barely, it wasn't that long ago, was it? It's really hard choosing what movies we should let them see and not see, especially when they see them at school or at friend's houses, and they're the latest craze to be pushed on them by Happy Meals, and commercials. However, limiting TV time is definitely a plus. My parents hardly let me watch anything growing up. (especially "picky" about music) And while I didn't understand it then, I'm thankful for it now. Best thing to do is to watch the movies with your children and have a discussion afterwards about the things that don't mesh with your beliefs and values. And sometimes, you do just have to shut it off.
oefvet: Sounds like your dad is a pretty smart guy! I also try to limit the amount of time they spend sitting in front of the tube and when they are watching something I am usually sitting right beside them watching the show as well. I like channels like Noggin when it comes to younger kids. The shows on that channel seem to be educational based programs. Unfortunately, a lot of the cartoons that are on television in today's world are pretty violent.
Vambfly: You are right about the music! I cannot believe what our radio stations are allowing on the air these days. I was on my way to pick the kids up from daycare the other day and had the dial turned to a station that I know many people in Kennett listen to. *Hint: it's out of Jonesboro, Ark.* I was appauled by the content of many of the songs. I am not trying to down hip hop by any means, but, Good Lord! The first thing I heard during one hip hop song was these lyrics: "Let's get drunk and forget what we did." What kind of message are we sending to our youth? That was only one part of the song that seemed to promote drinking and promiscuous behavior. I realize that the stations think that they are doing their part by bleeping out the curse words (which, in my opinion they don't exactly do effectively) but they should take on a little more responsibility for the messages that are being sent in the music they allow on their broadcasts. Since they don't, I have just decided that the radio will stay off, particularly when my kids are riding with me.
Mrs. C - funny you mentioned violent cartoons...my little girl loves to watch cartoons and last night we put tom and jerry on...(forgot just how violent that was too) seems some of the violence has been around a long time...just a different brand of it i suppose...
oefvet: LOL! So True. Although I have to admit. I never really thought about that until now. Tom and Jerry could perhaps be veiwed as "Soft" violence, compared to the machine-gun toting characters of today. But then again, violence is violence, right? haha :)
Just thought I'd add something I learned in my Mass Media Effects class--
the most violent show in television history is the Carol Burnette Show.
Ron...just curious. Can the assertion that the Carol Burnette Show is the most violent show in television history be substantiated?
I too am curious about this revelation...
ADD ME TO THE LIST BEHIND LEISAL FROM THE SOUND OF MUSIC ROTFLMBO
* singing *
The hills are alive...
WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC...
Like my gran-pappy Bocephus Jedidiah Obadieh Diffy used to say:
"BOY stop watchin' those there cartuns and git' me mah baccy."
And I be dipped in pig sweat if I don't tell my boy the same thing!
Isn't the wicked witch of the east (west?) in the Wizard of Oz promoting violence too? And don't forget The Little Rascals or The Three Stooges. Shameful cinematography.