"The wrong sort believe that children are 'a distinct race.' They carefully 'make up' the tastes of these odd creatures--like an anthropologist observing the habits of a savage tribe--or even the tastes of a clearly defined age-group within a particular social class within the 'distinct race.' They dish up not what they like themselves but what that race is supposed to like."
C.S. Lewis, "On Juvenile Tastes"
Beauty is truth, truth beauty . . . and they never need to know.
25 comments:
All right, speaking of causing offense, what have you got against Sponge Bob, hmmmm?
Seriously, I am reading C. S. Lewis, "An Experiment in Criticism" right now, and was reminded of this quotation I put on Facebook yesterday:
"One sad result of making English Literature a 'subject' at schools and universities is that the reading of great authors is, from early years, stamped upon the minds of conscientious and submissive young people as something meritorious."
Sponge Bob and his whine. I haven't seen it in years and I can STILL hear it perfectly in my head.
Actually, what makes the show worth watching is Squidward. I ♥ Squidward.
OK, I've never watched it. But it's just so UGLY!
I have never been a fan of pointless cartoons. I love epic cartoons with a hero and a love story and most of all an actual POINT! :)
Anyway- quick! someone congratulate me!!! I just found out I am harboring baby #6! WOOHOO! My girls have been praying for a sister for about a year now, so we shall see...
And I have to announce it here, because to keep myself sane I am not announcing it to family for several months, but I want to tell SOMEONE!
Aw, Heather! What very great news! :) :) :) Babies rock.
Yay Heather! The sixer I've got in the works is a girl so I'd say it's going around, right? :D
Thanks ladies!! I do happen to see a disporpotionate number of girl babies everywhere I go. Which is probably why I will get another of the other variety. But, either way, I'll take it. :)
Odd, but ever since your Harry Potter unforgivable spells post, all the word verification words sound like spells. Coincidence?
My strategy: train my kids with my own attitude. When they bring me some stupid retelling of a movie (terrible retelling) story book, I might read it, but there is no gusto. I reserve the gusto for the good choices.
Teaching discernment on the sly :)
Awh!!! Heather and Rebekah, congrats to both of you.
There was a SpongeBob Squarepants preview on a kids' movie my hubby and I just watched... you know, previewing for the toddler. (Right.) Hubby and I looked at each other and said, "Gee, why was it again that we don't watch this show??" (Sorry, Cheryl...)
Yeah, what is there that is "good" for kids (esp toddler age) to watch? Veggie Tales, yes, but there's some poor theology in there. Bob the Builder, but how many times can you listen to that theme song before you go crazy?
Congrats, Heather!
Elizabeth: Have you looked at the old (like, uberold) claymation Wind in the Willows? Not garish at all. Rather, they're nice and quiet, and Frog keeps the plot line plenty entertaining. The later seasons are best.
And we've found, to our amazement, that all of our children love Charlie Chaplin movies. :)
FYI: WitW will occasionally employ some of the lesser swear words. That Badger; he just can't help himself. :D
Elizabeth- The old Thomas and Friends cartoons. Usually anything made before 1994 is the old stop-motion. The new animation isn't so great. But the old ones are narrated by George Carlin, Ringo Star, and some other famous guys.
You can stream a bunch over Netflix if you've got it.
Heather - You're right about the disproportionate number of girls these days. Thirteen babies were born to families in our congregation in the last year and a half or so. Ten of them were girls. All I can say is that the three little boys in that group will have to stick together in the name of peace!
Congratulations, Heather!
All my paternal cousins are having/have had boys this year (5 months of babies! Including twins!), so I'm just assuming ours will be another boy (which is funny, since our parents' generation had primarily girls...).
I like Caillou, since it's slower-paced and quiet. The parents really annoy me though (they have the same haircut!)
Wow, Cheryl. No one is siding with you.
I like Sponge Bob.
-Jane Seyboldt
Jane, you are a brave woman. I had decided to keep my mouth shut and slink away. But knowing there are at least two of us here gives me courage. Come on, there's gotta be a few more. Come out, Sponge Bob fans. Come out, come out wherever you are!
I just can't do Sponge Bob, I really can't. Or Dora the Explor-ah .
We like Backyardigans. The stories are cute and generally involve the group working as a team for a common goal (very little bickering or arguing, no disrespecting authority), the humor is clever enough to make an adult chuckle but simple and appropriate for a toddler, and the majority of the songs are fun and catchy without being obnoxious. There are 54 episodes available on Netflix instant. :o)
That is pretty much all my girls watch. That and YouTube videos of violinists, ballerinas, and kittens. But I do agree that Thomas is good. And I love the original Winnie The Pooh Disney movie.
For the morbidly curious, here's an episode that demonstrates much of what I love about SpongeBob:
http://spongebob.nick.com/videos/clip/spongebob-vs-big-one-full.html
If you watch and still hate the show, then you are a true SpongeBob hater and we can respectfully differ in our opinions. But if you have never really watched SpongeBob (and I mean really sat down and watched and listened to the dialogue and followed the storyline, not just had it on in the other room to keep the kids busy) you might just find something here to appreciate. The one caveat is that the more you know the characters the more you will appreciate the show. But in my opinion there is a lot here to enjoy the first time around. And maybe some things that will surprise you. :-)
Cheryl - I looked it up but it won't play. Still searching. . .
Jane S.
Getting closer - it's the one with Johnny Depp. . .
J.S.
Hmmm, wonder why it wouldn't play? Yes, it is the one with Johnny Depp doing what sounds to me like a Clint Eastwood impersonation. And oh yeah, it has Davey Jones too, in the flesh. If that doesn't rope you Sponge Bob doubters in I don't know what will. :-) Good luck finding it, Jane! It is not to be missed!
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