Superhero or Zero Value?

Would you let your child watch Captain Planet, Dragon Ball Z, or even Thundercats? All of the previously mentioned shows revolve around the central idea of Superheroes. Our culture today has developed into one of parroting what we see around us. Media logic runs rampant and individuals cannot afford to go without paying attention to what is being presented. In our class we have discussed many varying thoughts about the subject of Superhero’s and their influence on young children.

Before one can accurately examine the positive and negative aspects of this culture, a brief history of how children learn must be explained. According to many social psychologists children learn in three stages:

“1. preparatory stage - meaningless imitation by the infant; assumes roles but doesn't understand what they are

   2. play stage - actual playing of roles occurs; but no unified conception of self

   3. game stage - completion stage of self; child finds himself; must respond to simultaneous roles; the individual can act with a certain amount of consistency in a variety of situations because he/she acts in accordance with a generalized set of expectations and definitions he/she has internalized”

            Children begin observing at a very young age. If you camp your child in front of a television constantly as it blares these types of television of programs what will they retain. Messages such as sculpting body image, fighting for what you believe in, punishing those who stand against you, relying on teamwork to save you, or men must be active.

            The question now arises, are these positive or negative messages? Pros of these messages such as sculpting body image or, men must be active could lead to a healthy life style involving fitness. Pros exist in the other mentioned areas as well. Fighting for what you believe in and relying on teamwork all offer positive messages enforcing cooperation and standing firm in your belief.

            All the viewpoints afore mentioned possibly could be seen as negative. Through the attainment of these goals however, is where problems occur. Boys often get the message that to achieve these goals it is okay to hurt others. The message becomes mixed and discrepancies arise with what the real message being presented is.

            My children one day will be watching television and dealing with other children and I will run into the issue of what to let me children watch. Superheroes or the alternative… You decide.