Fairly Odd Parents
Brief Description:
This cartoon revolves around a ten-year old boy named Timmy Turner. He goes to an elementary school, Dimmsdale Elementary where he is categorized as “Other” on the social groups chart along with his friends, AJ and Chester. This is due to their unpopularity. In a few episodes, Timmy wishes to be popular so he can get noticed by the most popular girl in the school, Trixie and to get more friends as well. In the end, he realizes that wishing to be popular from his godparents is not a wise wish after all.
Denzel Crocker, Timmy’s teacher at Dimmsdale Elementary is one of the main antagonists in Fairly Odd Parents. He is a mentally unstable school teacher, who constantly believes that fairies exist. Crocker makes a correct assumption that Timmy has fairy godparents, therefore, he makes Timmy his enemy, picking on him and always giving him a fail for all the work he does.
Analysis of Choice:
There are several episodes that show incorrect perceptions of school life, specifically elementary school. Many perceptions in this show do not exist in reality but are just added to the cartoon to create a comical atmosphere. A few bizarre things that this cartoon has shown are teachers failing every student, bullies giving little kids wedgies, teachers giving pop quizzes every day, the school having a private bathroom for popular students, etc.
1. Perception: School in general is divided into social groups: Rich kids, Unpopular kids, Jocks, Preps, Nerds and Other. “Rich” and “unpopular” are the two main categories; if students don’t have the clothes, the looks or the money, they are categorized as “unpopular”. Rich kids are also referred to as popular kids. This means that if you’re poor, you’re unpopular.
Reality: People can’t be judged based on these few factors. Just because you don’t wear brand-name clothing doesn’t mean you’re poor. Also, people shouldn't be judged based on what they wear as well. These social groups don’t really exist in school- We can’t clearly identify who’s popular who’s not, or who’s rich who’s poor.
2. Perception: It appears that the school has a private bathroom for popular boys and girls. Popular kids have special table for themselves to separate them from the unpopular kids. There is even a violinist at the table for the popular kids during lunch and a bouncer, who acts like a bodyguard for the popular kids.
Reality: In reality, bathrooms are only divided by students and staff members. Private washrooms for kids don’t even exist. There’s no such thing as a violin player playing music at a table for students during lunch. We can’t classify which eating table are for the popular kids or which table are for the unpopular kids. Furthermore, it’s unrealistic to have a bodyguard for students at school.
3. Perception: Little kids such as Timmy get picked on all the time in school due to their height. Students get shoved into their lockers and get locked up because bullies do this for fun. Bullying can also range from giving students wedgies to beating them up with the bully’s own fist. Timmy and his friends have been seen very injured from Francis’ beating with bruises all over their faces. It seems like the popular kids never get bullied.
Reality: Some elementary schools don’t even have lockers for kids unless the school incorporates middle school. In reality, kids are not that hostile. If there were bullies, they won’t bully students by shoving them into lockers or giving them wedgies. Little kids could get into physical fights, but not as tense as how the show portrays a bully. Popular or not popular, many people have been bullied before. Everyone may have experienced some of these types of bullying: physical, cyber, or verbal bullying.
4. Perception: Denzel Crocker always gives students an “F” (which stands for a fail) as a mark for tests, pop quizzes, assignments, just basically everything for every student. Most of the times, Crocker only fails Timmy because he hates him. As seen in the episode “Smarty Pants”, his locker is filled with papers with the letter F on them. Although Timmy gets a very good grade of 92% in the episode “Dumbbell Curve”, Crocker still decided to fail him.
Reality: Teachers cannot give students a fail unless they do not complete their assigned work entirely. It is possible to fail a test but teachers do not draw a bloody F on the entire paper that received the grade. It is not realistic to fail a student when they actually received a 92%. Teachers don’t have the right to do that. They can’t decide to fail a student because the teacher hates that certain student.
