I feel like there are a lot of puns/jokes that can be made here, but I'm drawing a blank. :hmm:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392368/Sesame-Street-propaganda-tool-Left-says-Ben-Shapiro.html
QuoteSesame Street is 'a propaganda tool for the Left' says top author
By Ted Thornhill
Last updated at 3:46 PM on 30th May 2011
To most people Sesame Street is a fun educational show for kids featuring lovable characters such as Ernie, Big Bird and Cookie Monster – but for author Ben Shapiro the show is a vehicle for spreading left-wing propaganda.
...
Shapiro, 27, also spoke to one of Sesame Street's founders, who told him that he used the programme, in the wake of 9/11, to highlight how there were peaceful alternatives to war.
This revelation may surprise some, but the show – which has featured guest stars such as Katy Perry, Ricky Gervais and Michelle Obama - was criticised for having an anti-right agenda in 2009 when it mockingly referred to America's Fox News channel as 'Pox News'.
Sesame Street is broadcast in 120 countries, has won 118 Emmy Awards and can boast that around 95 per cent of Americans have watched it by the time they're three years old...
What a bizarre thing to go on about.
Of course television often has a political message, and some shows certainly reflect the political views of those who make the shows. So what?
There is nothing "secret" about it.
It definitely has a slant towards values more cheerished on the left, such as diversity. It this news?
I wonder how you could make a show like Sesame Street, that is very consciously an attempt to teach moral and ethical lessons, without there being political ramifications of those messages. After all, any message, even something as simple as "Do unto others..." is going to be seen by someone as identified with some side of the political spectrum as opposed to another.
Sesame Street teaching that peace is better than war???
TEH HORROR!
Quote from: Berkut on June 02, 2011, 08:40:50 AM
I wonder how you could make a show like Sesame Street, that is very consciously an attempt to teach moral and ethical lessons, without there being political ramifications of those messages. After all, any message, even something as simple as "Do unto others..." is going to be seen by someone as identified with some side of the political spectrum as opposed to another.
Sesame Street teaching that peace is better than war???
TEH HORROR!
And before you know it, you're a nation full of Euroweenies.
"OMG WE MAST HAZ NEGOTIATE WIF QUDIFI!"
I'd make a crack about how certain Languish posters are like Sesame Street characters, but there are simply too many candidates for the role of Oscar the Grouch ... :hmm:
Quote from: Malthus on June 02, 2011, 10:50:17 AM
I'd make a crack about how certain Languish posters are like Sesame Street characters, but there are simply too many candidates for the role of Oscar the Grouch ... :hmm:
You should list them while making a big production of the tally.
Can I be: Gravy Monster. :)
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc., Sesame Street doesn't actually register that high on the scale. I think I saw the "Pox News" thing but it didn't seem to be out of line with how they parody other networks/shows, particularly when it's an Oscar the Grouch skit.
I have some minor quibbles about Sesame Street, like how the seem to over-promote self esteem, diversity & whatnot, but pretty much all children's educational shows are full of that crap.
Never even heard of Ben Shapiro. Apparently he is a Conservative talk show host and author for Regnery. I'll give the British a pass on reporting a dog-bites-man story because they probably don't know inane the drivel that comes from sources like that is.
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:28:58 PM
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc., Sesame Street doesn't actually register that high on the scale. I think I saw the "Pox News" thing but it didn't seem to be out of line with how they parody other networks/shows, particularly when it's an Oscar the Grouch skit.
Having met a number of people associated with Sesame Street including Kevin Clash (Elmo), Chris Cerf (music), and Lisa Henson (Jim's kid... think she is/was a producer) I can tell you for sure that these are very leftish folks. I don't think it matters much, though... the focus of the show is on very early childhood education and I find it impossible to believe that little kids could possibly pick up on a political bias.
Quote from: Slargos on June 02, 2011, 10:32:59 AM
Quote from: Berkut on June 02, 2011, 08:40:50 AM
I wonder how you could make a show like Sesame Street, that is very consciously an attempt to teach moral and ethical lessons, without there being political ramifications of those messages. After all, any message, even something as simple as "Do unto others..." is going to be seen by someone as identified with some side of the political spectrum as opposed to another.
