Youth: It's Something Kinda Great

Actually, I only wish to emphasize certain aspects of youth instead of addressing youth as a whole. I'd also like to point out that there is, in fact, a difference between being "young" and being "dumbly immature." It's not necessary for me to delve into that right now.

Okay, so here's the thing: cartoons. Yes, I said. Cartoons. What exactly is so great about these simple animations that just brings smiles to the faces of children (and some young adults not to mentioned aka me)? It has already been mentioned. Cartoons are just simple. There's nothing to it. Animators just lay the flat characters out there with their fitted personalities and recorded voices. Now, it is not my intent to remove the "magic" (if there is any) within the creation of these shows. But you have to admit, when watching some cartoons that are actually good, you can't help but feel happy. Right?

Take Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. It's new and it's computer animated with it's flat spaces of color contrasted with the smooth movement and intricate patterns found in the screen. This type of simplicity echoes the Fauvism art movement during which color reigned supreme. Moving away from the visual aspects of this particular show, there are also the development of the characters. Keeping in mind that this show is intended for children, the characters lack that depth and complexity that are expected of most [literary/film] characters. But where exactly is the fun in that?

Growing up, we continually experience moments that we consider rather complex. Love triangles, difficult choices in the wrong scenarios, we've all of them and have probably been in the middle of them. Such confusion and distress result from this and that result is most definitely not desirable in a rapidly moving society. Now, I must admit that there are some real-life characters out there whom we might have labeled as simple and lacking in depth of character. But by that, many only usually mean that those people's preferences are rather shallow. In fact, most human beings are rather intricate in nature: both physically and mentally.

Facing all of that 24/7 can frustrate a girl like myself. So to what or to whom do I turn to? You guessed it. Cartoons. Within that microcosm behind the glass is a world of escape, a world away from reality. And with that, my attention span is completely run out.

What am I doing to do? Watch cartoons, you say? No, I'm going to read. :)