Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Elmo's World Like Our Own?
Toy companies are in their busy season with the holidays just around the corner, and today I read an interesting article on toys. Actually a specific toy, the plush red toy named Elmo. Almost everyone has heard of this lovable little creature, he appears in Sesame Street, and on the shelves of every toy store. The article prosed a fascinating question, why are kids so obsessed with Elmo? And it made me think about not only Elmo, but about all the toys that children obsess over. Because there has to be something that makes one toy more appealing then another, even to the most simple of minds.
The article suggests that children want to play with a friend who sees the world like they do, and who better to play with then the fuzzy red guy who like them is "curious, open-minded, fun, loves to learn new things, very optimistic, and happy-go-lucky (Elmo Fever)." This however is a concept that goes far beyond the shelves of "Toys R Us." Not only do the young like people (or furry animals) who see the same world like they do, but people of all ages value this characteristic.
There are many instances in our society that demonstrate the characteristic of people liking people who see the world like them. For example, immigrants formed sections of the city with other immigrants from their country. China town, German district, and the "south-side Irish", are a few that are still around today. This could be explained as having come from such similar cultures causes people to see the world similarly, and want to be with each other. What are your thoughts on this phenomenon? Do you see any other examples of this in your everyday life?
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I think that is a really interesting thought, Carolyn. Though many might not be willing to admit it, most people feel comfortable with other people that have something in common with them whether it be race, ethnicity, religion...I know of many neighborhoods where the majority of the population is white or hispanic or what not. But, that is not anything new. People are often segregated as a result of societal pressures, but I think people also have a tendency to want to be with other people that are similar to them.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the title of your blog post, I thought you were referring to how kids TV shows try to encourage diversity. I find it especially interesting that you seem to be making an opposite argument that kids toys are popular because they are relatable. In some ways it may seem far-fetched, but I believe it is true that when kids see Elmo on TV, they are more likely to be accepting of others when they grow up. It is not just a coincidence that many childrens' TV shows have characters that are different colors. Do you think kids toys are enforcing discrimination and segregation or promoting diversity?