Capitalist Pokémon

[Comrade #138672]

We can talk about all sorts of videogames and television shows that the Capitalists use to brainwash our children, but I think Pokémon serves as a nice example to focus on.

Is it true that Pokémon is used by Capitalists to brainwash children into their system? And if they do, isn't it important to resist it? I may sound like a crazy Christian Fundamentalist who thinks Pokémon is a creation of the Devil (I'm not), but maybe they do have a point when you look at what kind of values Pokémon promotes.

The intro song says a lot already:

"I want to become the very best!" (Promoting competition between future workers)
"It's you and me [competing against the others]!" (Same, but with a friendly touch to it)
"Gotta catch them all!" (Promoting the idea that accumulation (for example of Capital) can be a good thing)
"The power that's inside!" (Promoting Individualism)

It also seems to promote escapism in children, making them ignore reality as it is and live in Idealistic fantasy worlds (created by Capitalists).

What do you think? Is this harmful or not?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Pokemon can be interpreted in many different ways but I have always considered the most logical to be that the Pokemon universe was that of a socialist world; there is extensive youth rights (allowing ten year olds to travel the world to capture pokemon), health care (both pokemon centers and hospitals I have only ever seen be free towards the protagonist with only the rarest exceptions), and during the original series the antagonist was a shady Italian businessman who represented the fascist counterrevolution rather well with his flunkies slogans.

Here is something about it that I found entertaining (though promoted by ignorant individuals): http://luigi-master.deviantart.com/art/Pokemon-IS-Communism-O-58929193?offset=0#comments

[Камо́ Зэд]

I'm not so interested in the localized English theme song for the show, but the general sentiment of that song reflects the nature of the program even in its original Japanese. I don't know that this franchise was designed specifically to promote capitalism as much as it was to be successful within capitalism, which is the prerogative of every business model in existence. That said, there's something disturbing about forcing creatures of widely varying size and strength to fight one another until all but one lose consciousness. That said, I agree that the economy of the franchise's universe seems weirdly socialistic in conception.

[Ostrinski]

Wasn't Pokemon invented by some Aspie kid?

Also, whether or not Pokemon has capitalist values, it's still fun to play.

Also, the villain group in the latest series is like some ALF group.

[Камо́ Зэд]

I've heard the rumor that Tajiri has Asperger's Syndrome, but I'm not able to find a direct source.

[jookyle]

I think someone's just upset that he never got a Charizard card

[Solidarity]

We can talk about all sorts of videogames and television shows that the Capitalists use to brainwash our children,
I'm not that brainwashed :D


What do you think? Is this harmful or not?

Is it harmful for capitalists to use certain types of media advertisement to give kids the impression that there lives would be better with their product. Yes. Best example I can think of is Joe Camel

[Камо́ Зэд]

I think someone's just upset that he never got a Charizard card

I had a holofoil Charizard card some rich little shit tried swiping from me when I was a kid. And so began my lifelong hatred of capitalism.

[Comrade #138672]

True, they may also promote friendship, but the main idea still seems competition. They have a quest that is about competition and being the best. Also:
That said, there's something disturbing about forcing creatures of widely varying size and strength to fight one another until all but one lose consciousness.Occasionally they get sidetracked by people and they do help these people when needed, but you never see them go around fighting for a better world on their own initiative. No, that's not needed. They only have to focus on private issues, because everything has the appearance of being OK. Their social actions are only in response to competitive circumstances. This friendship actually seems to promote isolation.

Or am I just being too cynical? I don't hate Pokémon. I'm just trying to analyze it.

[Камо́ Зэд]

All joking aside, I honestly don't think Pokémon are the problem. Except holy shit there are six-hundred forty-nine of them now.

[Comrade #138672]

I think someone's just upset that he never got a Charizard cardThat's why I want to abolish private ownership of Pokémon trading cards.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Also: Occasionally they get sidetracked by people and they do help these people when needed, but you never see them go around fighting for a better world on their own initiative. No, that's not needed.

