Stereotypes+in+Children's+Shows+by+Alexis+Berry

Nickelodeon has undoubtedly produced a hit show with iCarly and with viewers aging from elementary school children to adults the humor and story plots are presumably entertaining for all ages. However, iCarly has featured multiple episodes containing the use of stereotypes. While the show typically uses stereotypes as a comedic element, such as the iCarly episode iRock,j,,m,n the Vote in which the runner-up from a previous American Idol season and his mother are portrayed as smug, manipulating, and pushy Britain’s, the display of stereotypes on a children’s show may raise some concern with parents and viewers. In the book, __The Children Are Watching: How the Media Teach about Diversity__, written by Carlos Cortés, he says, “Although some may deny it, mediamakers recognize that consumers learn multicultrally from the media (Cortés, 2000, 154).” If a show’s viewer audience is largely children who are ignorant and impressionable it seems to be a bad idea for shows like iCarly to air episodes with negative stereotypes such as iGo to Japan or iNevel as long as children are using that show to learn about other cultures. A supporting argument for Cortés’ statement as well an example of another hit show using the Asian stereotype just like the iGo to Japan episode comes from the book, __“Good Guys Don’t Wear Hats; Children’s Talk About the Media__, written by Joseph Tobin. Tobin mentions a number of shows that portray stereotypes that have been popular over the past few decades for example the //Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.// According to Tobin (2000)//,// the //Mighty Morphin Power Rangers// changed the characters that were used in the original version when the show aired in the West. Previously the show featured Japanese actors and after the show’s move to the West the characters were now Caucasian, Asian American, and African American except for the villain which was still featured as Japanese. Tobin argues that the show promoted, “American’s-versus-evil-Orientals.” While the concepts for the show iCarly and the //Mighty Morphin Power Rangers// are obviously different the popularity of both shows among children makes both shows an area of concern when it comes to how stereotypes of other cultures are represented to children in America. In conclusion, the idea of featuring stereotypes on children’s television shows is not a new one, but the messages the show is sending to children by using these stereotypes and what the children are taking away from seeing other cultures represented in a negative light is an issue that should be further examined. As the popularity of the show iCarly continues to grow so does the number of episodes in which stereotypes are shown in a negative light.