CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
Cartoons have been a part of cinema history from the
time the first motion pictures were made in the late 1800s. A cartoon is a
movie made by using animation instead of live actors, especially a humorous
film intended for children (Thompson, 2010). Cartoons can also be described as
the making of movies by filming a sequence of slightly varying drawings or
models so that they appear to move and change when the sequence is shown. These
are the elements that keep viewers, (mostly children) glued to their seats.
Cartoons were initially so short because people would be watching these shorts
in the movie theatres before their feature film. When cartoonists could put
their shows on TV, they began to get longer, creating the half hour block shows
that are on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channel today. Also,
the cartoons had to become more “family friendly” so that more people would
watch their show (Kapelian, 2009).
Television
shows and animated films, for over 80 years, have been entertaining the kids.
Felix the Cat the first ever cartoon icon, which started its journey in 1920s.
In the next 10 years, Donald duck, Mickey Mouse and Pluto was the cartoon
character which are being introduce by Disney Brother’ s Cartoon Studios (Box
Office Mojo, 2004). Now a day, children’s physical activities are limited by
excessive watching of television. As cartoon watching is the most favorite
hobby of children in their leisure time, so they like to watch the cartoons on
television rather than to do any physical activity. Cartoon watching affects
the attitude and behavior of kids i.e. their liking and disliking, way of
talking, and behaving with other children. It also has a strong affect on their
language and the way of their dressing and eating.
Cartoon Network is the most favorite
cartoon channel in the world. Cartoon network started its transmission in 1992,
and has gained record breaking popularity. Since August 2002, it has been
watched in more than 80 million homes in United States of America and in 145
countries throughout the world. It is one of the top ad supported channels for
cable television network. Cartoon Network is a 24 hours channel, broadcasting
only cartoons, yet, its 68 percent audience belongs to children of the age
group from 2 to 17 years, whereas, 32 percent belongs to the age group of above
18 years and adults. The children from the age group 6 to 11 are the core audience
of the Cartoon Network (Stabile and Harrison, 2003). Cartoon programs contain
violence as its integral part. It is noted that cartoon content is full of
violence than serial plays and comedies (Potter and Warren, 1998). As a result,
children are more exposed to violence showed in the cartoon program than any
other television program broadcasted during prime time (Gerbner, Gross, Morgan
& Signorelli, 1994).
The recurrence of the roles like Cinderella in numerous animated
cartoons has led to the perception that it is an exceedingly passive character
who is devoid of role model behavior; a pathetic victim who takes no action
towards the fulfilment of her own dreams. There is a need for children to
understand that a female character like Kim Possible from the animated cartoon
series of the same name is a seeker and saviour and that she is not necessarily
"un-feminine" when actively determining her own destiny. Research has
indicated that television has a socializing influence on children particularly
in their attitudes toward gender roles.
Cartoons send strong and compelling messages about socially approved
gender roles and stereotypes that are in turn, reinforced by parents, friends,
and school, contributing to the child's sense of what it means to be male or
female in that society. There is increased risk to children’s safety in many of
today’s children cartoons (Kindera 2006).
Cartoon characters jump, dive, and fall from very great heights and land
without being harmed. For example on every episode of Looney Toons, Wylie
Coyote is always trying to catch the Road Runner. And in every clip Wylie
Coyote in some shape or form, seems to fall off a cliff or simply have one of
his inventions go wrong and cause a massive explosion. Yet, he manages to
collect his teeth, dust himself off and get up for another attempt to catch the
Road Runner. This seems funny until a child thinks it is alright to imitate
these deeds.
1.2 Statement
of the Study
In today’s society, the prevalence of internet and television
(TV) is an indisputable fact. While at the very beginning of 1980s, there were
TVs only in a limited number of houses, we can now say that there are computers
and internet connection available in nearly every house. As a result of these
technological developments, the messages communicated from TV screens penetrate
into houses and influence children, especially those in whose minds the defense
mechanisms have not yet formed (Köşker, 2005). In her study, Arnas (2005)
indicated that there was one TV in each house of the family in Nigeria, and
about half of them have 2 and more TVs. Today, children are exposed to the
effects of TV for too long within their daily lives.
Children spend much more time watching TV than participating
in any other activity; Larson (2001) determined that young people in America,
Europe and Eastern Asia watched TV an average of 1.5 to 2.5 hours daily. The
effects of TV have been much stronger on children than on adults. This is
especially true because the purposes for watching TV are different among
children and adults. While adults generally watch TV for fun, children watch it
for purposes of learning and recognition. Additionally, more vulnerable children
try to understand the TV programs they watch and they are more influenced by
them (Yavuzer 2011).
The most effective influence in the lives of children, after their parents, is TV. Cartoons are the first and most common among the types of broadcasts that children watch on TV, Cartoons have been presented to children on many channels, without recognition of their useful or harmful aspects. The ability of children to restrain their motives is very weak, so they can take the aggressive behaviors of cartoon characters as a model. Since children desire and look for power, the producer sets out from this need and creates sympathetic, strong and aggressive media heroes that can overcome every difficulty through magical and infinite powers, and solve their problems by brute force.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The
general objective of this research is to investigate the impact of animated
cartoons on children in Enugu between the ages of seven and eleven years.
The specific objectives are to:
1.
Identify
the animated cartoons programmes available on television to children in
Nigeria.
2.
Assess
the viewing patterns of these animated cartoons in relation to time, duration,
place, preference and days.
3.
Understand
the perception and views held by children in relation to how they rate their
popular animated cartoons as “good” or “bad” from what they see and why.
1.4 Research questions
1 What are the animated cartoons programmes
available on television to children in Nigeria.
2 What are the viewing patterns of these animated
cartoons in relation to time, duration, place, preference and days.
3 What is the perception and views held by
children in relation to how they rate their popular animated cartoons as “good”
or “bad” from what they see and why.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study has
both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, it will contribute
to knowledge of existing literature on animated cartoons.
Practically, the findings of the study will be relevant to
education personnel that create excellence in education for early childhood
centre and primary school teachers that are involved in the business of
babysitting. It will also be of primary importance to families with children of
school age and guardian of infants on the impacts of exposing them to TV
cartoon programs.
1.6 Scope and Limitations of
the study.
The
scope of the study covers the impact of animated cartoons on
children in Enugu between the ages of seven and eleven years.
1.7 Limitations of the study.
Financial
resources required in obtaining data were on the high side, considering the
amount required in photocopying and transportation to various places. Also,
considering the combination of both my studies and the project, time was not
adequate for a more elaborate study.
1.8 Operational definition of
terms.
Cartoon character: a fictional character depicted in
an animated film or a comic strip.
Animated Films: are ones in which individual drawings, paintings, or illustrations are
photographed frame by frame (stop-frame cinematography). Usually, each frame
differs slightly from the one preceding it, giving the illusion of movement
when frames are projected in rapid succession at 24 frames per second.
A cartoonist:
(also comic strip creator) is a visual artist who specializes in drawing
cartoons. This work is often created for entertainment, political commentary,
or advertising.
Broadcasting: is the simultaneous transmission of
the same message to multiple recipients. In networking, broadcasting occurs when a transmitted
data packet is received by all network devices.
A vulnerable
child: is defined as being under the age of 18 years and currently at
high risk of lacking adequate care and protection.
Movie Theater: This is a place where people go to watch
films for entertainment.
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