Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Captain Planet and the Planeteers: Who is Responsible for our Planet?
Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a popular 1990's cartoon conceived by media giant, Ted Turner. The cartoon teaches children to be responsible to the environment by placing teenagers in situations where they are forced to defend their planet against "ecovillians". In reading Susan Jaye Dauer's essay, "Cartoons and Contamination," Dauer shows us, that upon looking closer, the message appears to be about shifting responsibility. Dauer sites an essay by Ruthanne Kurth-Schai which states that children are being exploited by adults, they are "asked far too soon to assume adult responsibilities that are not of their choosing" (261). This message becomes clear from the beginning of the Captain Planet series. In episode one, five teenagers are chosen and transported to meet Gaia, a Mother earth figure, who lives on Hope Island. Upon arrival, the teens seem confused by their new surroundings, but are "quickly persuaded that what they do is vital and necessary work." The cartoon goes on to show teens placed in dangerous environmental situations, facing dangerous people, it makes me consider the fact that the teens have not chosen to do this, and should they, at their age, be faced with such danger? Since this cartoon is targeted toward children, I feel the message these children are recieving is that they are responsible for cleaning up messes that they haven't made. This thought is explained in one particular episode when the teens are asked to clean animals harmed by an oil spill; one teen "wonders why he and his companions have to clean a mess they have not made." (260) The concept of Captain Planet and the Planeteers provided a public service of respect and awareness for our environment. However, placing young people, in what could be very dangerous situations, that they may not be "equipped to handle" (263), almost encourages children to take dangerous risks.
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I think it goes without saying that we are all responsible for our planet, children need to be aware of the dangers of polluting, but is it fair to place such a burden on kids? I teach my own child about the environment; we plant an organic garden each summer, practice recycling, and conservation. I do this because I hope he'll grow up to be environmentally responsible.
ReplyDeleteWhile it might not be fair to ask children to clean up the messes they haven't made, it's a reality in today's world. For years to come today's youth will be living the effects of the poor environmental decisions made by people in generations before them. It's better that they become aware and start to make changes for the future, regardless of how much damage control they have to do now. It's too bad, but it's the way it is.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jessica. I also am trying to put myself in the position of a children's television show writer. If I wanted to teach children about protecting their environment, I would certainly make the characters children because they can relate to other children better. I agree that environmental responsibility should be largely placed on adults, but if I created a show about adults protecting the earth, would kids really want to watch? I also think the element of danger isn't really what's required to protect our earth, but possibly something the writers put into the show to make it more dramatic for television purposes. I don't know any kids that would be very interested in watching a television show with adults walking around doing "good environmental deeds". Kids want a little bit of action and fantasy about kids their own age to spark their imagination.
ReplyDeleteThere is something powerful about the innocence and purity of youth. While I am not trying to proselytize, I read an interesting scripture today, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
ReplyDeleteNIV: Full context: Luke 18:17
The teens maybe are pure and more apt to make the necessary changes that adults in their "Deceptions and pursuits of money, career, responsibilities of adulthood" are not able to focus on environmental good deeds. Or you can think of it like this--there is a powerful element that only teens and children can connect with to earth and nature....the cloudiness of being an adult gets in the way.