Sesame Street teaching that peace is better than war???
TEH HORROR!
And before you know it, you're a nation full of Euroweenies.
"OMG WE MAST HAZ NEGOTIATE WIF QUDIFI!"
You realize that Sesame Street has been on for a long time now, right? :unsure:
Quote from: Caliga on June 02, 2011, 12:33:09 PM
Having met a number of people associated with Sesame Street including Kevin Clash (Elmo), Chris Cerf (music), and Lisa Henson (Jim's kid... think she is/was a producer) I can tell you for sure that these are very leftish folks. I don't think it matters much, though... the focus of the show is on very early childhood education and I find it impossible to believe that little kids could possibly pick up on a political bias.
Oh, I wouldn't doubt that for a minute. I'd be pretty surprised if they weren't lefties. I just don't see anything in Sesame Street that is egregiously left-biased.
Quote from: garbon on June 02, 2011, 12:39:05 PM
Quote from: Slargos on June 02, 2011, 10:32:59 AM
Quote from: Berkut on June 02, 2011, 08:40:50 AM
I wonder how you could make a show like Sesame Street, that is very consciously an attempt to teach moral and ethical lessons, without there being political ramifications of those messages. After all, any message, even something as simple as "Do unto others..." is going to be seen by someone as identified with some side of the political spectrum as opposed to another.
Sesame Street teaching that peace is better than war???
TEH HORROR!
And before you know it, you're a nation full of Euroweenies.
"OMG WE MAST HAZ NEGOTIATE WIF QUDIFI!"
You realize that Sesame Street has been on for a long time now, right? :unsure:
SLOWLY CHIPPING AWAY AT THE MORALS OF YOUR YOUNG
I do remember the sugar beet song. I noticed it starts with a very young Tamas working at the harvest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuZNSGdg2ms
Sesame Street, which first aired early in the Nixon adminisration, is typical capitalist-imperialist propaganda designed to dull the wits of proletarian and vaguardist toddlers. The puppet protagonists are obsessed with fetished commodities like rubberized bath toys and mass-produced baked goods, and with talismans of elitist culture like ballet tutus. Puppets and human youth alike are controlled by a narrow-minded petit bourgeois ruling class such as the proprieters of a grocery store and a poorly disguised pawn shop and various petty professionals. The only character that dares to challenge the crushing oppression of the system is portrayed as a filthy, worm-ridden denzien of a trash can, thus reinforcing the message of conformity. The interests of finance capital are regularly reinforced by forcing the characters (and thus viewers) to engage in simple ritualistic accounting excercises involving rote recitation of numerical sequences.
You slipped up on the ballet. Commies loved ballet.
Quote from: Razgovory on June 02, 2011, 02:31:50 PM
You slipped up on the ballet. Commies loved ballet.
Only the Russian betrayers of the revolution.
Isn't most kids TV leftist if we're playing that game?
Caring for others, diversity, etc.... are pretty universal traits of kid's TV.
I'd love to see the Libertarian version of Sesame Street.
'Sharing is for parasites'. :D
Not much left wing about The Mattel and Mars Bar Quick Energy Chocobot Hour.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on June 02, 2011, 02:28:31 PM
The only character that dares to challenge the crushing oppression of the system is portrayed as a filthy, worm-ridden denzien of a trash can, thus reinforcing the message of conformity.
You forgot the most insidious aspect. Through a seemingly innocent game of "one of these things doesn't belong" youth are conditioned to indentify all those who do not conform and to immediately report such deviants.
Quote from: Malthus on June 02, 2011, 02:41:53 PM
I'd love to see the Libertarian version of Sesame Street.
'Sharing is for parasites'. :D
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F9099%2Fitexists.jpg&hash=cd8fd56f40980872f9786011ac28dbd6f3880f8e) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/itexists.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Quote from: Tyr on June 02, 2011, 02:39:57 PM
Isn't most kids TV leftist if we're playing that game?
