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Kiss me, you fool....Mar 15 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line What subliminal messages do children pick up while watching soap operas, and what are the long-term effects? In 1982, during my senior year of college, there was a highly publicized, extremely hot and sizzling affair between two people known as Luke and Laura. Indeed, classes were cut and schedules were adjusted so that at three p.m. daily, the dorm at Stony Brook University sat riveted to the television as Luke and Laura ran away together, with various scenes of their lovemaking in the woods..in the car...in Burger King on the way to the woods, while in the car....well..I think you get the order. Yet at the same time then, and at the same time now, small children were watching the same show, either unsupervised, or sitting along with the babysitter, or Mom, or whoever the guardian of the day happened to be. What's wrong with this picture? At seventeen, I was more than prepared for the story line of soaps. At seven, should I have been? Statistics recently show that the number one problem area for children and television is not violent cartoons as most people would assume. It's watching soaps. Smaller tots and kids are enthralled with the overdone and exaggerated drama that occurs within these shows. As an adult, you realize what the fare is, and if you choose to watch it for your own entertainment purposes, that's great. As an adult, you at least know that the people and scenarios you are watching are over-dramatized. Does a child really understand this however? Kiss me, you fool I remember a disturbing event with one of my children. My mother was an avid soap watcher, and one evening my five year old started hugging and kissing me, but not like a little girl. She was acting like the lead male on whatever current soap my mom was digesting. "My darling.....you are the most beautiful creature in the world-kiss me, you fool!" she said, as she began to want to kiss Mommy in the same manner she had seen on television! I knew she was imitating Nanna's soaps, and I tried discussing it with her. At five, however, it is difficult, but after a few moments of hugging and talking I convinced her she wasn't a Pirate or Casanova or whomever the flavor of the month was on the current television show. Soaps have a highly sexually charged scenario which will lodge in the subconscious mind of any child who watches them repeatedly. Not to mention the murder, mayhem and other antics that ensue on a daily basis. As I said previously, I'm not knocking soaps or folks that watch them. However you get your entertainment or fantasy level is okay with me, but take a look around the room next time. Is your little one sitting there with you, entranced by the bulging muscles or the heaving breasts? And should he or she be? During their formative years, they are building seeds of self-esteem and self-awareness. Do we really want the heroines and heros of the soaps to be their role models? Alternatives? Be aware that just because a child is "little", doesn't mean a child doesn't understand and absorb everything they see. There's quite a bit of quality television being provided these days by the Family Network, Nickelodeon, tapes can be rented from your library for that time of the day that you really need a break and turn the child over to the electronic babysitter. Shows such as Blues Clues and movies such as the Veggie Tales are so much healthier for your child's mind and environment than steamy soaps. Your child's notion of what the world is about, or what the world should be about, may be a bit better formulated in their preschool or younger years if you cut back a bit on the heaving breasts. They'll also have a better appreciation for quality acting:)  |
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