I think this part has to do more with the youth audience: in most kid shows "Making the world better" would mean admitting faults and serious problems which most kids shows (with some exceptions) try and avoid.

[Comrade #138672]

I think this part has to do more with the youth audience: in most kid shows "Making the world better" would mean admitting faults and serious problems which most kids shows (with some exceptions) try and avoid.Yet they have no problem with letting children watch "Gladiators" fight.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Yet they have no problem with letting children watch "Gladiators" fight.

Ironically violence, in censored small doses, is acceptable compared to learning about the evils of the world. An odd thing I never understood.

(Though when it comes to conflict and violence and when adolescents are first introduced it is important to know what station is promoting it)

[khad]

Pokemon is above all a marketing tool to sell kids toys. That its songs promote competition and obsessive accumulation is about as much of a shocker as saying THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mllAnPKS6Zs) is reactionary.

[Камо́ Зэд]

Pokemon is above all a marketing tool to sell kids toys. That its songs promote competition and obsessive accumulation is about as much of a shocker as saying THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mllAnPKS6Zs) is reactionary.

I looked at the comments section and already we've got:


F.E.M.A. camps;
Robert E. Lee would've freed the slaves gradually, because we need to be nice to the economy; and
9/11 was an inside job.

This is the entire ideology of Libertarianism in one hundred eighty characters or less.

[Igor]

Is Pokemon really still a thing?

[Камо́ Зэд]

Is Pokemon really still a thing?

Only a dirty communist would ask that.

[CryingWolf]

I don't know, it seems like you can interpret pretty much anything to fit with the idea that it's "promoting capitalism".

I think the only way in which pokemon promotes capitalism is by marketing toys to kids. And it's as simple as that.

[#FF0000]

not everything is some nefarious capitalist scheme jesus people

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I would imagine that outside of the context of collecting Pokemon and competing in tournaments, the show displays the standard tropes of programming aimed at children, which commonly include such things as The Power of Friendship (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThePowerOfFriendship) and so on.

But properly appraising the ideological content of that show would require a level of knowledge on my part that I do not possess.

What needs to be asked is, what are the narrative themes explored by Pokemon and how does it handle them?

[Камо́ Зэд]

I would imagine that outside of the context of collecting Pokemon and competing in tournaments, the show displays the standard tropes of programming aimed at children, which commonly include such things as The Power of Friendship (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThePowerOfFriendship) and so on.

But properly appraising the ideological content of that show would require a level of knowledge on my part that I do not possess.

What needs to be asked is, what are the narrative themes explored by Pokemon and how does it handle them?

It's the story of a boy who's been ten for twenty-six years and how he travels the world on foot challenging people to cockfights while pursued by a gentleman with lavender hair, his hag, and their cat. Also, one of the magical creatures is a drag queen in black-face, and there's six hundred forty-nine of them now.

Have at it.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

It's the story of a boy who's been ten for twenty-six years and how he travels the world on foot challenging people to cockfights while pursued by a gentleman with lavender hair, his hag, and their cat. Also, one of the magical creatures is a drag queen in black-face, and there's six hundred forty-nine of them now.

Have at it.

Well some of the things you mention are what I would call "meta" considerations. For example, the "10 years old for 26 years" issue (has it really been that long? Pokemon seemed a new thing when my parents bought me Pokemon Red and a Colour Gameboy to play it on, in fact I think they got it because me and my sister pestered them) seems to me to be a result of a long-term franchise that doesn't give that much thought (or in this case, development) to its human characters. Has the matter of seemingly eternal youth ever been addressed in-universe, or is that the kind of trifling narrative detail that only sad nerds like myself care about?

[Камо́ Зэд]

Well some of the things you mention are what I would call "meta" considerations. For example, the "10 years old for 26 years" issue (has it really been that long? Pokemon seemed a new thing when my parents bought me Pokemon Red and a Colour Gameboy to play it on, in fact I think they got it because me and my sister pestered them) seems to me to be a result of a long-term franchise that doesn't give that much thought (or in this case, development) to its human characters. Has the matter of seemingly eternal youth ever been addressed in-universe, or is that the kind of trifling narrative detail that only sad nerds like myself care about?