5. Perception: It appears that Crocker is the only teacher in the whole school. He does a really poor job in teaching. Crocker is not even suited to be a teacher. He hates kids, which is not a desirable characteristic for teachers. He is described as hideous, insane and nerdy. All Crocker does is give miserable marks to kids. For Show and Tell, he gives a D to Francis and Timmy in the episode “Transparents” because their items for Show and Tell began with the letter D. (A dog and a dinosaur)
Reality: People decided to go into teaching because it’s their passion and they obviously love kids. There may be horrible teachers out there, but Crocker is the worst. What we perceived as a teacher in the show is not what we see in real life. Hideous, insane and nerdy is not how a teacher is normally described. Furthermore, teachers don’t mark on how well you do in Show and Tell.
6. Perception: The school appears to have a strained budget. The use of picnic tables indicates the school lacks in financial resources. The walls of the school appear to be very old and worn-down- it’s a very murky green colour. And the cafeteria serves gruesome food, in which Timmy and many other students always complain about it.
Reality: Cafeteria food is not always disgusting, high school in particular. Although it’s not free in real life, students buy food all the time which proves that schools serve quality food. Picnic tables are never used inside the school, but outside.
Connection to Macbeth:
In comparison to Macbeth, we also see things that are not actually as they appear. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth appeared to us as a strong man and he was praised as a brave soldier. Even the king called him, “valiant cousin” and “worthy gentleman”. These positive comments and opinions lead us to conceive that Macbeth is a great, brave and heroic character. However, his character continuously contradicts to its introductory appearance as the play goes on. He let others take control over him such as the three weird sisters and Lady Macbeth, which made him powerless in reality. After hearing his prophecies, he instantly plots to kill the king. Duncan was misled by the previous Thane of Cawdor’s appearance, believing he was a loyal man, but he betrayed him in the end. The same goes for Macbeth. Duncan would have never thought that his loyal and brave soldier would commit such treason. The king always assumes he is loyal and trustworthy; he just expects this from Macbeth.
Also, Lady Macbeth appeared to be more ruthless and more frightening than her husband. She criticizes Macbeth’s weakness by calling him unmanly. She reveals her strength by showing how merciless she is as she says “I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums and dash’d the brains out”. (I.vii.61-64) .This quote reveals to us how ruthless she is than her husband, but near the end of the play, she committed suicide. Though she successfully urged Macbeth into killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth was the one who couldn't withstand the repercussions, as guilt overrides her. Her conscience had a huge impact on her to an extent that she committed suicide. Thus, Macbeth is stronger than her, because Macbeth endured his guilt until he died.
Likewise, when Duncan went to Macbeth’s castle with their generous praises, we again see things that are not really what they are. Banquo said to Duncan as they enter to Macbeth’s castle, “... That the heaven’s breath smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze…” (I.vi.6-7). They believe it’s a welcoming and serene setting, but it’s not. There's a dark and intense atmosphere surrounding the castle because this is the place where Duncan is never going to leave with an open eye.
Brief Description:
This cartoon revolves around a ten-year old boy named Timmy Turner. He goes to an elementary school, Dimmsdale Elementary where he is categorized as “Other” on the social groups chart along with his friends, AJ and Chester. This is due to their unpopularity. In a few episodes, Timmy wishes to be popular so he can get noticed by the most popular girl in the school, Trixie and to get more friends as well. In the end, he realizes that wishing to be popular from his godparents is not a wise wish after all.
Denzel Crocker, Timmy’s teacher at Dimmsdale Elementary is one of the main antagonists in Fairly Odd Parents. He is a mentally unstable school teacher, who constantly believes that fairies exist. Crocker makes a correct assumption that Timmy has fairy godparents, therefore, he makes Timmy his enemy, picking on him and always giving him a fail for all the work he does.
Analysis of Choice:
There are several episodes that show incorrect perceptions of school life, specifically elementary school. Many perceptions in this show do not exist in reality but are just added to the cartoon to create a comical atmosphere. A few bizarre things that this cartoon has shown are teachers failing every student, bullies giving little kids wedgies, teachers giving pop quizzes every day, the school having a private bathroom for popular students, etc.
1. Perception: School in general is divided into social groups: Rich kids, Unpopular kids, Jocks, Preps, Nerds and Other. “Rich” and “unpopular” are the two main categories; if students don’t have the clothes, the looks or the money, they are categorized as “unpopular”. Rich kids are also referred to as popular kids. This means that if you’re poor, you’re unpopular.
