An Essay on Bronies, and why MLP:FiM appeals to various ages
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:33 am
Why ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’ is a great T.V. Show
The desire for identity and the discovery of a person or thing that you can closely relate to is an integral part of our sociological quest. Stemming from our childhood, the crave to bond with like-minded individuals affects the friendships we make, the media we indulge in, and even the clothes we wear and the food we eat. Although they differ in many ways, children around the world have one important thing in common; the dream of all the possible occupations or lifestyles that they will pursue as they get older. Oftentimes the proposed future-jobs stem from personal interests, such as animals or machines, and on occasion it comes from role-models in their life such as their parents, or media personalities. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic accurately conveys the idea that friendship and our social connections to each other are a powerful resource, especially in the modern world.
Oftentimes the mere mention of the show will be met with immediate disregard and occasionally disgust, especially if referred to by an older individual. Generally, the main argument they supply for their disdain of the show is that it is ‘childish’ or ‘empty and lacking depth’. Clearly they have not watched an episode of the show, because if they did they would see that the overarching plotline and all the sub-plots, along with the character development, create an incredibly immersive universe with relatable main characters, real-life conflicts and life lessons. Obviously the common theme across the seasons is that ‘Friendship is Magic’, and while at first glance it seems like a gimmicky thing for 2 year olds, it really is an incredible concept. When we are young, we make friends with people that have similar interests. These social connections help us get associated with like-minded individuals and can increase our chances at business opportunities and partnerships. The show truly does describe the sheer magical effect of friendship and sociological connections, and how powerful friendship is in the contemporary world.
Still, people will argue, “The characters are just a bunch of lame animated ponies with no real dimension. “ This of course is completely and utterly inaccurate. Each pony has a specific characteristic strength and talent that makes them unique and varied from each other. The ‘mane six’ as the main characters are referred to are the personifications of each aspect in a friendship: Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic. Every pony has a special talent to go along with their element, and this talent combined with their personalities is what makes them easily relatable to any viewer of any age. Twilight-sparkle, representing the element of Magic, is quirky, geeky, and awkward, and is an easily relatable protagonist for the storyline. Fluttershy, as her name suggests, is extremely introverted allowing her to give a sense of mortality and vulnerability to the cast. The antithesis of Fluttershy would be Rainbowdash or Pinkie-pie, who are both hyperactive and bold in their activities, appealing to viewer’s that are more lively and outgoing. By giving the main characters such extreme personalities, and giving them critical roles to play, it can be encouraging to people when they see just how useful someone with their characteristics can be in a group. We can see that even though this may be a show targeted at kids, it can appeal to anyone of any age by creating a relatable companion that transforms an individuals persona into a tangible animated being.
Another argument that people will have is, “The show doesn’t teach kids anything, it’s just a bunch of rainbows and unicorns and fairytales.” While this may be true to some extent, it doesn’t fully disclose the shows content. Throughout the show, each of the ‘mane six’ learns unique and valuable life lessons about friendship. This is further reinforced in the letters they write to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. Each aspect of friendship can only get so far on its own, but when they work together, they become a powerful force. Even the element that might seem the weakest (Fluttershy, the element of Kindness) or redundant (Pinkie-Pie, the element of Laughter) is still a key component to the friendship, and the overall storyline, and the system is crippled without their participation. Everyone is important, and each episode reinforces the overarching plot that friendship indeed is magical, and extremely valuable in the contemporary culture of today.
In modern society, the most powerful resource we could have is social connections, and proliferation through media such as television and the Internet, and it is beautifully portrayed in the T.V. show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The show may be directed to a younger age demographic, but the morals portrayed are life-lessons for anyone of any age group. We may feel like our personalities are a hindrance to others, or that we are too weird to be of any use in the world. The fact is that we are all an integral part of society with an important part to play. Friendship is the glue of society, and the basic building blocks for any relationship. Businesses can start from friendship, and we can meet our significant other through the magic of friendship. All we need to do is remember the basic ingredients for a good friendship, which are Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic. We will meet many people that we will grow close with, but when we can connect with a person or thing in our imagination, it can help us bring fulfillment and help us to be confident with our unique personalities.
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I hope this essay sheds some light on the mentality behind Bronies. I tried to keep it under 1000 words.
I Do Not Condone Bronies Shoving Their Fandom Down The Throats Of Other People, But I Also Do Not Condone The Hate and Bashing Of Bronies By Others.
