Personally, after reading this article, I definitely agree with the author's point of view. If I was a little kid, I'd definitely choose Spongebob over Caillou any day. Caillou is, simply put, boring. But that's not the point. The point is, Spongebob is allegedly damaging the brains of little children. I think any type of television will hinder one's brain. Like mom always said, "TV turns your brain into mush." However, I don't think Spongebob is more likely to "have immediate impact on a child's neurological function" then say, MTV. This article claims that there have been studies at the University of Virginia that came to the conclusion that Caillou was better for children than Spongebob when it comes to "impairment in their executive function" because it was slow-paced. I think Spongebob will teach children that it is okay to be weird and to encourage them to be themselves.
The author of this article understands her audience very well. Knowing her subject, Spongebob and Caillou, helped her form the structured yet casual use of words. She realized that people most likely to read her article were ones that have seen or at least heard of Spongebob, and therefore influenced her to speak more freely. Kind of like talking to a friend. After reading the title, "Go ahead, Spongebob, rot my kids' brains" it immediately tells the reader that Spongebob is not good for children, yet it won't stop her and her family from watching the show. That alone may attract readers to reading the article; she takes a familiar and quite popular character and puts him in a negative and positive light. She convinces her audience of her point of view using facts, like the study from the University of Virginia, and using her personal experience. She also uses a rhetorical question, "...but have these researchers considered that [Caillou will] also drive an otherwise rational parent to throw her television out the window?" Overall, the author's argument is very believable and well-supported.
Article: "Go ahead Spongebob, rot my kids' brains" by Mary Elizabeth Williams
Click here for the link
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
ReplyDeleteCaillou is one of the biggest whinebags on television. Spongebob sets a much better example for kids.
ReplyDeletePlankton is my hero.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have a son or daughter who is creative than a brainiac. And are you joking? Plankton's dignity is destroyed in close to every episode.
ReplyDeleteI would take Spongebob over Caillou anyday, whether it was for me or a child. I would despise any child who was like Caillou because they would be whiney and obnoxious. A Spongebob child would be joyful and annoying in a funny way.
ReplyDelete