The 99

rdret1 · 10-11-2010, 12:22

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/t...lJugmRPFJepL/0

http://www.the99.org/

Bob B. put the NYP link onto FB this morning. I hadn't heard of this cartoon, or that it was being placed on "The Hub" , formerly Discovery Kids. It piqued my curiosity, so I checked it out. I looked all through the web site, even downloaded and read the introductory comic. I read all of the character back stories that were listed.

It leaves me with mixed feelings, I must say. The top level story line seems to be one of basic good vs. evil. I still felt there was a much deeper story line. Not being as familiar with the Muslim faith as many of you are, I wasn't able to decipher a lot of it completely. I did get the impression that there were some hidden meanings in some of the art work, however. The patterns did not seem random to me.

I can see where this cartoon will be attractive to kids. The comic is drawn in a slick, graphic novel style. The cartoon itself is in the CGI format that many kids have grown accustomed to these days. The "heroes" are kids of the same age as the intended audience and their backstories are similar to many of the kids who will be watching it.

I would be interested in seeing the reactions of those who are much more familiar with Islam than me. I may have to watch an episode or two myself before I decide if I allow my granddaughter to watch it in my house.

Richard · 10-11-2010, 13:38

The SEARCH function would have taken you to this:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ight=Al-Mutawa

Richard

**Pete** · 10-11-2010, 16:07

What I find interesting is it is scheduled to be on the Hub - sometime in the future.

This show will have a religious base.

Which programs on Discovery Kids/The Hub have a Christian or Jewish group of kids out battling for their religion?

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

NoRoadtrippin · 10-11-2010, 16:47

I wonder if the President would give a shout out to a new show promoting Christian tolerance and values?

Richard · 10-11-2010, 17:58

Lots of Judeo-Christian religiously themed stories being shown on the MSM/cable/satellite. Anybody ever watch "The Robe", "The Ten Commandments", "The Prince of Egypt", "Luther", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Ben Hur", "Chariots of Fire", "Facing the Giants", "The Mission", "It's A Wonderful Life", "Gods and Generals", "The Apostle", "We Were Soldiers", "Amistad", "The Hiding Place", "The Lord of the Rings", "The Greatest Story Ever Told", "Fireproof", "Superman", usw.

And then there's the radio. Anybody ever listen to Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams, George Jones, Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Randy Travis, Statler Brothers, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Willie Nelson, Barbara Mandrell, Mel Tillis, Loretta Lynn, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, George Strait, Norman Greenbaum, U2, usw.

Richard

PSM · 10-11-2010, 19:14

As for Christian-themed mainstream cartoons aimed at children, I can only think of "Davey and Goliath".

Pat

**Pete** · 10-12-2010, 04:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Lots of Judeo-Christian religiously themed stories being shown on the MSM/cable/satellite. ..............

I knew you would chime in, Richard, with something I didn't ask.

Now how about listing the Christian / Jewish themed shows aimed at kids that are shown on mainstream or cable channels. Not counting the Christian Channels.

Sigaba · 10-13-2010, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

What I find interesting is it is scheduled to be on the Hub - sometime in the future.

This show will have a religious base.

Which programs on Discovery Kids/The Hub have a Christian or Jewish group of kids out battling for their religion?

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

FWIW, It has been a while since my days working for a software R&D lab in the digital cable industry and I am constrained by a dozen or so NDAs. I can say that since the 1990s, questions about who is showing what and when are they showing it are increasingly irrelevant.

In the age of "on demand," what matters most is the question "Who is watching?". This is to say it is all about the ratings.

**Pete** · 10-13-2010, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

......In the age of "on demand," what matters most is the question "Who is watching?". This is to say it is all about the ratings.

Not so. Cable providers not offering al-a-carte services is prof of that. If viewers were allowed to pick each of the channels they paid for you would see a lot of channels go belly up.

Sigaba · 10-13-2010, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Not so. Cable providers not offering al-a-carte services is prof of that. If viewers were allowed to pick each of the channels they paid for you would see a lot of channels go belly up.