I can apply that statement to Anything, religion, politics, or your favorite restaurant.
The desire for identity and the discovery of a person or thing that you can closely relate to is an integral part of our sociological quest. Stemming from our childhood, the crave to bond with like-minded individuals affects the friendships we make, the media we indulge in, and even the clothes we wear and the food we eat. Although they differ in many ways, children around the world have one important thing in common; the dream of all the possible occupations or lifestyles that they will pursue as they get older. Oftentimes the proposed future-jobs stem from personal interests, such as animals or machines, and on occasion it comes from role-models in their life such as their parents, or media personalities. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic accurately conveys the idea that friendship and our social connections to each other are a powerful resource, especially in the modern world.
Oftentimes the mere mention of the show will be met with immediate disregard and occasionally disgust, especially if referred to by an older individual. Generally, the main argument they supply for their disdain of the show is that it is ‘childish’ or ‘empty and lacking depth’. Clearly they have not watched an episode of the show, because if they did they would see that the overarching plotline and all the sub-plots, along with the character development, create an incredibly immersive universe with relatable main characters, real-life conflicts and life lessons. Obviously the common theme across the seasons is that ‘Friendship is Magic’, and while at first glance it seems like a gimmicky thing for 2 year olds, it really is an incredible concept. When we are young, we make friends with people that have similar interests. These social connections help us get associated with like-minded individuals and can increase our chances at business opportunities and partnerships. The show truly does describe the sheer magical effect of friendship and sociological connections, and how powerful friendship is in the contemporary world.
Still, people will argue, “The characters are just a bunch of lame animated ponies with no real dimension. “ This of course is completely and utterly inaccurate. Each pony has a specific characteristic strength and talent that makes them unique and varied from each other. The ‘mane six’ as the main characters are referred to are the personifications of each aspect in a friendship: Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic. Every pony has a special talent to go along with their element, and this talent combined with their personalities is what makes them easily relatable to any viewer of any age. Twilight-sparkle, representing the element of Magic, is quirky, geeky, and awkward, and is an easily relatable protagonist for the storyline. Fluttershy, as her name suggests, is extremely introverted allowing her to give a sense of mortality and vulnerability to the cast. The antithesis of Fluttershy would be Rainbowdash or Pinkie-pie, who are both hyperactive and bold in their activities, appealing to viewer’s that are more lively and outgoing. By giving the main characters such extreme personalities, and giving them critical roles to play, it can be encouraging to people when they see just how useful someone with their characteristics can be in a group. We can see that even though this may be a show targeted at kids, it can appeal to anyone of any age by creating a relatable companion that transforms an individuals persona into a tangible animated being.
Another argument that people will have is, “The show doesn’t teach kids anything, it’s just a bunch of rainbows and unicorns and fairytales.” While this may be true to some extent, it doesn’t fully disclose the shows content. Throughout the show, each of the ‘mane six’ learns unique and valuable life lessons about friendship. This is further reinforced in the letters they write to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. Each aspect of friendship can only get so far on its own, but when they work together, they become a powerful force. Even the element that might seem the weakest (Fluttershy, the element of Kindness) or redundant (Pinkie-Pie, the element of Laughter) is still a key component to the friendship, and the overall storyline, and the system is crippled without their participation. Everyone is important, and each episode reinforces the overarching plot that friendship indeed is magical, and extremely valuable in the contemporary culture of today.
In modern society, the most powerful resource we could have is social connections, and proliferation through media such as television and the Internet, and it is beautifully portrayed in the T.V. show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The show may be directed to a younger age demographic, but the morals portrayed are life-lessons for anyone of any age group. We may feel like our personalities are a hindrance to others, or that we are too weird to be of any use in the world. The fact is that we are all an integral part of society with an important part to play. Friendship is the glue of society, and the basic building blocks for any relationship. Businesses can start from friendship, and we can meet our significant other through the magic of friendship. All we need to do is remember the basic ingredients for a good friendship, which are Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic. We will meet many people that we will grow close with, but when we can connect with a person or thing in our imagination, it can help us bring fulfillment and help us to be confident with our unique personalities.
__________________________________________________________________
I hope this essay sheds some light on the mentality behind Bronies. I tried to keep it under 1000 words.
I Do Not Condone Bronies Shoving Their Fandom Down The Throats Of Other People, But I Also Do Not Condone The Hate and Bashing Of Bronies By Others.
I can apply that statement to Anything, religion, politics, or your favorite restaurant.