My apologies, comrade. The show has been on for eight hundred twenty-six years.

All kidding aside, there are seven hundred fifty-four fucking episodes. There aren't even that many pokémon. They could have a whole episode based exclusively on each single pokémon and still have to fill one hundred five episodes. That's six whole seasons of South Park and both shows started the same year. There are more episodes of this show banned around the world than there completely unbanned episodes of the British version of The Office. This shit is bananas.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

My apologies, comrade. The show has been on for eight hundred twenty-six years.

All kidding aside, there are seven hundred fifty-four fucking episodes. There aren't even that many pokémon. They could have a whole episode based exclusively on each single pokémon and still have to fill one hundred five episodes. That's six whole seasons of South Park and both shows started the same year. There are more episodes of this show banned around the world than there completely unbanned episodes of the British version of The Office. This shit is bananas.

I'm pretty sure that there have been series with longer runs. (Checks) OK, Dallas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dallas_%281978_TV_series%29_episodes) is about half-way there with 357 episodes.

With a run that long, and considering the apparent lack of character development, I'd be shocked if the quality is not sometimes completely lacking due to the writers running out of ideas.

[Камо́ Зэд]

I'm pretty sure that there have been series with longer runs. (Checks) OK, Dallas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dallas_%281978_TV_series%29_episodes) is about half-way there with 357 episodes.

With a run that long, and considering the apparent lack of character development, I'd be shocked if the quality is not sometimes completely lacking due to the writers running out of ideas.

Here are some of their more brilliant ideas:


they had a grown man pull a realistic-looking gun on a ten-year-old boy;
said boy's penis and testicles have made more than zero appearances; and
a man with purple hair gets breast implants and mocks a twelve-year-old girl for the size of her bust.

Also, my dad watched an episode once with me and I'm sure he still thinks I'm a complete idiot.

[Philosophos]

Here is something about it that I found entertaining (though promoted by ignorant individuals): http://luigi-master.deviantart.com/art/Pokemon-IS-Communism-O-58929193?offset=0#comments

LOL!!! how did you find this? it's like the most hillarious thing I've heard the last days: -In the cemetery, there many dead Pokemon, similar to Stalin's "Purging" plan that killed most of the people.

IN THE CEMETARY... there are dead pokemon... I can't believe it which twisted mind though of that? We should burn him for the sake of humanity...

-They included an option for the player to be female, as in Communism, everyone has the same rights, no matter their sex or ethnicity...

Are you kidding me? In the 21st century we still talk about women's rights and not only that we compare the rights with a video game... bravo magnifiscant.

-The character is only limited to saying "Yes" or "No", which could be compared to the people's lack of freedom of speech.

1st Look who's talking capitala, 2nd They have Yes or No because they were made for gameboy which gameboy didn't have GB so they had to put as much action as they could in tiny little cassetes 3rd It was made for all ages.... I don't really think the 8 year old is going to read or understand: What would you like to do my child : 1. Play the guitar, 2 write and essay about the discrimination of black people, 3 talk to me about the sexism there is in your house blah blah blah....

-In Diamond/Pearl, the TV keeps track of everything you do, which could be compared to how the Soviet Union kept a close eye on its people.

Yes of course because the game is not revolved all around you.... You should know in this VERY complicated game if there was something like a bomb attack or a rape. At the same time they keep track of you I dunno.... because... you fight in front of cameras....


The person that wrote this has some issues of not critically negating his arguements... I wrote this in less that five minutes and I negated almost half of his arguements....


Anyway I think SMURFS are much more socialistic that pokemon.

