While studying the Brony subculture I have found the main artifact the subculture revolves around is the TV Series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Part of studying the subculture is analyzing the artifact’s rhetorical situation, how it applies rhetorical appeals and the artifact’s visual elements. By doing so I hope to learn how the subculture relates to the artifact, how the artifacts original purpose relates to the subcultures purpose of the artifact, and how the artifact effects the subculture.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was created to teach young girls that being positive, intelligent, friendly, loving, kind, accepting, onest and determined is more important than being beautiful or rich. It teaches complicated lessons and morals in an interesting, yet simple way that they can understand While being popular with its intended audience, the show unintentionally gathered a predominantly male fan base. Because of the unexpected viewers the show’s creators intertwined My Little Pony’s (MLP) core values and themes to appeal to the new audience, yet still be interesting to the target demographic.
MLP is a complex series with extensively detailed plot structure, story line and character development. It has xpanded to more than one targeted audience and utilizes many methods to convey its message. Consequently, the show doesn’t conform to just one genre. It has attributes from several genre classes including Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy and Musical. Lauren Faust is a producer, animation developer, and show creator. Hasbro owns the rights to MLP and hired her to reinvent the MLP franchise to reach a more modern audience.
Faust had formerly worked for Cartoon Network on the design and animation team for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and The Powerpuff Girls. She felt the majority of shows eveloped for young girls were shallow and portrayed them as weak, dainty, and in need of saving. Faust wanted to design a show that would contradict misogynistic and sexist views society projects onto them. She wanted to create a show that would empower young girls and to teach them values and morals that our culture would not. The MLP show was created into computer animated cartoons.
Lauren Faust followed prescribed methodologies by choosing a set morals and values and uniquely integrating them into the show and subsequently into the subculture. She deviated from the norm byt creating a show hat would defy gender roles and expectations both intentionally by targeting the young female demographic and also unintentionally by the Brony subculture accepting it and it becoming a focal point within it. The show was intended to be an example that girls do not have to fit the cookie-cutter mold in which society places them. There is no right or wrong way to be yourself and our differences complement each other.
Each pony embodies different traits, characteristics and mannerisms to show distinctiveness and being proud of who you are, is an integral part of growing up. Despite the fact that the show was esigned to teach young girls to be strong, brave and independent, many adults, mainly men, fell in love with the message and animation. MLP was designed to reach a particular age group of younger girls aged toddler to preteen. With the unexpected fan following including the adult men and women, the show transformed to reach every fan of every age and gender.
After becoming a modern novelty and focal point in the Brony subculture, MLP’s producers challenged the original nature of the show’s existing pony characters. They took the ponies and gave them more unique characteristics and invented ore pony characters adding to the varying personalities. They referenced pop culture and world events and created more in depth situations in the plot scenarios. The tone of MLP is very happy and positive. It emulates love and friendship and focuses on always finding the silver linings.
Joy and silliness are a common theme throughout the show assisting the tone and environment of the show. The show’s environment revolves around being family friendly and teaching life lessons in a fun and colorful way. MLP uses many methods and strategies to convey its core message to the viewers. Music and songs are sed to engage the audience and help them internalize the lessons. Humor is used to create a funny atmosphere and to lighten the tone when the plot line is darker. The idea of friendship is integrated to help its viewers learn how to overcome trials with others and how to relate better to those around.
Quips and play on words are in the script to help the audience become part of the fantasy world. They use color, fun design, and cute characters to appeal to the audience. MLP is an animated television series, thus revolving around visual design. It is a fun cute cartoon that utilizes colors, eccentric color chemes, adorable ponies, and relatable stories to reach the audience with the intended message. Features of the artifact that stand out to me are the bright colors and the use of fun sounds and sound effects that help describe what is going on in each scene.
The pony characters are so bright and colorful, I do not notice anything except the pony in the scene, causing the scenery and background setting seem to fade away. The use of color is one of the most prominent aspects of the show. Bright and eccentric colors that are used throughout the show is a trademark to the show. MLP’s creators use high definition nimation, bright colors, happy color schemes, and cute drawing designs to achieve its purpose and present the media to its viewers. The creators use these devices to appeal to the show’s audience and be more fun and engaging to the viewers.
MLP production team incorporates all the elements of ethos, pathos and logos, linked together to invent its story and deliver its message. MLP gathers its credibility by creating characters that the viewers can relate to. Whether they see themselves or other people around them in the ponies; in some way the audience associates the characters with what is around them. It creates a rust between the viewer and the pony, as if they really know one another. After these relationships are formed between ponies and viewers, the relationships form emotional bonds.
The show utilizes this connection to make the audience feel what the characters feel, thus the viewers become emotionally invested in the show. Using logical and relatable story lines that aim to teach and influence, connects facts and logical information to state their point. The plots all have a main point or lesson and each character has to develop throughout the episode to learn said lesson alongside the viewer. They use facts nd morals to teach a specific idea that makes sense and is understood by every audience.
