Region 1 DVD cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ever watch it…”” How many times? If you’re over 30, you better tell me about a dozen. If you haven’t seen it in awhile, crank it up…’tis the season.
My dear best BFF Jim Faris inspired this post, and he was struck by how significant the themes coursing through this were akin to today’s lifestyle moments. Let’s see, how many lessons and teachables can we glean from this 45-minute program produced by innovators Rankin/Bass in 1964?
- Anti-bullying
- Heroism
- Friendship
- Love and family
- Athleticism and popularity
- Misfits or unique individuals who don’t fit the mainstream
- Teamwork
- Career pathing
Bet you didn’t realize just how many of those themes were buried in this “children’s” movie, did you? Good thing there’s a happy ending as this little program is chock full of in-your-face mean to anyone who doesn’t conform.
Now that we’ve grown up, we can see deeper into hidden meanings within these scripts and still watch alongside our innocent children. When you write and add hidden meaning into your works, do you think readers get it?
Next time you’re sitting in front of a show your kids pick out (or a young person) and you really don’t want to watch it, try to change up your viewing experience.
Look at the set; listen to word choices; look at hair styles and accessories; watch for fashion faux pas; determine whether they have the blonde acting dumb or the heavy-set kid being clumsy.
When your kid laughs, tune in to what makes them howl and join in the fun for a bit of ‘raderie.
Same goes for blog writing — stick a bit of humor and fascinating stuff in the post and impress the community…or, just be yourself and let the you shine through. Just like the writers of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, the creativity and hidden message are yours.
It’s part of our annual Christmas tradition. We are not allowed to watch any Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving! After that, the sky’s the limit and you can bet Rudolph is one of them! How many times have I watched it? At least 20…without a doubt. Love to watch it with the kids and hear their reactions to some of the things you mention here – bullying, for example didn’t emerge for H until just a year or so ago. Now, he really remarks on that part.
@EricaAllison Isnt it fun when they start to see the alternative/hidden meaning? I take it as a sign we are doing something right as parents! Happy Holidays my friend! Miss you!
@EricaAllison That is good; we are teaching our kids! Shoot, the schools and community drum it into their heads about anti-bullying. The American Girl movies do some of this, too; of course, much more blatantly.
Oh I have watched a least 2 dozen times. I love watching things geared at my kids and finding deeper meanings in them. What I really love though now is that my 14 & 11 year olds are starting to get them too! For instance, have you seen Paranorman?? It just came out on DVD, man does that one have meaning!
I just loved Yukon Cornelius. That character always made me laugh.
I have seen that show every years since I was a child so I would say 45 times at least (give or take). Somehow I always related to the dentist Hermey in a big way and saw Yukon as a mentor. Weird but true (the mentor part).
Those stop motion animations were fantastic. I got an appreciate for them when I was a kid and a friend and I made one with our GI Joes on Super 8 film. I remember it took us all summer. I have to dig that thing out!
Cheers!
@rdopping I love reading how people are affected by these classics. Because you’re such a book dude, which children’s books have you loved, Ralph?
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing I hate books.
@rdopping @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Boo. Books are our friend.
LOVED reading your great post Jayme. And then… in the related articles space just beneath the post, there’s a post with a contrary point of view, entitled “Rudolph The Red-Nose Doormat.” I’m so glad I didn’t have any fluids in my mouth when I read that header, otherwise I’d be taking my laptop to the repair shop to clean up the coffee under the keys.
By the way, I agree with your point of view, not the other guy’s.
An important takeaway from your post, for me at least — have a critical eye or ear when watching or listening to popular entertainment. Some of it is much deeper than you’d think. But also, so much of it is complete crap and unworthy of being shown to your kids. I’m not a parent, but I imagine if I were, the parental controls would be barb-wired.
@barrettrossie That was a Zemanta share! Nothing much I could glean from them, so decided to add that guy’s snark. Hilarious.
Barb-wired?! Yep, until they reach 6th grade and you only pray/hope/wish all the hard work you put forth is going to work. So funny about which posts resonate, too. For now, I’m so tired of the echo chamber I’m just writing as writing comes. Thanks, Barrett!!!!
I haven’t seen Rudolph since I became a Grinch and I never thought about all the hidden messages. I am of mixed feelings about that. In some movies, like Rudolph, they are fantastic, because they are good guidelines to live by, but in other movies, the creators can get preachy with their political beliefs.
I went to the movie Happy Feet with a friend from work, the first day it came out. She is a devout Christian and I’m rather non-religious. She is delightful. The movie has a strong anti-religion undertone which greatly offended her. It didn’t bother my sensibilities until I say it through her eyes and while we have different beliefs I didn’t like them making fun of my friend.
Of course, by the end of the movie, we had both been won over by the overwhelming cute and ended up having a great time. Still, I wish the creators hadn’t been so mean to people with devout beliefs.
Great post.
