Let us look at what appeals to the TV audience and why it erodes our morals, ethics, family values, and the very fabric of our society.
First of all, they make us believe that socialisation occurs when the child’s value emerges from their sexual appeal or behavior and this, much to the distancing or the exclusion of their other characteristics.
It is small wonder that research shows that many girls, from as early as age six, believe that their value comes from their so-called sex appeal. Sadly, there is much hypersexuality in movies that are aimed at little children.
This is even so in movies that are rated G. It is found that the female characters in G rated movies, even cartoons, are often depicted wearing the same type of sexually revealing clothing as those in R rated movies.
This is particularly disturbing when one looks at the after effect. A research done in the year 2012, shows that girls, as early as six-years-old, are seeing themselves as “through the male gaze.”
In other words, they need to look physically appealing in order to be accepted. This is quite an alarming message that is sent far too early to both boys as well as girls.
Big toy companies, instead of focusing on important qualities such as self- acceptance, independence, individuality, education, morals, ethics and family values, divert their focus elsewhere – towards vanity, materialism, conformity, sexual appeal and monetary affluence and gain, regardless of the avenues.
Much attention is paid to their body language. The problem is that people, regardless of age, imitate what they see. They are exposed to mature clothes, far beyond their years.
They believe that this is what is expected of them. In the mind of a child, all of this is supposed to be normal play and fun.
They are totally unaware of the psychological problems that are encountered with this premature behavior.
Granted that through television, smartphones, computers, tablets, children of today are exposed to much more information that the generation of before.
There is a wealth of available knowledge, literally at their fingertips.
But too much of this type of exposure can and does have its negative long term consequences.
The average young child spends between five to seven hours per day on the computer, talking on the phone or watching television.
In the case of teenagers, this figure is as much as 11 hours.
More time is spent on the media than sleeping or at school. The three largest television conglomerates illustrate on their shows, little children in this light.
Many of the seemingly innocent children’s shows are riddled with subliminal messages. Many of the great television shows that dominated the airwaves of yesteryears always centred round the theme of family.
These shows stressed upon teaching good values to children. Each episode aimed at teaching a life lesson to the viewing audience.
Now, the emphasis is on popularity, nudity, fornication, scandal, rebellion, homosexuality, and revenge.
Notice too, many of the modern shows have taken parents completely out of the picture. The portrayal of adults in many of these shows, show them as idiots and fools and serves to propagate a child’s disrespect for authority, especially in the family home. The parents are not depicted as role models.
This acquired disrespect, then extends to school and in the general society. Children are portrayed as talking down to parents and disrespecting adults. All of this is accompanied by laughter and applause.
It serves to collapse the family unit and to destroy morals and values that parents fight to instill in their children.
Sadly, at this age, children should be taught about morals, respect, individuality, ethics, manners, the values, the importance and the sanctity of marriage and God.
Sadly, these are traded for popularity, outward beauty, teen relationships, cheating boyfriends and girlfriends.
And, people are in wonder why fornication is rampant and why the sanctimonious vows of marriage are obsolete among the present generation.
One of the greatest and most effective methods of brainwashing is via song and dance.
It, however, conditions the child from a very early age to admire and to imitate the “loose behavior” of musicians.
Producers are well aware of what they are doing and all of it is intentional. The reason is simple. It sells.
Children begin to concentrate on singing, acting and dancing.
School work, homework, and education are all shelved. One in ten children is addicted to celebrity worshipping.
The outcomes are clear. There is low self-esteem, sexual deviance and even behavioural disorders including eating disorders.
The list goes on and on. We need to take care of the minutes and then the hours will take care of themselves.
(Fayad Ali is a former Dean at Naparima College in San Fernando, Trinidad, an eminent Mathematics teacher and author)
Opinion: This is What We Choose, Yet We Complain About the Product
By FAYAD ALI
Let us look at what appeals to the TV audience and why it erodes our morals, ethics, family values, and the very fabric of our society.
First of all, they make us believe that socialisation occurs when the child’s value emerges from their sexual appeal or behavior and this, much to the distancing or the exclusion of their other characteristics.
It is small wonder that research shows that many girls, from as early as age six, believe that their value comes from their so-called sex appeal. Sadly, there is much hypersexuality in movies that are aimed at little children.
This is even so in movies that are rated G. It is found that the female characters in G rated movies, even cartoons, are often depicted wearing the same type of sexually revealing clothing as those in R rated movies.
This is particularly disturbing when one looks at the after effect. A research done in the year 2012, shows that girls, as early as six-years-old, are seeing themselves as “through the male gaze.”
In other words, they need to look physically appealing in order to be accepted. This is quite an alarming message that is sent far too early to both boys as well as girls.
Big toy companies, instead of focusing on important qualities such as self- acceptance, independence, individuality, education, morals, ethics and family values, divert their focus elsewhere – towards vanity, materialism, conformity, sexual appeal and monetary affluence and gain, regardless of the avenues.
Much attention is paid to their body language. The problem is that people, regardless of age, imitate what they see. They are exposed to mature clothes, far beyond their years.
They believe that this is what is expected of them. In the mind of a child, all of this is supposed to be normal play and fun.
They are totally unaware of the psychological problems that are encountered with this premature behavior.
Granted that through television, smartphones, computers, tablets, children of today are exposed to much more information that the generation of before.
There is a wealth of available knowledge, literally at their fingertips.
But too much of this type of exposure can and does have its negative long term consequences.
The average young child spends between five to seven hours per day on the computer, talking on the phone or watching television.
In the case of teenagers, this figure is as much as 11 hours.
More time is spent on the media than sleeping or at school. The three largest television conglomerates illustrate on their shows, little children in this light.
Many of the seemingly innocent children’s shows are riddled with subliminal messages. Many of the great television shows that dominated the airwaves of yesteryears always centred round the theme of family.
These shows stressed upon teaching good values to children. Each episode aimed at teaching a life lesson to the viewing audience.
Now, the emphasis is on popularity, nudity, fornication, scandal, rebellion, homosexuality, and revenge.
Notice too, many of the modern shows have taken parents completely out of the picture. The portrayal of adults in many of these shows, show them as idiots and fools and serves to propagate a child’s disrespect for authority, especially in the family home. The parents are not depicted as role models.
This acquired disrespect, then extends to school and in the general society. Children are portrayed as talking down to parents and disrespecting adults. All of this is accompanied by laughter and applause.
It serves to collapse the family unit and to destroy morals and values that parents fight to instill in their children.
Sadly, at this age, children should be taught about morals, respect, individuality, ethics, manners, the values, the importance and the sanctity of marriage and God.
Sadly, these are traded for popularity, outward beauty, teen relationships, cheating boyfriends and girlfriends.
And, people are in wonder why fornication is rampant and why the sanctimonious vows of marriage are obsolete among the present generation.
One of the greatest and most effective methods of brainwashing is via song and dance.
It, however, conditions the child from a very early age to admire and to imitate the “loose behavior” of musicians.
Producers are well aware of what they are doing and all of it is intentional. The reason is simple. It sells.
Children begin to concentrate on singing, acting and dancing.
School work, homework, and education are all shelved. One in ten children is addicted to celebrity worshipping.
The outcomes are clear. There is low self-esteem, sexual deviance and even behavioural disorders including eating disorders.
The list goes on and on. We need to take care of the minutes and then the hours will take care of themselves.
(Fayad Ali is a former Dean at Naparima College in San Fernando, Trinidad, an eminent Mathematics teacher and author)