I remember time when cartoons were designed for children, time when anime was considered as controversial because of violence and short dresses. It was a good time and simple time, when bad was bad and good was good. Then in december of 1989 FOX aired first episode of The Simpsons turning the world upside down. Ok maybe I exaggerate a little, but than the 'adventure' with cartoons designed for adults began. Actually I don't remember it, I was one year old, and I discovered Simpsons when I was already adult, but when I was teenager I discovered the other adult cartoon -South Park. I can say without hesitate that I learned english watching that cartoon, that's why it's so poor;). But what is the phenomenon of south park? Well, it's bad, really bad. I don't know any other cartoon that make fun of religion, race, politics, social behavior, killing and dying, sex and all the other topics that are usually recognised as taboo. Badness of south park can be considered on two levels: 1) Characters in tv show act bad (eg. Cartman), what can encourage viewer to copy this behavior 2) Creators of south park make funn of serious problems in their show. But is it really bad to destroy taboo and make viewer think about serious problems in different way? I admit that almost every episode brings reflection on cotemporary world and society to me. Shows like that are cry: 'Wake up people! World isn't a candy shop'
But what are the conclusions? That Bad-TvShows are good?
Actually it's not my point. While catoons for adults develope, children cartoons develope also. Simple plot about good win over evil became too boring, now cartoons for children are becoming stupid, with toilet humor, without any educational message. My 5 years old cousin became a bully to younger brother. Why? Because he saw this kind of behavior in Ed, Edd and Eddy.
Bad behavior in cartoons for adults - o.k., but in cartoons for children? Soon the bad behavior from tv will be something ordinary in the real world. Creators of cartoons, think about what are you doing, stop brainwashing children... or maybe brainwashed children are your objective...?
