A character from the childhood of many current parents, part of a gang called "the Looney Tunes". From Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny to Foghorn Leghorn, the Looney jokes were so subtle that as a kid they were often misunderstood. That did not stop them from laughing as there was a double meaning to the jokes. This made them funny for children as well as for adults.
The question is, do modern cartoons have the same effect? The adults barely seem to laugh, it is mostly flashing and a lot of impulses stimulating the children to buy merchandise. The goal of the cartoons seems to have changed; from being a tool to make people laugh and watch it again, to finding a way to keep the viewers watching. No longer does the writer sit down and think of a funny script, he is now joined by the marketeer who has analyzed children's minds and reactions to certain colors and movements to ensure they stay hooked. Sometimes, children don't even blink when watching!
Should a parent let their children fly with the latest trend, which has been thought up by marketeers to hook them to a product for the rest of their lives? Or should a parent try and shield the child from these influences until they reach an age where they realize they are being influenced?
One thing is certain, completely shielding a child is impossible as soon as it starts acting on its own. This means that before that time, every parent should have a game plan to find the balance between shielding and educating. The danger lies in the often innocent appearance of the cartoon and the fact that where children get hooked by the colors, sounds and flashing light, they usually annoy the parents...
The solution can be one corporations love: buying high quality movies with the content a parent wants their children to see. Or banning TV all together, however cruel it may be on both the parent as they child!
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