Herman is a librettist and translator. Submit items for future columns via e-mail to [email protected] or via snail mail to Mark Herman, 1409 E Gaylord Street, Humor and Translation Mark Herman Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858-3626. Discussions of the hermanapter@ translation of humor and examples thereof are preferred, cmsinter.net but humorous anecdotes about translators, translations, and mistranslations are also welcome. Include copyright Sesame Street information and permission if relevant. This column is based on various and a plummeting birthrate, it would among that nation’s considerable Internet postings, including those of be difficult. Obedience, solemnity, and Muslim population. The New York Times and the BBC. duty seemed to be all that Russian chil- Charlotte Beers, Undersecretary of In July 1969, test episodes of the dren knew. Children who were asked State for Public Diplomacy, warned a children’s program Sesame Street to audition for the show largely sat Senate committee that the “people we were seen on a Philadelphia educa- back in their chairs and sang sad songs. need to talk to do not even know the tional station. The first nationally tel- And, before they could cheer up tod- basics about us. They are taught to evised episode ran in November of dlers, the producers had to cheer up the distrust our every motive. Such dis- that year. Vila Sesamo aired in Brazil writers, some of whom wanted to use tortions, married to a lack of knowl- in 1972; Sesamstrasse in Germany in the word ltghtccbz (depression) to edge, is a deadly cocktail. Engaging 1973; 1, rue Sesame in France in teach children how to use the letter and teaching common values are pre- 1978; Улuцa Ceзaм in Russia in L (D). But Улuцa Ceзaм finally went ventive medicine.” Fortunately, there 1999; Rechov Sumsum / Shara'a on the air. As in many non-American is “an army willing to be signed up to Simsim in Israel and Palestine in versions of the show, most of the engage the world on behalf of the 1998; and Takalani Sesame in South familiar characters were replaced. For United States,” an army led by Bert, Africa in 2000. Children in more than obvious reasons, Oscar the Grouch Ernie, and, Russian fear of gloomi- 120 countries now see the show. was out, but even Big Bird was ness notwithstanding, Oscar the But non-American versions of the replaced by an awkward and adorable Grouch. Beers said that in Egypt, show are not just the American ver- doglike character named Ptkb,j,f, “The children are glued to the set. sions dubbed into another language. who lives in the hollow of a gigantic They are learning English, they are Instead, special content is created to oak tree. learning about American values.” suit the needs and governmental It was not too long before One such value is sexual equality. requirements of each locality. American diplomats realized that The Egyptian version of the show, with Palestinian and Israeli muppets can be Sesame Street is great propaganda for the agreement of the Cairo government, friends on Israeli and Palestinian tele- fostering good will toward the U.S. has a muppet named Khokha (Peach) vision, but Serbian and Albanian throughout the world. Of course, such who wants to be an astronaut or doctor. muppets are not allowed the same propaganda works only if it is Some show segments promote privilege on Kosovo television. unplanned and coincidental, not if the capitalism. On American television, The Russian version took five years show is obviously brought to you by Merrill Lynch has sponsored Elmo’s and $6 million to develop. During that the letters U, S, and A. explanation of business to time, armed gunmen drove the produc- The propaganda value of the show preschoolers, and, even on Russian tion company from its Moscow work was undoubtedly diminished when television, there is a story line about a space and nationalist politicians American psychological operations lemonade stand, showing that it is demanded to know why Russia needed officers, intent on encouraging Iraqi possible to “make a profit and be a television shows from America for its prisoners to submit to questioning, nice person.” children to watch. Wasn’t American subjected the prisoners to repeated But some American values are not culture already well represented on playings, at ear-splitting volume, of welcomed everywhere. In South Russian television with popular shows the show’s theme music. The U.S. Africa, where there is a huge AIDS like Dynasty, Baywatch, and Beverly Army, by the way, is one of the finan- problem, the show introduced an Hills 90210? But, in the 1990s, Russia, cial supporters of the Children’s HIV-positive muppet named Kami. despite its tradition of animation and Television Workshop, which produces There was no problem in South Africa theater for children, had only one edu- the show. itself; Kami was a big hit on Takalani cational television show for the pre- Other U.S. agencies also support Sesame. But a group of American school set. Many educators thought it the show. The Agency for Republican politicians were moved to would be a good idea to prepare chil- International Development is spon- issue a letter demanding that such an dren for the joy of learning, but also soring the production of Sesame outrageous character never appear in knew that after seven decades of total- Street for viewers in Bangladesh to the United States. itarian rule followed by several years “promote greater understanding of of economic and political uncertainty American morality and culture” The ATA Chronicle ■ July 2009 49.