@ExtremelyAvg Hey, Brian! I watched a movie with Meryl Streep the reporter and Tom Cruise the U.S. senator about war in Iraq. After it was over (Oh, I think Robert Redford starred as a professor) (and now you can understand that triumvirate), I realized it was these 3 using their stardom for political opinions. It was so blatant; I felt stupid after having watched, but realized how smart they were and could be.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Yes, I saw that movie, too. It was well done, but any movie that touches on politics can’t be very suspenseful, because the only outcome is “Republicans are bad…Democrats are good”. There is never a chance of something different. It is the same with TV shows, if politics are involved then the ending will always be a lecture the virtues of the left’s position.
I don’t care for politics, so I have stopped watching these shows.
It is sort of like how in shows like Castle, the Mentalist, ect, the killer is ALWAYS the actor who is most well known among the suspects. If they just once pinned it on the unknown, it would be a pleasant surprise. It is as if the accountants say, “You can’t have him/her be the killer, they don’t make enough money to warrant it. We must have the most expensive actor be the killer.”
@ExtremelyAvg @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing “but any movie that touches on politics can’t be very suspenseful, because the only outcome is “Republicans are bad…Democrats are good””
Uh. That’s pretty reductionist.
@ExtremelyAvg Do you really think that, Brian? Do you have other examples of movies where Democrats whale on Republicans? I have no idea.
It’s interesting to see you viewpoint on TV drama, too. I never take the time to watch like that. What I have been doing is catching up on Battlestar Gallactica on Amazon Prime. Now there’s a whole lot of hidden meaning behind that show!
@jennwhinnem @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Perhaps I’ve missed the movies that didn’t follow that formula? If you could list a few, I’d love to give them a look.
I’m not at all interested in politics. If anyone can give an example of a movie or TV show with a Republican cast as the good guy, I’ll be glad to change my opinion. Just one is all it takes.
There isn’t anyway I’ve seen every movie on the subject or even a majority of them, as I don’t care for politics. It is entirely possible I’ve formed my opinion too early.
My point isn’t that there shouldn’t be political dramas, it is just that if they all have the same agenda, then it isn’t very suspenseful.
I did think of one that might disprove my theory, but I haven’t seen it.
Primary Colors?
If that works, then consider the point made that I was wrong.
@ExtremelyAvg @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing The very first thing I thought of was An American Carol (but I had to look up the name). And what about Lincoln for goshsakes? Also, what about Three Days of the Condor or even Burn After Reading? Or Argo?
I’m sorry EA I just bristle at sweeping statements like that. I know you couched it in your blissful ignorance (I’m thinking of the “ignorance is bliss” adage) of politics and it’s still not fair. Your assertion definitely begs the question about why Republicans aren’t cast as good people in movies (not that I’m agreeing with that, but I’d certainly ask myself that if I had come to a similar conclusion). Also, as I keep thinking of this, what about movies that tout so-called “conservative” values – those surely do cast conservatives & their values in a good light. I’m thinking of movies that highlight rugged individualism, Christian values of charity and doing for the poor, etc. – those are featured as good things and people like those movies.
I hope I’ve provided some balance.
@jennwhinnem @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing
I am willing to concede, as I’ve not seen any of those movies. Well done. I’ve heard of them all and will now probably give them a look. I’m glad to know that I was wrong.
@ExtremelyAvg @Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing I can only speak to the last 3 – they’re great political thrillers that aren’t about Repub/Dem. Gosh, go see Argo in the theater – was so PROUD of Ben Affleck, cannot explain that feeling.
Hey Jayme
Weirdly I’ve never seen that cartoon before. I don’t think it’s something that has come over to these shores so maybe it’s not so weird!
My daughter likes to watch a couple of programs on Nick Jr, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom and Peppa Pig and whilst they are written for kids, they are also written so cleverly because there is a lot of adult humour in them as well. I don’t get tired of watching them. I’m not sure if you get those programmes in the US or not.
@timbo1973 Oh boy. Hey, Community! Let’s shoot all the U.S. holiday classics over to Tim!
Rudolph is a movie; animated movie! Not a cartoon at all. It’s a total classic in this country. Now, do the Brits believe Santa and his reindeer land on your house and come down the chimney to deliver toys? Do you put cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer?
You need to buy this for the kids from Amazon, Tim. Also, get Frosty The Snowman and A Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas. Who else? What am I missing?
I watched Rudolph the other night when it was on. I’m so glad people still watch it! I know the numbers for A Charlie Brown Christmas have been down and that makes me sad.
Would just like to say that if there was an island of misfit toys, I would live there.
@jennwhinnem And, I’d adopt you as my very own doll.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Watch out Jayme, there’s snuggles and then there’s spikes.
@jennwhinnem I actually saw that the Charlie Brown episode numbers were up! https://insidetv.ew.com/2012/11/29/charlie-brown-christmas-survivor-ratings/
I have to agree. This is a great movie for all ages. There are some frankly faux pas children’s shows that exist, and I don’t let my kids watch some of them. One show I think is very good in teaching life lessons is Johnny and the Sprites on Disney Junior. The little characters all have flaws and they learn to make the best out of them. They all live in a rain forest type of environment, and there are some episodes where they learn how humans are disrespecting it, and what everyone can do to share in keeping our environment clean and safe. I enjoyed your blog! All the best!
I have never seen it and probably never will, but I am sure you exactly right.
I have never seen it as often as I think I should be! But I find him too cute!