Modern Life: Kids Shows and Environment

Rocko's Modern Life R-E-C-Y-C-L-E


Thinking back to your favorite childhood shows, can you remember them talking about the environment or recycling? It seems difficult to recall if you did learn about these issues from media. In the example from the 1990’s “Rocko’s Modern Life,” that many might remember, there is a wonderful song about recycling. Surprisingly even at a young age children’s shows are tackling large issues. When watching this clip the garbage character covers issues of recycling, conservation, and not polluting. He goes over how the ozone is deteriorating because of peoples waste and goes over the fact that if people do not do something they will pay for it. The song also even goes into the cutting down of trees and how that reduces the earth’s oxygen supply, which is also harmful to the environment and us. The lyrics at this part say “it’s not enough to sit around and grieve,” which is interesting because it is calling for action from a young age group who may not even truly understand the message they are receiving. The song is happy, but uses a scare tactic that if we do not act, we’ll get what we deserve. This example in particular is a call for civil engagement to a younger audience by showing all the characters coming together and discussing this issue.

At an early age children are being exposed to ideas and norms of being a “good citizen.” What are kids seeing? Now there is even more of a cultivation of the “go green” attitude being promoted to younger age groups. As we can see even starting in the 1970’s these ideas have been brought up in children’s show. “Sesame Street,” “Reading Rainbow,” “The Magic School Bus,” “Captain Planet,” all began educating kids about environment. Children’s shows now continue to bring up the ideas of recycling and helping the earth, and show it being a rewarding act and a civic duty. The youth is important to target at a young age because they are easily impressionable during the critical period of their lives. If environmental issues are being shown as important and show kids ways to take action on and individual or group level and the rewards these actions will have, they may be more likely to continue these ideas through out their lives.

Another interesting thing about how children are learning about how to be involved in environmental issues is the use of the Internet. Children television networks have websites and links on how to be green. For example Nick Jr. has a whole page dedicated to creative recycling, turning recycling into fun craft activities. Also PBS has a short clip show called “The Greens,” which is a family that gives children fun environmental tips and awareness. The website has green games, tips, and the clips for kids to interact with. The communication of environmental awareness starting at a young age helps for a more active and engaged generation.

http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/all-shows/creative-recycling-crafts/all-ages/index.jhtml


http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org



Coleen Maloney

Cool Brita Water Commercial

-Brandon Adams

30 Rock Going Green

I examined an episode of NBC's popular hit comedy television show 30 Rock. I decided to examine how a popular comedy show portrayed environmentalism, and to see the techniques the show used to reach out to the viewers. The episode I looked into is entitled "Greenzo", it was an episode from the show's second season. The episode is based around the chairman of GE encouraging Alec Baldwin's character Jack to figure out a way to make money from the "Green Movement". Jack decides to cast an actor to be Greenzo an environmental mascot for NBC. When Greenzo decides to talk trash about Jack and the rest of the manipulative big company execs while he is on air, Jack decides to try and get Al Gore to fill in the role as Greenzo.

The show does a good job showing the angle of a big name executive joining the "Green Movement" for all the wrong reasons. When Al Gore realizes he was brought in for something completely different he discusses the ways Jack can show his network's commitment to the environment in other ways besides using a mascot. Gore's ideas for having the network display it's commitment to the environment included: having a whole week of environmental themed programs and using entertainment with actual substance like having a character passionately displaying his/her concern for the environment to the people watching.



It was pretty interesting to critique the way 30 Rock demonstrated the theme of environmentalism in this episode because some of the context by Al Gore was about using television and entertainment effectively to target viewers on this subject. I refer to the Jacobsen reading, "knowledge of your audiences is vital in designing messages and selecting media to produce an effective program" (pg 31). I feel 30 Rock did a great job incorporating this issue in its show without being over the top or using radical views. In fact, because of the way the show is designed, the writers were able to indirectly target the viewers about environmental consciousness because of the utilization of the character's dialogue.

I do not know the exact intentions of the writers or NBC in general but I feel they are definitely on the environmental bandwagon because of the attention they bring to the issue and also not to mention numerous appearances by an environmental icon Al Gore. I feel like utilizing such a popular show like this in regards to environmental consciousness can be a great way to keep the ball rolling with the “Green Movement”. Jacobsen states, "research has shown that communications are most persuasive when they have a simple message and relate to the audience's everyday life" (pg 28). This episode is a great example of proper strategic communication because of the way it targeted its intended audience and gave a message that was appropriate and fitting because of the suitable use of comedy and dialogue.


-Brandon Adams

Earth Day 2020

I just realized I had this channel on my TV. I went to their website and found this interesting video.


-Brandon Adams

Al Gore on 30 Rock

A nice behind the scenes with Al Gore on 30 Rock.