Caring for others, diversity, etc.... are pretty universal traits of kid's TV.
That was kinda my point earlier, though of course I take exception with the notion of caring for others being a leftist notion.
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:28:58 PM
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc.,
Damn, I'd like to be acutely attuned. Can you teach me, massa?
I don't let my kids watch the Street. Not because of some non-exitant bias, just because of fucking ELMO.
BRING BACK READING RAINBOW.
Quote from: Zoupa on June 02, 2011, 04:20:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:28:58 PM
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc.,
Damn, I'd like to be acutely attuned. Can you teach me, massa?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herospy.com%2Fwp-content%2Fhero%2520spy%25202006%2Fodds%2520and%2520ends%2F_french_man_crying.jpg&hash=0d3ddda2f19cacb2de6136d2297885222acd7e45)
Quote from: Zoupa on June 02, 2011, 04:20:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:28:58 PM
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc.,
Damn, I'd like to be acutely attuned. Can you teach me, massa?
Don't let him fool you. His condition is chronic, not acute.
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 04:27:36 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on June 02, 2011, 04:20:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:28:58 PM
For me, as someone acutely attuned to leftwing bias in TV, movies, news, etc.,
Damn, I'd like to be acutely attuned. Can you teach me, massa?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herospy.com%2Fwp-content%2Fhero%2520spy%25202006%2Fodds%2520and%2520ends%2F_french_man_crying.jpg&hash=0d3ddda2f19cacb2de6136d2297885222acd7e45)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalsecurity.org%2Fsecurity%2Fprofiles%2Fimages%2F9-11_1.jpg&hash=f832f0245dc0db7f18a69f37ce6f10e99166b00c)
Quote from: Malthus on June 02, 2011, 02:41:53 PM
I'd love to see the Libertarian version of Sesame Street.
'Sharing is for parasites'. :D
That'll be a tea party.
Quote from: Ed Anger on June 02, 2011, 04:23:20 PM
I don't let my kids watch the Street. Not because of some non-exitant bias, just because of fucking ELMO.
BRING BACK READING RAINBOW.
That was one I watched when I was a kid. Don't know if it helped, but I did become an early reader.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood was my childhood obsession.
Whe I was stationed in Germany from 88-92 my weekday routine when not in the field was; wake up, PT, watch sesame street on AFN, go to work. Wash, rinse, and repeat until the weekend. Used to laugh my ass off watching that show.
So, my opinion to 'a propaganda tool for the Left' is whatever.
Fucking funny shit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTc3PsW5ghQ&feature=relmfu
Wait a fucking minute- there are PEACEFUL alternatives to war?
GITDAFUCKOUTTAHEAH!
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:46:08 PM
Quote from: Caliga on June 02, 2011, 12:33:09 PM
Having met a number of people associated with Sesame Street including Kevin Clash (Elmo), Chris Cerf (music), and Lisa Henson (Jim's kid... think she is/was a producer) I can tell you for sure that these are very leftish folks. I don't think it matters much, though... the focus of the show is on very early childhood education and I find it impossible to believe that little kids could possibly pick up on a political bias.
Oh, I wouldn't doubt that for a minute. I'd be pretty surprised if they weren't lefties. I just don't see anything in Sesame Street that is egregiously left-biased.
For some, the lack of a strong conservative slant (i.e. Bible quoting, etc.) is a left-wing bias. :ph34r:
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on June 02, 2011, 09:24:47 PM
For some, the lack of a strong conservative slant (i.e. Bible quoting, etc.) is a left-wing bias. :ph34r:
But are you acutely attuned to this, or are you just a regular joe? :hmm:
I also remember watching "Barrio Sésamo" in high school Spanish class, which was hilarious.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on June 02, 2011, 09:24:47 PM
Quote from: derspiess on June 02, 2011, 12:46:08 PM
Quote from: Caliga on June 02, 2011, 12:33:09 PM
Having met a number of people associated with Sesame Street including Kevin Clash (Elmo), Chris Cerf (music), and Lisa Henson (Jim's kid... think she is/was a producer) I can tell you for sure that these are very leftish folks. I don't think it matters much, though... the focus of the show is on very early childhood education and I find it impossible to believe that little kids could possibly pick up on a political bias.
