A Study of the Presentation of Stereotypes in the Animated Series Arthur
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-7, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Using Stereotypes to Challenge Stereotypes: A Study of the Presentation of Stereotypes in the Animated Series Arthur Abigail Persaud Cheddie University of Guyana Abstract: This paper examines how the child and adult viewers, appears to be that of the presentation of stereotypes in the animated value of individuality. The song, performed by television series Arthur advances one of the show’s Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, opens with core messages –individuality. How the stereotyping the message about each individual’s distinct technique operates in two layers is examined uniqueness and equal worth in society: “Every day through a close study of eight characters. The first when you’re walking down the street,/ Everybody section of the paper highlights the main stereotypes that you meet/ Has an original point of view” and how distinctly different they are. The second (Arthur – Theme Song) [2]. The ideas in these lines section utilizes examples from the episodes to proclaim how very different, unique and valid each examine how these same stereotypes are constantly person or character is. Interestingly, in the series challenged, renegotiated and subverted throughout the differences are made most pronounced through the series, so that the individual’s multi- the presentation of the characters in stereotypes, for dimensional qualities are revealed. Ultimately, we instance, Binky, the bully; Buster, the comedian see how the interplay of layers one and two and Brain, the nerd. Each character is different, function to renegotiate the original stereotypes at unique, ‘original’. Additionally, the theme song layer one and regenerate the characters in the elaborates on another crucial aspect of series. individualism – belief in self-worth: “It’s a simple Keywords: Animated series, Arthur, children’s message, and it comes from the heart/ Believe in cartoons, stereotypes, subversion, characters yourself…, /Well that’s the place to start….” The characters in the show are often aware of their distinctness and through the existence or 1. Introduction subversion of their stereotypes they, along with their audience come to explore their personalities The year 2016 marked 20 years since the more deeply and value who they are. In addition, animated series Arthur debuted. To see a cartoon the subversion of the constructed stereotypes serves television series still airing long after children from to challenge and renew the audience’s the ’90s have left childhood behind, attests to the understanding of each ‘type’. extent to which the show has continued to resonate One major aspect of the success of the with viewers over two decades. Arthur is still as characters then, specifically Arthur and his friends, popular and well-loved now as it was back in 1996. is that throughout the twenty seasons, they are The series’ 12 awards and 32 nominations spanning given a great deal of room to develop and this is the years 1998 to 2016 (“Arthur (1996- ) Awards”) done through the navigation of stereotypes. By [1] point to the sustained impressive quality of the stereotype here, I mean the composition of both the series. Twenty years plus later, viewers must negative and positive qualities that make up a fixed conclude that there is some kind of ‘secret success’ or familiar personality image. Buster, for instance, formula that contributes to the striking composition largely embodies the stereotype of the laid-back and longevity of this cartoon series that continues comedian: he embraces the mantra of ‘all play and to gain new child viewers and retain seasoned adult little work’ – he is the epitome of breezy fans. friendliness, humor and optimism and is the model Over the years, close observation shows that of the classmate who frowns upon homework and one of the components of the success formula of avoids any extra reading if he can. All of the main Arthur is the complex construction of the characters are presented in a stereotypical mold characters and how intricately their presentation similar to Buster’s and the stereotypes seem to be seems to be bound up with the show’s main presented in several layers, two of which are message that appears in its theme song. One of the readily identifiable. core concepts of the main message, relevant to both Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 447 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-7, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Firstly, the initial presentation of the characters different personalities and abilities, and the establishes a layer of familiar stereotypes: the perpetuation of familiar stereotypes in these fixed series succeeds in communicating basic stereotypes one dimensional extremes makes the characters like the nerd, the bully, the spoilt heiress and the easily accessible to children and even adults. It is aforementioned comedian. A second layer then through the fixed types that the audience is able to establishes the subversion and negotiation or recognize the clear distinctness of each character. renegotiation of the stereotypes themselves. On the first layer, the stereotypes are specific, rigid Interestingly, this technique often brings new and consistent. There is no deviation. The audience meaning to the initial stereotypes created at the first knows the list of roles and how they are filled. layer. Binky, for instance, moves through a How Arthur and some of his friends tidily construction of the stereotypical terrifying Bully, conform to their individual stereotypical roles is feared and excluded by others, to the layer where examined below. the stereotype of ‘Bully Binky’ is broken by First up, in alphabetical order, is Binky Barnes. seemingly incompatible qualities like sensational Binky without a doubt fills the role of the class ballet dancer, well-informed art critic, talented bully both in appearance and attitude. It is easy for musician, attentive role model and doting big him to command other children in his class because brother. Eventually, what we see is a renewal of the he is larger in size than most of them. Sometimes characters brought about through the interplay of even the camera angle from which Binky is the two layers of the stereotyping – the first layer presented helps to emphasize his physical of creating the stereotype and the second layer of stereotype; for example, when viewed from the challenging the said stereotype. With any layer vantage point of the smaller person at whom he is operating at any given time, this stereotyping staring down, his height, girth, the size of his head technique works by transforming the stock and menacing frown appear magnified. This ‘buff’ characters into dynamic constructions. In doing so, appearance along with his name Binky Barnes with the stereotyping technique magnifies the “simple the startling B-B alliteration complement the tough message” of the theme song, the message about behavior that he tries to convey as the leader of the everyone being equal in their “original point[s] of Tough Customers club. He easily cements his role view” and the need for believing in self. as class bully by displaying bad manners and even This paper will show how the series explores traumatizing his friends by taking their lunches and the concept of individuality by developing the desserts. An example of one of the many times he characters through the use of stereotypes. I will does this is when he stalks Arthur, Buster and D.W. examine: 1) how the presentation of basic into Pizza Paula’s, pulls the layer of toppings off of stereotypes functions as the first layer in Arthur’s slice of pizza, eats it, belches loudly and establishing a framework for the message of leaves (The Good, The Bad, and The Binky) [3]. In individuality and 2) how the stereotypes are Bully for Binky [4], all of Arthur and his friends subverted and how the subversion of the (except Sue Ellen) are extremely terrified of Binky stereotypes depends on the interplay of the two to the point where they feel powerless and layers so as to renegotiate the original stereotypes frustrated, with even the knowledgeable highly at layer one, in order to further advance the scientific Brain concluding that “There’s no one on message of the role of the individual in society and earth big enough to challenge Binky” (00:03:14- ultimately renew the characters. To do this, close 18). Binky conforms to a role that is very easy for attention will be paid to the presentation of Arthur the audience to be wary of; whenever he and seven of his classmates. Mention will be made approaches it is expected that he will inspire fear of other characters. and discomfort, as he falls without a doubt into the category of class bullies. Binky’s bully image 2. Layer 1: The Presentation of immediately sets him apart from his other Individual Stereotypes classmates. Then there is the stereotype of the easy-going Arthur and his classmates are individually comedian. Amicable and nonchalant, Buster fills stereotypical to begin with. They generate meaning the role of the funny, warm, non-judgmental and while being presented as a group through their approachable chum. The audience finds it easy to individual stereotypical constructions: among them be at ease with him. In The Buster Report [5], after we can easily identify their stock types, for Mr. Ratburn tells the class to prepare an oral report example, the ‘nerd’ – Brain; the comedian – on someone they admire, some of the pupils decide Buster; the spoilt snobbish heiress – Muffy; the to do reports on influential adults like Sue Ellen’s tomboy – Francine; the bully – Binky; the quiet karate teacher, a firewoman and even Mr. Ratburn invisible boy – George; the introverted writer – himself.