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Thomas the Tank Engine attacked for 'conservative political ideology'
The Telegraph ^ | 12/10/2009 | Aislinn Lang

Posted on 12/10/2009 2:13:14 AM PST by markomalley

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To: markomalley

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.


21 posted on 12/10/2009 3:34:21 AM PST by Gunflint
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To: denydenydeny
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.

22 posted on 12/10/2009 3:36:05 AM PST by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley
To quote Sir Toppum Hat, "She is causing confusion and delay"
23 posted on 12/10/2009 3:37:28 AM PST by SteelCurtain_SSN720 (If you pass the rabid child, say "hammer down" for me)
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To: markomalley

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


24 posted on 12/10/2009 3:38:07 AM PST by darkangel82 (I don't have a superiority complex, I'm just better than you.)
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To: markomalley
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.

25 posted on 12/10/2009 3:44:25 AM PST by upstanding
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To: markomalley

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


26 posted on 12/10/2009 3:45:05 AM PST by CommieCutter ("You wanted the presidency, you got it, now FIX THE DAMN ECONOMY!!!!" ----YankeeReb)
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To: markomalley

27 posted on 12/10/2009 3:45:13 AM PST by Fresh Wind ("...a whip of political correctness strangles their voice"-Vaclav Klaus on GW skeptics)
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To: markomalley

Insane.

She gets paid to make up crap like this.


28 posted on 12/10/2009 3:46:59 AM PST by CriticalJ
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To: upstanding

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.


29 posted on 12/10/2009 3:48:31 AM PST by CommieCutter ("You wanted the presidency, you got it, now FIX THE DAMN ECONOMY!!!!" ----YankeeReb)
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To: Raycpa

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.


30 posted on 12/10/2009 4:15:07 AM PST by tm61 (somewhere in chicago, a ward is missing it's crook)
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To: markomalley

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


31 posted on 12/10/2009 4:16:41 AM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: markomalley

BTTT


32 posted on 12/10/2009 4:17:09 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!you)
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To: markomalley

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.”


33 posted on 12/10/2009 4:41:03 AM PST by Cloverfarm (Obama = Nixon II)
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To: markomalley
conservative political ideology

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

Huh?!

34 posted on 12/10/2009 4:50:13 AM PST by Paine in the Neck (Nepolean fries the idea powder)
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To: markomalley

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

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!


35 posted on 12/10/2009 4:53:07 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (I am tired of being PC. It's time for torches, pitchforks, tar, feathers and GUNS.)
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To: Paine in the Neck
LoL!

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

36 posted on 12/10/2009 5:11:35 AM PST by winstonwolf33
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To: markomalley
Looks like there hasn't been a train through that tunnel in a while.


37 posted on 12/10/2009 5:33:02 AM PST by Pistolshot (Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
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To: Pistolshot

38 posted on 12/10/2009 5:36:51 AM PST by CholeraJoe (I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter.)
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To: CholeraJoe
Photobucket
39 posted on 12/10/2009 5:47:51 AM PST by Pistolshot (Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
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To: Pistolshot

“That’s a MAN, baby!”


40 posted on 12/10/2009 5:49:56 AM PST by CholeraJoe (I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter.)
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