"These early 'Sesame Street' episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child."
Yikes!
However, I think some of the changes were probably for the best... Some of you might remember the Cookie Monster diet change that happened a few years ago:
Today, Cookie Monster's diet is much more balanced, as he has adopted the philosophy that cookies are a "sometimes food." Cookie coincidentally changed his tune in 2006 amidst reports that childhood obesity had reached epidemic proportions.
Cookie Monster was awesome, but this is actually a good step in my opinion to lead by example.
As the article states:
Early "Sesame Street" had some other elements that would not pass muster today. Oscar the Grouch is just plain nasty, children are seen riding their bikes without helmets, and there's even a sketch where the human character of Gordon can be seen approaching a little girl on the street. He takes her by the hand and brings her into his house for milk and cookies (again with the cookies!). Clearly, that could be misinterpreted by today's standards.
All in all, Sesame Street as unassuming and beneficial as it is, still has to evolve and change in a changing world.
This was a similar conversation to one I was having with a friend a week or two ago about the changing of the times. We were talking about what we got away with when we were kids... I'd take my bike in the summer and be gone all day. I'd come back for lunch, then back out until dinner. Mom didn't mind and she just stood and yelled for me when it was time to come home. I'd have to think that those days are long gone now.
I don't think that the world is any more dangerous now than it was 20 years ago, but it seems our sensitivity and awareness of the danger has increased. I just wonder if that is a good thing.
What do you think about all of this?
0 comments:
Post a Comment