Thomas the Tank Engine attacked for 'conservative political ideology'

The Telegraph ^ | 12/10/2009 | Aislinn Lang

[markomalley]

Children's favourite Thomas the Tank Engine has been attacked by a Canadian academic for its "conservative political ideology" and failure to adequately represent women.

The show's right-wing politics shows the colourful steam engines punished if they show initiative or oppose change, the researcher found.

She also highlighted the class divide which sees the downtrodden workers in the form of Thomas and his friends at the bottom of the social ladder and the wealthy Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt, at the top.

The criticism, by Shauna Wilton, a professor of political sciences at the University of Alberta, is likely to anger fans of the original books by Rev W. V. Awdry first published in the 1940s which were turned into an animated TV series now shown in 130 countries.

She launched her study after watching the programme with her three-year-old daughter.

She then analysed the plots, characters and other aspects of 23 different episodes to draw her conclusions, which she then presented at a conference of political science in Canada.

She was critical of the fact the show only has eight female characters out of the 49 who feature.

[Gunflint]

My son’s favorite when he was just learning to talk was Percy.

With a slight speech impediment, he would regularly ask what sounded like, “where’s P**sy?”.

Daddy’s boy.

[markomalley]

This has to be satire. It has to be.

	Contact Information: Shauna Wilton Assistant Professor of Political Studies                        4901-46 Avenue, Camrose AB T4V 2R3 Phone: 780-679-1154 Fax: 780-679-1590 E-mail: swilton@ualberta.ca
Dr. Wilton came to Augustana in 2003, and has also taught at the University of Alberta (Political Science) and the University of Lethbridge. She teaches primarily in Canadian politics and comparative politics, as well as in the Crime and Community Program. She is currently working a number of research projects related to culture, gender and ethnicity.

From the 2009 Conference, May

Wilton, Shauna

A Very Useful Engine: The Politics of Thomas and Friends

Abstract

Thomas and Friends is a highly popular, multimillion dollar empire consisting of children’s toys, clothes, books and television shows. The antics of Thomas and his friends entertain children around the world. Such an influential brand, watched by millions of children, deserves examination and analysis. What messages are being conveyed to our children as they watch the show? How do these messages serve to constitute a political culture and advance a specific vision of the good citizen?

The TV show, aired daily on Treehouse in Canada, depicts the daily lives of Thomas, a steam engine, and his friends. The stories take place on the Island of Sodor, an isolated political and social community under the rule of Sir Topham Hatt. This microcosm of a community projects political and social values to young viewers. This paper explores these values through a content and critical discourse analysis of a selection of the television shows. In particular, messages about citizenship, authority, individuality and the common good within the series are investigated.

This masterwork was presented in May of 2009, as part of workshop F13(a): Power, Identity and Ideology in Popular Culture.

No joke.

[SteelCurtain_SSN720]

To quote Sir Toppum Hat, "She is causing confusion and delay"

[darkangel82]

LOL. It takes a special kind of stupid to politicize a kiddie TV show. Obama would be proud.

[upstanding]

A greasy and obese carpet muncher... why am I not surprised?

At some point, academia has to implode due to its own absurdity.

The brilliant Sokal hoax took down the postmodernists a few pegs. Some mentally stable and logical professors need to do something similar with the myopic world of poli-sci departments.

[CommieCutter]

THEN HAVE YOUR DAUGHTER WATCH TELE-TUBBIES IF YOU’RE SUFFERING FROM GENDER IMBALANCE SYNDROME!!

[Fresh Wind]

[CriticalJ]

Insane.

She gets paid to make up crap like this.

[CommieCutter]

It’s amazing how smart these people are NOT. I’ve met some of them, you just wonder how they would actually function in the real world; they can’t.

It truly is sad. These people have been brainwashed to believe that because of their little piece of paper, they’re smarter than the rest of us. What’s the really really sad part? They paid for the brainwashing, the paid A LOT for it.

[tm61]

coming soon: “Thomas the Tank meets the EPA”, where we find that all the pollution belted out by Thomas and Co. are met with fines that shut down the trains. The engines are scrapped for recyling into wind turbines, and the employees are all fired, and go on welfare.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

That really makes the left mad. They thought that they had control of ALL the means of expression - newspapers, TV, movies and toys.

[DollyCali]

BTTT

[Cloverfarm]

Gaw! She looks like Mavis (one of the engines who works in the stone quarry, IIRC)

Some people have too much time on their hands. Wait until she starts to study “Theodore Tugboat.”

[Paine in the Neck]

conservative political ideology

The show's right-wing politics shows the colourful steam engines punished if they show initiative...

Huh?!

[Arrowhead1952]

OK, who has that dog turning and running saying “Do not want” picture?

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!

[winstonwolf33]

LoL!

Exactly. Smacking down initiative is what Leftists do. That's their SOP.

[Pistolshot]

Looks like there hasn't been a train through that tunnel in a while.

[CholeraJoe]

[Pistolshot]

[CholeraJoe]

“That’s a MAN, baby!”