After analyzing My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, the main artifact to the Brony subculture, I found that it is a very complex yet understandable form of media that connects very easily with the intended audience and the audience within the subculture. I analyzed the rhetorical situation and the use of rhetorical appeals and how they applied to the artifact within the subculture. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic continues to be the revolving axis within the subculture and the guide to rules and morals followed.
"Kama mtafiti wa subculture ya Brony, nimepata kwamba kitu kikuu ambacho subculture inazunguka ni mfululizo wa TV ""My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.""" Sehemu ya kusoma subculture ni kuchambua hali ya rhetorical ya artifact, jinsi inatumika rufaa za rhetorical na mambo ya kuona ya artifact. Kwa kufanya hivyo, natumaini kujifunza jinsi subculture inahusiana na artifact, jinsi artifact lengo la awali inahusiana na subculture lengo la artifact, na jinsi artifact athari subculture. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ni kitabu cha wasichana wanaotaka kuwa na maisha mazuri, wenye akili, wenye urafiki, wenye upendo, wenye fadhili, wenye kukubali, wenye uaminifu na wenye kuazimia, na ni muhimu zaidi kuliko kuwa wazuri au matajiri. Inafundisha masomo magumu na maadili kwa njia ya kuvutia, lakini rahisi ambayo wanaweza kuelewa, wakati kuwa maarufu na watazamaji wake, onyesho hilo bila kukusanya msingi wa mashabiki wa kiume. Kwa sababu ya watazamaji wasiotazamiwa, waundaji wa kipindi hicho waliunganisha maadili na mandhari ya msingi ya My Little Pony (MLP) ili kuvutia watazamaji wapya, lakini bado kuwa na kuvutia kwa idadi ya watu wanaolenga. MLP ni mfululizo tata na muundo wa njama ya kina, mstari wa hadithi na maendeleo ya tabia. Imepanuka kwa wasikilizaji zaidi ya mmoja na hutumia njia nyingi kupeleka ujumbe wake. Kwa hiyo, show haina kufuata aina moja tu. Ina sifa kutoka madarasa kadhaa ya aina ikiwa ni pamoja na Animation, Familia, Comedy, Fantasy na Muziki. Lauren Faust ni mtayarishaji, msanidi programu wa uhuishaji, na muundaji wa onyesho. Hasbro, ambayo inamiliki haki za MLP, iliiajiri ili kuunda upya franchise ya MLP ili kufikia watazamaji wa kisasa zaidi. Faust hapo awali alikuwa amefanya kazi kwa Cartoon Network kwenye timu ya kubuni na uhuishaji kwa Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends na The Powerpuff Girls. Alihisi kwamba maonyesho mengi yaliyoandaliwa kwa ajili ya wasichana wadogo hayakuwa na kina kirefu na yaliwaonyesha kuwa dhaifu, wenye kupendeza, na wanaohitaji kuokolewa. Faust alitaka kubuni onyesho ambalo lingepingana na maoni ya chuki ya wanawake na ubaguzi wa kijinsia ambayo jamii inawaonyesha. Alitaka kuunda kipindi ambacho kingewapa nguvu wasichana wachanga na kuwafundisha maadili na maadili ambayo utamaduni wetu haungewatolea. MLP show iliundwa katika katuni za uhuishaji wa kompyuta. Lauren Faust alifuata mbinu zilizopendekezwa kwa kuchagua maadili na maadili na kuunganisha kwa kipekee katika onyesho na baadaye katika utamaduni. "Aliondoka kutoka kwa kawaida kwa kuunda kofia ya maonyesho ambayo ingepinga majukumu ya kijinsia na matarajio, kwa makusudi kwa kulenga idadi ya watu wa kike wachanga na pia bila kukusudia kwa subculture ya Brony kuikubali na kuwa ""nchango"" ndani yake." Maonyesho hayo yalikusudiwa kuwa mfano kwamba wasichana hawana kufaa mold cookie-cutter ambayo jamii huweka yao. Hakuna njia sahihi au mbaya ya kuwa wewe mwenyewe na tofauti zetu zinakamilishana. Kila farasi ana sifa tofauti, tabia na tabia za kuonyesha tofauti na kujivunia wewe ni nani ni sehemu muhimu ya kukua. Ingawa kipindi hicho kilikuwa na lengo la kuwafundisha wasichana kuwa na nguvu, ujasiri na kujitegemea, watu wazima wengi, hasa wanaume, walipendezwa na ujumbe na uhuishaji. MLP ilitengenezwa kufikia kikundi maalum cha umri wa wasichana wadogo wenye umri wa mtoto mdogo hadi preteen. Pamoja na mashabiki wasiotazamiwa, ikiwa ni pamoja na wanaume na wanawake wazima, onyesho lilibadilika kufikia kila shabiki wa kila umri