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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1997)
Jll/> HARDER Gratuitous nudity in today’s cartoons unbearable Violence is everywhere. It is in it ally ings ►out ms ibe mt im, it is vs. Family groups have been ada mantly trying to eliminate this superfluous killing and abuse, but I think they have overlooked a more serious problem with these animated programs. Nudity. Countless cartoon characters prance about their fantasy wonder lands, happily frolicking together, partially or sometimes completely nude! I am shocked and outraged that no one realizes the utter filth that our brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews are exposed to every Saturday morning. Sure Yogi Bear advocates stealing, but what about his seduc tive outfit consisting of nothing but a tie? Granted, Itchy and Scratchy condone the maiming and dismem bering of each other, but look at their wardrobe — or lack thereof! For every second I see Wile E. Coyote exploded, there is a minute minute of seeing a full frontal of the creature. This overabundance of nakedness will eventually cause three effects for our society and its children: No. 1: Acceptance of Human Nudity Just as children accept the violent actions of their beloved animated friends, so will they feel that going about nude is unobjectionable. It is bad enough seeing pictures of bare babies in the bathtub, but naked kindergarteners running around are definitely inadmissible. No. 2: Encouragement of Bestiality uic yuung, liupicssiunauic children continue to see animals without bottoms like Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, they will begin to become attracted to these individu als, and less attracted to humans of the opposite sex. Yes, these children will be lost and overly influenced wrongly by the world, but we will be forced to dedicate our lives to showing them the correct way of sexual attraction. I do not want to have to be responsible fa* keeping my offspring lured to real people and 1 am sure that most people feel the same way as 1. (Except maybe for a few in the western parts of Nebraska, if you know what I mean .) No. 3: Less Focus on Violence This will be the one positive effect. Finally, groups across the country will not be concerned with the rampant murder and injury that occurs on these shows, but will be entirely centered on dressing the various ‘toons of the tube. Too many parents are worrying about the blood and gore that their kids view on network and cable television and will turn their * attention to something worthwhile. These mothers and fathers waste countless hours being critical of the violent actions of the animated beings, when they could be putting their much-needed effort into a problem that needs a solution. Some of you may be thinking that cartoon nudity is not a big problem because you have not been hearing about it on the various media outlets Well, it may not be big now, but soon our nation’s leaders will need to crack down on cartoons, and Matt Haney/DN weigh childhood nudity and bestial ity against removing the focus of families from violence. I don’t know for sure which consequences are worse, but personally I think that parents need to forget about the v-chip and start thinking about an “n-chip.” (That “n” is for nudity for you slow ones.) I cannot stand living another day worrying about the Thirties’ martial arts fight scenes, while the Smurfs sing their little songs without wearing any shirts. Rise up, nation of violence and turn your attention to the true societal culprit — before it’s too late! Harder is a sophomore broad casting major and a Daily Nebras kan columnist. Michael DONLEY Bye-bye beatniks Can’t create a counterculture with MTV, coffee / saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness. Untying, hysterical, naked. themselves through the looking for an angry fa. idealists ot my generation / Show me what anyone thinks is a worthy counterculture, and I’ll show you something that has already been done or is so commercialized that it isn’t even a counterculture anymore. Let's take a slow stroll through a few. Shall we? Coffee Houses Sorry, strike one. Hie “Beat Generation” did it back in the 50s, and they were doing it in Europe long before that. (And I shouldn’t even have to mention Starbucks!) The “Alternative Movement” in music 1 remember back in 1988, when alternative was still alternative. My best friend Colby and I were listening to The Cure and Siouxsie and The Banshees. (Skateboards and “flop” haircuts were optional.) Now every time I turn on MTV I see a so called alternative band. Mainstream alternative? Sorry again, just not a possibility. Marilyn Manson OK, you may have gotten me here! But, on the off chance there is a God up there watching, Marilyn and all of his followers can have a nice, warm afterlife without me. Harley Davidson, The "American Iron” Revolution Unfortunately, the Harley Davidson movement was long ago taken ova- by the lawyers and accountants who are now the only people who can afford them. Sport bikes or "Crotch Rockets” If James Dean were alive today, he would ride a red, white and blue “Bullet Bike.” But even the rebel with a cause would have to admit that the most extreme of all sports is a carbon copy of a decades-old original. Europeans invented the Cafe Racer—a term that is often used to describe speed-oriented bikes— about 30 years ago. Over-sexed, testosterone-filial young men would race each other from cafe to cafe. The loser bought the coffee. As cool as these bikes are, are they original? No. So, has EVERYTHING already been done? It is true, we do have almost everything that Mr. Ginsberg was fighting for: drugs, literary freedom, drugs, sexual experimenta tion, drugs, a strong anti-censorship movement and drugs. (Author’s note: Yes, I know Ginsberg, later in his life, de nounced drugs as a source of inspiration and I don’t condone their use either. IT WAS A JOKE! Calm down.) Christian Slater may have been right in “Pump up the \folume” when he said “All of the great Aaron Steckklbrrg/DN themes have been used up and turned into theme parks.” Political protests are just not as popular as they used to be. _ And since my new club, called the “I wouldn’t vote for Mike Johanns if he was the last politician on Earth Qub,” probably won’t pay % my rent this summer or tuition next fall, I guess I will just get a job and keep dreaming. But if you hear the voice of the next generation crying out in the wilderness, tell him or her to come down to the Daily Nebraskan. We’ll make him a columnist. Donley Is a sophomore philoso phy major and a Daily Nebraskan columnist