QP Pete--

IIRC, the debate over a la carte services is a bit more complex than cable providers vs subscribers <<LINK>>.

In my experience, MSO's (multi system operators or divisions of larger cable companies) regularly ask software developers for features that give viewers a de facto a la carte option via parental control and customizable channel line ups. This is to say that one can easily program one's cable set-top box so that one never has to view certain channels or types of programs.

Meanwhile, ongoing advances in metadata harvesting and DVR hardware give viewers the ability to encounter more and more shows that suit their tastes while preserving the "lean back" experience the digital cable industry hangs its hat on.

GratefulCitizen · 10-14-2010, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

FWIW, It has been a while since my days working for a software R&D lab in the digital cable industry and I am constrained by a dozen or so NDAs. I can say that since the 1990s, questions about who is showing what and when are they showing it are increasingly irrelevant.

In the age of "on demand," what matters most is the question "Who is watching?". This is to say it is all about the ratings.

My family was part of a pilot program back in the 80s.

The cable box had a modem and would make its calls about 0200 to upload what we had watched.
We also had a card which gave discounts while shopping (related to the cable box agreement).

The pilot program was to see the effectiveness of advertising/viewing patterns/etc.
In this day and age, collecting such data is trivial and multi-sourced (credit cards, discount cards, internet surfing, dvd rentals, television viewing patterns).

Many of the advertisments people now receive in the mail, email, pop-ups, etc., are specifically targeted to the individual.
They know all of the psychological buttons to push.

Ian Ayres wrote a pretty good book called Super Crunchers which addresses the power of such data collection.

Some other easy reads which address how we can all be easily manipulated for others' profit:
-Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
-Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
-Influence by Robert B. Cialdini

I don't worry too much about my kids exposure to mass media.

-Don't have cable/sattelite.
-Don't have internet at home.
-Don't have sattelite radio.
-There is no TV reception in this area of the nation.
-There are only a few radio stations that can get a signal into here.
-Those few stations either suck and/or broadcasts are in Navajo.
(actually heard rap music in Navajo on one of the stations...)
-Kids don't go to public school.

At the level of the individual family, problems with the effects of media upon children are voluntarily accepted.

rdret1 · 10-12-2010, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

The SEARCH function would have taken you to this:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ight=Al-Mutawa

Richard

I did perform a search, I guess I used the wrong words. OTOH, the referenced thread and this one have been illuminating.

As for cartoons or movies with a Christian theme, we are a predominately Christian nation, whether one wishes to admit it or not (current POTUS). Cartoons and movies with Christian values were plentiful from the advent of film through the early 80's. There have been fewer in recent years I believe. Those that have been made are often panned by the critics and marginalized. The only one I can think of that is overtly religious and received good reviews with a large audience was "Touched by an Angel". I might include "Supernatural" in that but the story line is completely different.

Richard, some of those you included in your list I would argue with. I don't think just a "good vs. evil" theme would qualify as a religious connotation. I think it needs a definite theme. "The Matrix" is a good example.

What disturbs me is the current trend to acceptance of protesting anytime Christian values or God are mentioned, while supporting Islamic values and Allah. I just saw a story about Kalifornia parents being upset about their kids having to say the Pledge of Allegiance and "One Nation under God" in school. IMO, these are contributing factors to the decline of our society.

As for "The 99", I think I may have to watch an episode or two and see what it seems to promote.

Sigaba · 10-12-2010, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdret1

As for cartoons or movies with a Christian theme, we are a predominately Christian nation, whether one wishes to admit it or not (current POTUS). Cartoons and movies with Christian values were plentiful from the advent of film through the early 80's. There have been fewer in recent years I believe. Those that have been made are often panned by the critics and marginalized. The only one I can think of that is overtly religious and received good reviews with a large audience was "Touched by an Angel". I might include "Supernatural" in that but the story line is completely different.

<SNIP>

FWIW, I agree. American civilization is infused with Christian values. So even avowedly secular programming is going to reenforce those values. YMMV.