If You'll Let Me Direct Your Attention... // Regular Show

Due to holidays, etc. I'm going to be cheating once again and posting one of my blog posts from this past semester, from my Television class. Enjoy!

Trade articles are one of the best ways to find out what is going on behind the scenes with various television channels and programs. Yet, the content in these articles is often focused on a specific aspect that the publisher or the network wanted to emphasize. For example, this article (entitled “Cartoon Network’s ‘Regular Show’ To Step Up Half-Hours”) spends about a fourth of the article focusing on Regular Show’s popularity and emphasis on friendship and fun, a point the creator J.G. Quintel feels is one of the reason it’s so well received by parents as well as kids. This confliction between the title’s focus and the actual content of the article helps to emphasis who’s being privileged in the publication of trade articles. Trade articles, while useful for finding information about a show from behind-the-scenes, should be read knowing that they tend to be biased toward the agendas of the network and the creators of a particular show, as well as the desires of the publication.

Regular Show is undeniably one of Cartoon Network’s most popular shows at present. It’s popular with not just younger kids, but also with their parents, older kids, and other adults and young adults. It does, as one can easily see in this clip, contain themes of friendship. However, it’s important to notice that the “friendship” in, at least in this specific clip, is a little warped in a way that might concern parents with younger kids. One prominent way is that Mordecai pushes Rigby at one particular instance, and this passes with no consequences (other than Rigby crying, which even that doesn't have any consequences). This reinforcement of physically violent interactions between friends may not be the kind of “friendship” that parents want to emphasize. This notion conflicts with Quintel’s statement that the show is popular with parents and kids due to its portrayal of friendships.

If the content of the show is at odds with the creator’s comments on the show in the trade journal, why is this still such a huge emphasis in the article that is supposed to be focused, according to the title, on the timeslot expansion of the show? The answer lies at the heart of trade journalism: the network’s agenda. Cartoon Network, while definitely pandering to young adult and adult audiences with its content (as discussed by many of the previous Cartoon Network blog posts), they still pride themselves on being a cartoon channel for kids and families. Therefore, the network wants to promote the concepts that appeal to parents, such as the emphasis on friendship in their shows, even if they aren't always completely accurate or ideal. In this way, this trade article, amongst other articles, effectively ignore the perspectives of audiences of television, choosing to emphasize the networks’ and creators’ agendas for a show or channel.

In this way, this trade article seems to reflect the efforts made on-screen in shows throughout Cartoon Network. That is, they choose to publicly emphasize the positive, family-friendly qualities that are included in their shows in attempts to win over parents. It’s the other content that attracts other audiences and forms such a wide following.

That being said, I really must say Regular Show is one of Cartoon Networks best shows right now, and I (being a twenty year old male) thoroughly enjoy the show. I'd recommend it to young adult audiences and whatnot, though I'd encourage parental discretion when it comes to younger audiences.

Until next time, when I'll hopefully have an original post for the first time in too long, 

I’m Michael, and this is my life.

I'm Bad at This... // Rick and Morty

Hello all. I apologize for my absence from the blogosphere. I've hit that time of the school year where there’s so much to do and so little time. I will do my utmost to get back here as soon as possible. I love writing here, and so I can't wait to get back! I'll hopefully see you next week or the week after. I’m sorry, again.

In the meantime… Watch Rick and Morty. It’s a great show. Well worth it. There'll be a quiz later.

Until… sometime.

I’m Michael, promising to be back eventually. This is my life.

Cartoon Network's Multi-Audience Agenda // Clarence

The following was a blog post assignment for my Intro to Television class. I've been extremely busy, so I'm cheating a bit and posting it here as well.

The business model of designing children’s cartoons for kids and adults simultaneously has been a long-standing model for Cartoon Network and similar channels. By adding adult-oriented jokes, they can appeal to a wider audience than just children. By appealing to adults as well as kids, they can expand advertising and secondary market opportunities.

