Classicist Mary Beard, historian Helen Carr, political sketch-writer Tom Peck, and writer Konnie Huq discuss the relevance of Tacitus, children's TV impact, and Lord Byron's fan mail. Topics include power, corruption, journalistic history, and diversity in media representation.
Bluey portrays both relatable family dynamics and profound themes, appealing to both children and parents.
Mary Beard advocates for literature that encourages critical thinking over idealized role models in children's TV shows.
Deep dives
Bluey: A TV Show for Kids and Parents
Bluey, an Australian children's TV series, has captured the hearts of both kids and parents with its relatable stories and characters. The show depicts everyday life through a family of anthropomorphized dogs, offering bite-sized insights into family dynamics and relationships. Parents see it as a show for them, reflecting the challenges and joys of parenting, while children enjoy the engaging storytelling and characters. Bluey transcends typical children's TV by delving into profound themes such as family love and co-sleeping in episodes like Sleepy Time, showcasing a blend of humor and heartwarming moments.
Role Models in Children's TV
While some view the characters in children's TV shows like Bluey as role models, others like Mary Beard question the idea of promoting idealized behaviors. Mary expresses concern about presenting flawless characters as role models, as they may not allow children to engage with the complex realities of the world. Instead of solely relying on perfect role models, she advocates for literature that encourages critical thinking and discussions.
Peppa Pig: Controversy and Criticism
Although Peppa Pig is a beloved children's show, it has faced criticism for its portrayals of gender roles and family dynamics. Some parents find the traditional gender roles depicted, such as the bumbling dad and the homemaking mom, problematic and outdated. There are concerns that the show's messages may not align with progressive family structures, leading to divided opinions on whether Peppa Pig sets a positive example for young viewers.
Classicist Mary Beard picks Tacitus as a figure who still has relevance if we're thinking about satire, power and celebrity. Shahidha Bari is joined by Mary, historian Helen Carr, who co-edited What is History Now? political sketch-writer from The Times newspaper Tom Peck and Konnie Huq, writer and former presenter of the children's TV show Blue Peter. On April 21st 1964, the tv channel BBC 2 launched with an episode for children of Play School and programmes like Bluey and Peppa Pig, have been making headlines so what do we want from kids TV? Plus - poet Lord Byron died 200 years ago this week - scholar Dr Corin Throsby has been reading the fan mail he received.
Listen out for Mary Beard and the new series of Being Roman coming to BBC Radio 4 in May - and the first series is available on BBC Sounds.
And if you're a fan of Oliver Postgate - The Clangers, Bagpuss and Noggin you can find a Free Thinking episode exploring those programmes.
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Studio Manager: Tim Heffer
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