Oh, I wouldn't doubt that for a minute. I'd be pretty surprised if they weren't lefties. I just don't see anything in Sesame Street that is egregiously left-biased.
For some, the lack of a strong conservative slant (i.e. Bible quoting, etc.) is a left-wing bias. :ph34r:
Being liberal leaning can vary widely depending on the needs of the conservative polemic. Not smoking is a sign of leftism, when Jonah Goldberg wanted to argue that Hitler was a leftist his distaste for smoking was used as evidence.
I would think his vegetarianism a more compelling argument.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 02, 2011, 11:16:25 PM
I would think his vegetarianism a more compelling argument.
I don't think it's particularly compelling, but I believe that was made as well. Even though it doesn't really make any goddamn sense.
The terms left and right are ambiguous enough that pretty much any historical figure could be argued to go either way.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 02, 2011, 11:32:31 PM
The terms left and right are ambiguous enough that pretty much any historical figure could be argued to go either way.
The problem is these terms are not sufficient to describe reality, especially when you include systems other than "Western democracy". The classic division of ideologies has been a triad of liberalism, conservatism and collectivism. Each regime or ideology known to man can be described as being a mix (in various proportions) of these three.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 02, 2011, 11:32:31 PM
The terms left and right are ambiguous enough that pretty much any historical figure could be argued to go either way.
OK, do FDR and Pinochet.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 03, 2011, 01:29:08 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 02, 2011, 11:32:31 PM
The terms left and right are ambiguous enough that pretty much any historical figure could be argued to go either way.
OK, do FDR and Pinochet.
Jaron or Augusto? :huh:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 03, 2011, 01:29:08 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 02, 2011, 11:32:31 PM
The terms left and right are ambiguous enough that pretty much any historical figure could be argued to go either way.
OK, do FDR and Pinochet.
FDR - liberal with dash of collectivism
Pinochet - conservative with dash of liberalism
Hitler - collectivist with dash of conservatism
Stalin - pure collectivist
Bush (and most of America) - liberal with dash of conservatism
Libertarians are a mix of liberalism and conservatism (thus placing them at the exact opposite side of the triangle to collectivism).
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 03, 2011, 01:29:08 AM
OK, do FDR and Pinochet.
FDR's policies may have saved the US from a potential communist revolution, he favored a muscular foreign policy, he was racially insensitive. OTOH, he greatly increased the size of the government and he fought the Nazis. So even from a modern mainstream US pov he can be argued both ways. When you consider that communists would consider his New Deal to be right-wing reactionism and many or most of his contemporaries saw nothing wrong with his internment of Japanese-Americans it's clear that the terms need a lot of context to be descriptive in a helpful way.
Don't really know much about Pinochet.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on June 03, 2011, 02:23:41 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 03, 2011, 01:29:08 AM
OK, do FDR and Pinochet.
FDR's policies may have saved the US from a potential communist revolution, he favored a muscular foreign policy, he was racially insensitive. OTOH, he greatly increased the size of the government and he fought the Nazis. So even from a modern mainstream US pov he can be argued both ways. When you consider that communists would consider his New Deal to be right-wing reactionism and many or most of his contemporaries saw nothing wrong with his internment of Japanese-Americans it's clear that the terms need a lot of context to be descriptive in a helpful way.
Don't really know much about Pinochet.
To be honest, I fail to see what "fighting the Nazis" has anything to do with FDR's political stances. Hint: governments sometimes go to war with other governments of the same type/ideology. (For example, monarchies sometimes fought with each other in history, it does not make one of the anti-monarchist or republican).
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on June 02, 2011, 09:37:49 PM
I also remember watching "Barrio Sésamo" in high school Spanish class, which was hilarious.
Proper Spanish Barrio Sésamo or some Latin American version? :P