Reality: People can’t be judged based on these few factors. Just because you don’t wear brand-name clothing doesn’t mean you’re poor. Also, people shouldn't be judged based on what they wear as well. These social groups don’t really exist in school- We can’t clearly identify who’s popular who’s not, or who’s rich who’s poor.
2. Perception: It appears that the school has a private bathroom for popular boys and girls. Popular kids have special table for themselves to separate them from the unpopular kids. There is even a violinist at the table for the popular kids during lunch and a bouncer, who acts like a bodyguard for the popular kids.
Reality: In reality, bathrooms are only divided by students and staff members. Private washrooms for kids don’t even exist. There’s no such thing as a violin player playing music at a table for students during lunch. We can’t classify which eating table are for the popular kids or which table are for the unpopular kids. Furthermore, it’s unrealistic to have a bodyguard for students at school.
3. Perception: Little kids such as Timmy get picked on all the time in school due to their height. Students get shoved into their lockers and get locked up because bullies do this for fun. Bullying can also range from giving students wedgies to beating them up with the bully’s own fist. Timmy and his friends have been seen very injured from Francis’ beating with bruises all over their faces. It seems like the popular kids never get bullied.
Reality: Some elementary schools don’t even have lockers for kids unless the school incorporates middle school. In reality, kids are not that hostile. If there were bullies, they won’t bully students by shoving them into lockers or giving them wedgies. Little kids could get into physical fights, but not as tense as how the show portrays a bully. Popular or not popular, many people have been bullied before. Everyone may have experienced some of these types of bullying: physical, cyber, or verbal bullying.
4. Perception: Denzel Crocker always gives students an “F” (which stands for a fail) as a mark for tests, pop quizzes, assignments, just basically everything for every student. Most of the times, Crocker only fails Timmy because he hates him. As seen in the episode “Smarty Pants”, his locker is filled with papers with the letter F on them. Although Timmy gets a very good grade of 92% in the episode “Dumbbell Curve”, Crocker still decided to fail him.
Reality: Teachers cannot give students a fail unless they do not complete their assigned work entirely. It is possible to fail a test but teachers do not draw a bloody F on the entire paper that received the grade. It is not realistic to fail a student when they actually received a 92%. Teachers don’t have the right to do that. They can’t decide to fail a student because the teacher hates that certain student.
5. Perception: It appears that Crocker is the only teacher in the whole school. He does a really poor job in teaching. Crocker is not even suited to be a teacher. He hates kids, which is not a desirable characteristic for teachers. He is described as hideous, insane and nerdy. All Crocker does is give miserable marks to kids. For Show and Tell, he gives a D to Francis and Timmy in the episode “Transparents” because their items for Show and Tell began with the letter D. (A dog and a dinosaur)
Reality: People decided to go into teaching because it’s their passion and they obviously love kids. There may be horrible teachers out there, but Crocker is the worst. What we perceived as a teacher in the show is not what we see in real life. Hideous, insane and nerdy is not how a teacher is normally described. Furthermore, teachers don’t mark on how well you do in Show and Tell.
6. Perception: The school appears to have a strained budget. The use of picnic tables indicates the school lacks in financial resources. The walls of the school appear to be very old and worn-down- it’s a very murky green colour. And the cafeteria serves gruesome food, in which Timmy and many other students always complain about it.
Reality: Cafeteria food is not always disgusting, high school in particular. Although it’s not free in real life, students buy food all the time which proves that schools serve quality food. Picnic tables are never used inside the school, but outside.
Connection to Macbeth:
In comparison to Macbeth, we also see things that are not actually as they appear. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth appeared to us as a strong man and he was praised as a brave soldier. Even the king called him, “valiant cousin” and “worthy gentleman”. These positive comments and opinions lead us to conceive that Macbeth is a great, brave and heroic character. However, his character continuously contradicts to its introductory appearance as the play goes on. He let others take control over him such as the three weird sisters and Lady Macbeth, which made him powerless in reality. After hearing his prophecies, he instantly plots to kill the king. Duncan was misled by the previous Thane of Cawdor’s appearance, believing he was a loyal man, but he betrayed him in the end. The same goes for Macbeth. Duncan would have never thought that his loyal and brave soldier would commit such treason. The king always assumes he is loyal and trustworthy; he just expects this from Macbeth.
