Think about your favorite character; it could be one such as Indiana Jones, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kurt Wagner, SpongeBob, Rango or any other character. Now, think of the storylines, side characters and villains that follow them. All these characters face problems that can be mirrored in our own lives. We can learn a lot from viewing diversities of media with a bit more nuance just by being open to it.
When someone views media that has been deemed non-educational, based on the notion that educational TV directly teaches people facts, motor skills or socializing, many are quick to dismiss the entire thing as mindlesswithout realizing that there are messages behind it. Take for example the first SpongeBob movie. To many, it is just another story about SpongeBob going on an adventure, but if we take a closer look, we can pull out themes such as self-discovery, what it means to block out naysayers and the power of having each other’s backs. These can be pulled out because they are prevalent throughout the entire media from beginning to end. It does not matter that SpongeBob is a children’s cartoon or that he is not real; it is important for people to see that their favorite characters also go through the same struggles as they do.
This is important for young children especially. People will put on PBS Kids or National Geographic and think that children will be interested in characters or shows they really aren’t. I say, that if kids show interst in a show that is deemed un-educational, it is important for parents to watch the show as well and to help pull out and relay the show’s valuable life lessons to their kids. Take for example the original 90’s X-Men TV show. Many children who had interest in the X-Men would prefer to watch that show rather than a something on National Geographic in order to see their favorite characters. If parents sat with their children to watch, they could see various lessons throughout the show. A parent could pull out Nightcrawler showing forgiveness to Mystique and summarize the importance of forgiveness that would otherwise not get through to the child. It also creates a bonding experience between a parent and child because that child will look forward to watching their favorite show and being comfortable discussing it with their parents. This can lead to a better bond that is often lost today as everyone gets increasingly divided by work, school and countless other distractions brought about by everyday life.
Another important thing is for parents to help teach their child the ability to disect deeper messages in media. If a parent shows their child “Indiana Jones” they can highlight that not only is Dr. Jones a cool protagonist, but he can help a child understand problems. If a child can see how Dr. Jones deals with having an absent father, then they can have the confidence to deal with major problems they may face in addition to sympathizing with others. If their favorite character suffers from a certain problem, a child will be more sympathetic towards others who also may struggle with the same problems. Having a role model that is not invincible from their surroundings can provide the necessary perspective to overcome challenges in the world.
The next time you are at the movies or at home watching TV, remember to be on the lookout for the lessons of life because they can come from just about anyone. Even if that person is a young sponge, a blue guy who smells like sulfur or a college professor who is secretly a treasure hunter, never let those life lessons be lost.