na jinsia. Baada ya kuwa novelty ya kisasa na kitovu katika Brony subculture, MLP's wazalishaji changamoto asili ya show ya zilizopo pony wahusika. Walichukua farasi na kuwapa sifa za kipekee zaidi na kuunda wahusika wa farasi wa madini ya madini wakiongeza kwa utu tofauti. Walirejelea utamaduni wa pop na matukio ya ulimwengu na kuunda hali zaidi ya kina katika matukio ya njama. Sauti ya MLP ni ya furaha sana na chanya. Inaiga upendo na urafiki na hukazia fikira sikuzote kupata mambo mazuri. Furaha na upumbavu ni mandhari ya kawaida katika kipindi chote kusaidia sauti na mazingira ya show. Mazingira ya onyesho yanazunguka kuwa rafiki wa familia na kufundisha masomo ya maisha kwa njia ya kufurahisha na ya rangi. MLP hutumia mbinu na mikakati mingi kuwasilisha ujumbe wake wa msingi kwa watazamaji. Muziki na nyimbo huelekezwa ili kuvutia wasikilizaji na kuwasaidia waelewe mambo wanayojifunza. Ucheshi hutumiwa kuunda hali ya kuchekesha na kupunguza sauti wakati mstari wa njama ni mweusi zaidi. Wazo la urafiki limeunganishwa ili kuwasaidia watazamaji wake kujifunza jinsi ya kushinda majaribio na wengine na jinsi ya kuwasiliana vizuri na wale walio karibu. Maneno ya kuchekesha na ya kuchekesha yanapatikana katika maandishi ili kuwasaidia wasikilizaji wawe sehemu ya ulimwengu wa kuwazia. Wao hutumia rangi, muundo wenye kuvutia, na wahusika wazuri ili kuwavutia watazamaji. MLP ni mfululizo wa televisheni animated, hivyo kuzunguka kubuni kuona. Ni katuni ya kupendeza ambayo hutumia rangi, rangi za ajabu, farasi wazuri, na hadithi zinazohusiana ili kufikia watazamaji na ujumbe unaolengwa. "Mambo ya kipekee ya kiumbe hicho ambayo yananivutia ni rangi nyangavu na matumizi ya sauti za kufurahisha na athari za sauti ambazo husaidia kuelezea kile kinachoendelea katika kila eneo. """ Pony ni tabia ya kuvutia na ya rangi, na hakuna kitu chochote cha kuvutia isipokuwa pony katika eneo hilo, na hivyo kuondoa mandhari na mazingira ya nyuma. Matumizi ya rangi ni mojawapo ya mambo makuu ya maonyesho hayo. Rangi nyangavu na za ajabu ambazo hutumiwa katika maonyesho yote ni alama ya biashara ya maonyesho. Watengenezaji wa MLP hutumia nimation ya ufafanuzi wa juu, rangi nyangavu, mipango ya rangi ya furaha, na miundo ya kuchora ya kupendeza kufikia kusudi lake na kuwasilisha media kwa watazamaji wake. Watengenezaji hutumia vifaa hivi kuvutia watazamaji wa onyesho na kuwa na furaha zaidi na kuvutia kwa watazamaji. Timu ya uzalishaji wa MLP inajumuisha vipengele vyote vya ethos, pathos na nembo, zilizounganishwa pamoja ili kuunda hadithi yake na kutoa ujumbe wake. MLP hukusanya uaminifu wake kwa kuunda wahusika ambao watazamaji wanaweza kuhusiana nao. Ikiwa wanajiona wenyewe au watu wengine karibu nao katika farasi; kwa njia fulani watazamaji huhusisha wahusika na kile kilicho karibu nao. Inafanya mtu na farasi wawe na uhusiano wa karibu, kana kwamba wanajuana kabisa. Baada ya mahusiano haya kuundwa kati ya farasi na watazamaji, mahusiano huunda vifungo vya kihisia. Maonyesho hutumia uhusiano huu ili kufanya watazamaji wahisi kile wahusika wanahisi, kwa hivyo watazamaji wanahusika kihisia katika onyesho. Kutumia mistari ya hadithi ya mantiki na inayoweza kuhusiana ambayo inakusudia kufundisha na kushawishi, inaunganisha ukweli na habari ya mantiki ili kuelezea uhakika wao. Sehemu zote zina uhakika kuu au somo na kila tabia lazima ikue katika kipindi chote kujifunza somo hilo pamoja na mtazamaji. Wao hutumia mambo ya hakika na maadili kufundisha wazo hususa ambalo lina maana na linaeleweka na kila wasikilizaji. Baada ya kuchambua My Little Pony: Urafiki ni Uchawi, kiumbe kuu kwa subculture ya Brony, niligundua kuwa ni aina ngumu sana lakini inayoeleweka ya vyombo vya habari ambayo inaunganisha kwa urahisi sana na watazamaji waliokusudiwa na watazamaji ndani ya subculture. "Kama vile, kwa mfano, ""mfano wa retori"" ni ""mfano wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni wa utamaduni.""" My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic inaendelea kuwa mhimili wa kuzunguka ndani ya utamaduni na mwongozo wa sheria na maadili iliyofuatwa.