Representative Biodiversity: The Ecosystem of Cartoon Network

• Main Author: Suby, Carl
• Format: Others
• Published: Chapman University Digital Commons 2019
• Subjects: Cartoon Network; Representation; Animation; Television; Children's Media; Ecosystem; Film and Media Studies
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/film_studies_theses/4; https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=film_studies_theses

As a capitalist organism the television program, as explained by Todd Gitlin, uses its slant to sell itself to advertisers with similar leanings on contemporary social issues to maintain its flow of revenue. However, this concept of slant does not account for the broader network, which, like the singular program, cultivates a catalog of programming into a singular slanted message becoming an ecosystem of shows relying on each other to maintain viewership. The successful televised ecosystem will then be home to programs who enjoy long runs and display an easily recognized shared slant. As an example of the televised ecosystem, this thesis explores seven animated programs from Cartoon Network including The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack,Regular Show, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Steven Universe,We Bare Bears, and Craig of the Creek.Recognizing the programs ranging in release from 2008 to 2018, Cartoon Network’s ecosystem is highlighted for its evolving display of progressive representations of race and gender and presenting them to a child audience.