Also, Lady Macbeth appeared to be more ruthless and more frightening than her husband. She criticizes Macbeth’s weakness by calling him unmanly. She reveals her strength by showing how merciless she is as she says “I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums and dash’d the brains out”. (I.vii.61-64) .This quote reveals to us how ruthless she is than her husband, but near the end of the play, she committed suicide. Though she successfully urged Macbeth into killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth was the one who couldn't withstand the repercussions, as guilt overrides her. Her conscience had a huge impact on her to an extent that she committed suicide. Thus, Macbeth is stronger than her, because Macbeth endured his guilt until he died.
Likewise, when Duncan went to Macbeth’s castle with their generous praises, we again see things that are not really what they are. Banquo said to Duncan as they enter to Macbeth’s castle, “... That the heaven’s breath smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze…” (I.vi.6-7). They believe it’s a welcoming and serene setting, but it’s not. There's a dark and intense atmosphere surrounding the castle because this is the place where Duncan is never going to leave with an open eye.
AJ's chart explaining the social class of Dimmsdale Elementary In the play Macbeth and the show Fairly Odd Parents, there are stratification in both societies. In Macbeth, the social structure were as follows: King, Nobles, Knights (vassals) and the Peasants. Macbeth falls into the category of Nobles, one step away from the king. In the the show Fairy Odd Parents, there is also a similar structure of social class in Dimmsdale Elementary. According to AJ's chart, the school is divided into Rich Kids, Unpopular Kids, Jocks and Other. Timmy Turner, AJ and Chester are the Other on the chart.
As a student, they trust that a teacher will do their best to educate them to the best of their ability. Timmy can't count on that. The school hires idiots like Crocker who does a whack job in teaching students. Crocker doesn't teach anything and throws a pop quiz at students almost everyday on topics that they have never seen before. Apparently, Crocker finds it fun to fail kids. This is similar to how Duncan trusts Macbeth to be a loyal to the king. Duncan always believed that there is no way this brave, and valiant Macbeth would betray him .The truth is Macbeth commits the worst treason that anyone could possible do; that is murdering the king.
Media: Television Source: YTV
Frost, Sarah, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Pipe Down." YTV. 26 Sept. 2003. Television.
Hartman, Butch, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ A Wish Too Far." YTV. 13 Apr. 2001. Television.
Hartman, Butch, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Timvisible." YTV. 26 Apr. 2002. Television.
Hartman, Butch, and Jaime Diaz, dirs. "Fairly Odd Parents/ The Big Problem." YTV. 30 Mar. 2001. Television.
Myers, Randy, and Michelle Bryan, dirs. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Dumbbell Curve." YTV. 11 May 2013. Television.
Links to each Episode Online:
1. "A Wish Too Far"
2. "Timvisible"
3. "Pipe Down"
4. "The Big Problem"
As a student, they trust that a teacher will do their best to educate them to the best of their ability. Timmy can't count on that. The school hires idiots like Crocker who does a whack job in teaching students. Crocker doesn't teach anything and throws a pop quiz at students almost everyday on topics that they have never seen before. Apparently, Crocker finds it fun to fail kids. This is similar to how Duncan trusts Macbeth to be a loyal to the king. Duncan always believed that there is no way this brave, and valiant Macbeth would betray him .The truth is Macbeth commits the worst treason that anyone could possible do; that is murdering the king.
Media: Television Source: YTV
Frost, Sarah, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Pipe Down." YTV. 26 Sept. 2003. Television.
Hartman, Butch, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ A Wish Too Far." YTV. 13 Apr. 2001. Television.
Hartman, Butch, dir. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Timvisible." YTV. 26 Apr. 2002. Television.
Hartman, Butch, and Jaime Diaz, dirs. "Fairly Odd Parents/ The Big Problem." YTV. 30 Mar. 2001. Television.
Myers, Randy, and Michelle Bryan, dirs. "Fairly Odd Parents/ Dumbbell Curve." YTV. 11 May 2013. Television.
Links to each Episode Online:
1. "A Wish Too Far"
2. "Timvisible"
3. "Pipe Down"
4. "The Big Problem"
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