-Brandon Adams

Norms Affect What's Really Reported, And What's Not

Climate change is one of the biggest environmental issues we have today, but one of the reasons the chances that the US will take action are slim is because of journalistic norms, as explained by this journal article about government policy. The norms have caused the scientific perspective on the climate change problem to be misrepresented. Scientists generally speak in a cautious, uncertain language that experts in their field would understand perfectly, but the public may have more difficulty with. Therefore, their language needs to be translated into the clear, certain discourse that is employed by journalists.

According to an article about journalistic norms and their functions, several specific journalistic norms are believed to cause misrepresentation of environmental problems like climate change. The first is personalization, “the tendency to downplay the big social, economic, or political picture in favor of the human trials, tragedies, and triumphs that sit at the surface of events” (Bennett, 2002, p. 45). The media tend to personalize the problems and focus on the individual tribulations instead of the greater context and process. This leads to the belief that the problems are centered around individuals and structural analyses of institutions and government are ignored.

Another journalistic norm that influences news output about environmental problems is dramatization, where “news dramas emphasize crisis over continuity, the present over the past or future, conflicts” and “downplay complex policy information, the workings of government institutions, and the bases of power behind the central characters” (Bennett, 2002, p. 46). Dramatized news tends to ignore comprehensive analysis about a problem, and rather focuses on the plots on the surface. It trivializes the news content, as well as blocking out news that does not have an immediate conflict or controversy.

The third journalistic norm is novelty. Journalists face a need to report “new” news, and repeatedly reporting on the same environmental problem may dedramatize it. Therefore, persistent and growing environmental problems may be unreported because there is nothing new to report. Journalists prefer to publish stories that are fresh and new over stories that have already been reported on. Consequently, they reject about continuous, chronic problems in favor of those about day-to-day crises.

These journalistic norms –personalization, dramatization, and novelty- cause mass media coverage of environmental problems like climate change to be deficient. We should keep in mind these journalistic norms at play when reading about environmental problems on the news.


By: Alice Leung

America's Next Top Trend is... Going Green!

Reality shows have rapidly grown in television within the past decade. From MTV’s Real World to The Hills, reality shows have become a significant part of television. Having become a reality show addict myself, I decided to investigate how reality shows generally portray environmentalism. I examined three shows: Survivor, America’s Next Top Model, and Keeping Up With the Kardashians. These were selected based on three sub-genres of reality televsion: the early reality shows, celebrity glorification, and scripted reality.

Survivor made its television debut in 2000. Countless media outlets, including ABC News have labeled the show to be one of the “Top Ten Reality Shows of the Decade.” The show unites a group of strangers who are forced to reside in extreme natural habitats. By its second episode, they had reeled in over 18 million viewers.

In general, environmentalists are generally pleased with the show’s premise. Although the show doesn’t report blatant “go green” ideas, the fact that the entire series is based off different, natural, and inhabited locations can leave viewers with an unconscious appreciation for the Earth. EarthTalk Magazine mentions a few disturbances, such as the affects on the spikes of tourism among those regions. However, these affects are considered minimal.

When Supermodel Tyra Banks launched the reality show America’s Next Top Model, the show became an immediate sensation. The ninth season in particular emphasized a “go green” theme. Tyra starts the season off by revealing the models’ method of transportation: a 100% biodiesel bus decorated with plants and seats made out of recycled tires. Many photoshoots also had environmental themes. The contestants were asked to pose rock-climbing in couture outits, model as a flower, and fashion outfits made of recycled materials. In addition to photoshoots, the model house consisted of nature-themed decorations and the individual commentaries of models had nature backdrops.

I use the phrase “celebrity glorification” to express people’s fascination and admiration with celebrities. Having a powerful celebrity consistently promoting “go green” ideas can leave viewers to think of pro-environmentalism ideas as being “cool.” Although Tyra Banks thinks collectively of the public's interest when accentuating the importance of preserving nature, how credible of a source is she? Why should I, a college student, trust the words of a former Victoria’s Secret model?


The same question comes into play when watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians. A show that follows the daily lives of the Kardashian family, the show is an example of a “scripted reality.” How can a 20-minute show accurately reflect a week of events filmed? In the third season, one of the sisters, Khloe, is approached by PETA to participate in the “I’d rather go naked” campaigns. Despite Khloe’s personal body image insecurities, she decides to partake in the campaign after seeing videos of animals being treated cruelly.

Sure, I believe that we don’t let silly celebrities interfere with our thinking. But with millions and millions of viewership, there has got to be some unconscious consequences for being exposed to reality shows. I am generally a believer in preserving nature, but how much of an influence did reality shows come into play? These messages are on television, which is easily accessible. Can this lack of the messenger’s credibility be dangerous? This time, don’t let Survivor’s tribal council or Tyra dictate. You be the judge.

-Lydia Kye