Clarence is a new show on Cartoon Network that is a great example of the blend of adult-oriented and kid-oriented content. This clip is a pre-release preview of the first three and a half minutes of the pilot episode. There are few great examples of adult-oriented jokes, such as the custom invitation for the teacher, and the jump cut to the mother taking pizza poppers out of the oven, her butt very blatantly the center of the frame. (The latter can arguably be both adult- and kid-oriented, as kids like butt jokes.) As briefly aforementioned, this blending of audience appeal can broaden their advertising possibilities, so they can air ads that are also intended for a mix of ages, such as Lego commercials. It can also help with secondary market opportunities, as adults who fall in love with a Cartoon Network show like Clarence would likely be willing to purchase seasons on it, or it might appeal more to Netflix’s kids department if parents would enjoy watching it with their children.

This business model can, however, be a tricky one. In aiming their shows at both adults and kids, this encourages parents to watch the show with their children. However, the edgy, adult-oriented jokes they include can be considered by some parents as unsuitable for children, effectively removing both their adult and child audiences. In order to create quality, successful shows that appeal to kid and adult audiences, Cartoon Network must really focus on making the kid-oriented content highly appealing to concerned parents. This particular clip shows a great example of the kid-oriented themes, such as being a new kid at school, making new friends, and even growing up with separated parents, as is suggested by the mother telling Clarence that “Chad” is in her room. In doing this, Cartoon Network is attempting to create a relatable set of realistic characters, at least in terms of life and personality.

So balance is hard when trying to simultaneously appeal to adults and kids, but Cartoon Network uses relatable characters and jokes oriented at both kids and adults to help this. Their purpose in doing so is so as to broaden their advertising possibilities as well as their secondary market opportunities.

I'd encourage you all to check out Clarence. Happy watching!

I'm Michael, and this is my life.

Back to School // Tick Tick & Magic the Gathering

School has started. True, it started a couple weeks ago, but at the end of my second week I’m really feeling the effects of being back to classes with homework and whatnot. Almost as soon as the semester started, I became perpetually tired. It’s not like I’m getting insufficient sleep or eating poorly or anything, I’m just inexplicably tired.

The worst part of being back in school, though, has to be the complete and sheer amount of homework and the consequential lack of free time. I work about 14 hours per week, and I am taking four classes, all of which have required weekly reading, and three of which have required weekly writing. I wouldn’t say I’m swamped, but if I chose to, I could spend all of my ‘free time’ doing homework. No matter how much I do, it almost always feels like there’s something more I could be doing.

One of the best decisions I’ve made thus far this school year is to stay organized. Aside from just getting folders and notebooks for each class, I’ve downloaded an app on my computer and phone called Tick Tick. Tick Tick is a to-do list app that allows you to create multiple projects (for me, these are my classes, as well as a section for errands and such). It allows you to prioritize your tasks so that you can see what’s most important and what you could maybe save until later. Most importantly, you can set reminders/due dates for your tasks, which will pop up on your phone to help keep you on track.

But even with all my homework and such, I still hold true to my philosophy, though: always make some time for true, glorious, relaxing free time. I’m not saying I don’t do my homework, or that you shouldn’t do yours. That would be a terrible decision, really. I’m just saying that I’d recommend that you, like me, make sure to structure your weeks so that you get a little free time each day if possible. It helps keep me sane, really.

Personally, I find that Magic the Gathering (a long-running, extremely popular trading card game) is a fantastic way to unwind. One of my flatmates collects with me, and we frequently build, tweak, and rebuild decks, all the while testing them to see if they work well. Once you get the general gist of the game (which is pretty easy), it becomes fun to try and build a solid deck. It’s an expensive hobby (though not as expensive as some other hobbies), but it’s so much fun. Even if MTG isn’t for you, find or choose at least one hobby or activity to do frequently during your free time to help you unwind.

Reminding all you students (and, really, everyone) to relax, stay organized, and stay sane,

I’m Michael, and this is my life.