Two recent films, produced collaboratively with groups of young people, raise some interesting questions about representation. A discussion of Sarah Gavron’s Rocks (2020) and Fred Baillif’s La Mif (The Fam, 2021). Continue reading
Category Archives: Children Youth and Media
How toddlers learn the secret language of movies
An interview with Cary Bazalgette, author of a fascinating new book about how very young children learn to understand screen media.
Airbrushing the Street: re-telling the story of how we got to Sesame Street
A new documentary glosses over some awkward questions about the origins of America’s most celebrated children’s television show.
Adult fans, children’s culture: the curious case of My Little Pony
What’s going on for adult fans of children’s culture? Some thoughts about the bronies, and other adult fans of My Little Pony.
Disinfecting Disney? Tackling the history of representation
The Disney Corporation is putting advisory messages about racial stereotyping on some of its historical films and TV shows. How should we deal with problematic representations from the past?
What are children’s media rights?
Three decades on from the UN Convention, what does it mean to talk about children’s rights in relation to media?
Child obesity and TV advertising: another case of symbolic politics
A proposal to extend the ban on TV junk food advertising isn’t supported by the evidence – and it could cause collateral damage.
The trouble with Peppa Pig
Recent controversies about a cute cartoon character are part of a longer history of adults’ responses to media for very young children.
Cyberbabble: screens and young people’s mental health
Questioning some of the media hype about ‘mental health’ in recent debates about children, young people and social media.
Introducing ‘Growing Up Modern’
Announcing my new writing project Growing Up Modern: Childhood, Youth and Popular Culture Since 1945.
David Buckingham 