Assignment 1-4 Weekly Analysis

Popular culture affects people of all ages; toddlers, teens, adults and senior citizens. Each person has their own idea of what they enjoy and what influences them. For most three year olds a popular television channel is Noggin. This channel offers all of their favorite animated characters such as Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. For teenagers this channel is probably not watched much unless there are youngsters in the household. Noggin teaches preschoolers different shapes, animals, rhymes and numbers through the different shows. They understand how to relate to children and keep their attention.

Twenty years ago this type of educational programming for children was mainly through Sesame Street and a few other shows on PBS. Nowadays there are several outlets for children to learn basic and out of the ordinary information. For example, Go Diego Go is about a young boy who rescues animals in the jungle. These animals include pumas, llamas, sloths and even chinchillas. This type of cartoon educates children that there are animals other than just dogs, cats and fish. It also interacts with them about what type of equipment he should use to save them.

Most of the cartoons include music in their story line. The Backyardigans sing almost the entire time and even perform well known dances like the Charleston. These musical songs can be very catchy for the parents as well as the children.

Whether you are 3, 30 or 80 there are popular shows on television that have an influence, great or small, on the way we think. Noggin is very popular for children and while it is time that they are in front of the television, at least they are learning new things in a creative and nonviolent manner.