[Igor]

not everything is some nefarious capitalist scheme jesus people

Actually, I'd say the complete opposite: pretty much everything about every product is a "nefarious capitalist scheme" to the point where there's pretty much no point in discussing whether that applies to Pokemon. Like if I went to the store now and bought some groceries, pretty much every single thing starting from the price of the product to how nice (or how shitty!) the etiquette looks like and where the product is located in the store, it's all pretty much just has one purpose: to get me to buy it. Even if you shop in some hippie-run organic shop or something. Things are ridiculously planned to an extent random consumer doesn't really think about. Pokemon isn't really any different so discussing this stuff is not something I can see getting really anywhere, pokemon serving capitalism is very basic capitalism 101 because it's a product

Also I honestly thought Pokemon like died out ten years ago and they're just occasionally trying to revive it with shitty new games people generally don't care too much about.

[Jimmie Higgins]

We can talk about all sorts of videogames and television shows that the Capitalists use to brainwash our children, but I think Pokémon serves as a nice example to focus on.

Is it true that Pokémon is used by Capitalists to brainwash children into their system? And if they do, isn't it important to resist against it? I may sound like a crazy Christian Fundamentalist that thinks Pokémon is a creation of the Devil (I'm not), but maybe they do have a point when you look at what kind of values Pokémon promotes.

The intro song says a lot already:

"I want to become the very best!" (Promoting competition between future workers)
"It's you and me [competing against the others]!" (Same, but with a friendly touch to it)
"Gotta catch them all!" (Promoting the idea that accumulation (for example of Capital) can be a good thing)
"The power that's inside!" (Promoting individualism)

It also seems to promote escapism in children, making them ignore reality as it is and live in the Idealist fantasy worlds (created by Capitalists).

What do you think? Is this harmful or not?

Not particularly harmful and not the result of a "indoctrination plot" in my opinion. But anyway, I think one of the distinguishing things about Pokemon specifically is that it was so obviously made with market considerations in mind. This isn't unusual for toys and games and I think this is where the capitalist system fits into the equation the most, not in the ideological aspects of the game. Pokemon is a franchise designed to promote (and cross-promote) itself and get kids to "collect them all" - not a ploy to get kids to accept capitalism. If Pokemon reflects capitalist assumptions of the world and of humanity, then that's just because it's creators take these things for granted.

Most people most of the time at least share the basic assumptions of this system: this also goes into cultural creation. So in video games or movies or novels, it's professionals creating the product on the creative side while it's the capitalist system that dictates the forms of this cultural product. The more "artisan" or "indie" the cultural product, the more likely it is to be driven more by the "art" side of something and the more likely that the themes and concerns will reflect the views of the petty-bourgeois creators; which is why angst about the system in literature and film is generally presented as "money" and "power" stiffing individual expression and thought.

The more directly a product is geared towards just blatant profit-making on the market the more it will be obviously shaped by profit-making concerns. This doesn't mean these products can be appealing, a fun pulp novel or action movie can be enjoyable - just as capitalist-made candy can still be tasty.

[#FF0000]

Actually, I'd say the complete opposite: pretty much everything about every product is a "nefarious capitalist scheme" to the point where there's pretty much no point in discussing whether that applies to Pokemon. Like if I went to the store now and bought some groceries, pretty much every single thing starting from the price of the product to how nice (or how shitty!) the etiquette looks like and where the product is located in the store, it's all pretty much just has one purpose: to get me to buy it. Even if you shop in some hippie-run organic shop or something. Things are ridiculously planned to an extent random consumer doesn't really think about. Pokemon isn't really any different so discussing this stuff is not something I can see getting really anywhere, pokemon serving capitalism is very basic capitalism 101 because it's a product

Yeah but that's not because a bunch of capitalists are sitting in a board room wringing their hands and cackling and holding meetings over "HOW WILL WE INDOCTRINATE THE YOUTH?" and then putting specific themes and ideas into the show. The only place where that happens is in the PR firms and marketing departments where they deal with how to present the brand, and not the content of the show itself.


Also I honestly thought Pokemon like died out ten years ago and they're just occasionally trying to revive it with shitty new games people generally don't care too much about.Pokemon Black and White were p. good.

[helot]

Pokemon's about dog fighting. The entire society is based on people getting their pets to fight other people's pets.

[Ocean Seal]

You would think that the cockfighting would be the most disconcerting part no.