Teletubbies, the BEGINNING
The Teletubbies is a television show produced by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport. The Teletubbies is aimed for children ages 1 to 4. In the pursuit of creating this television show Woods and Davenport visited nursery schools and interviewed many experts in the field with the sole purpose of creating a television show that helped develop toddlers and make them ready for school. The show was put on air in the UK by BBC, it was on the air long enough to create 365 episodes. On the show there are four main characters, Poe, Tinky-Winky, LaLa, and Dipsey.
Teletubbies on pbs Kids
PBS is a program on the Public Broadcasting Station started in the U.S. in 1993, PBS Kids is targeted at kids from age 2 to 8. The Teletubbies first aired on PBS Kids in 1998 and continued airing until 2005. In 1997 Andy Medhurst a academic and culture critic first brought up the now well known controversy of Tinky-Winky. Tinky-Winky is the purple Teletubby with a triangle on his head. Tinky-Winky carries a pink purse which is a large part of the controversy. A lot of people say that this is considered a feminine attribute, and if they are going to give the teletubbies genders that they should make Tinky-Winky a male. The conspiracies of the Teletubbies never really slowed down or faded out. They actually got worse and worse.
Teletubby Theme Hypnotic.
At the beginning of every episode of the Teletubbies they start with the theme song. The theme song starts with the sun rising over Teletubby land, but this isn't just any ordinary sun, this sun has a babies face in the middle of it. As the sun is rising the babies face begins to laugh and smile, then it bursts and you see the Teletubbies running over the rolling hills of Teletubby land. While the Teletubbies are dancing through the land you see and hear microphones coming out of the ground shouting "Time for Teletubby!" They repeat this about a dozen times before moving on to the next seen. It then goes through and introduces the remaining characters that are in the show.
This theme song also grew to become a controversy for critics and parents through the U.S.. People found it unnecessary for the microphones to repeat "Time for Teletubby!" so many times. People felt like this was an attempt to hypnotize children into watching their show. This turned a lot of parents off of the show and formed such strong feelings that some parents went as far as publicly boycotting the show. Although the Teletubby Theme song sprouted a lot of controversy it also brought a lot of approval from folks. Some people that viewed it thought that it was completely appropriate for kids age 1-4.
This theme song also grew to become a controversy for critics and parents through the U.S.. People found it unnecessary for the microphones to repeat "Time for Teletubby!" so many times. People felt like this was an attempt to hypnotize children into watching their show. This turned a lot of parents off of the show and formed such strong feelings that some parents went as far as publicly boycotting the show. Although the Teletubby Theme song sprouted a lot of controversy it also brought a lot of approval from folks. Some people that viewed it thought that it was completely appropriate for kids age 1-4.
ARe they gay?
The roaring debate over the Teletubbies being homosexual never really went out. Tinky-Winky continued to be in the spot light, and not a good spot light. A lot of conservative parents weren't okay with the thought that the Teletubbies might be promoting a homosexual life style. Some arguments were trying to figure out why they would give genders to the Teletubbies to begin with. They obviously don't physically have gender specific traits so why brew controversy by assigning genders to them.
Tinky-Winky
Why think that Tinky-Winky is Gay?
- The purse. Most people in our culture consider carrying a purse to be a female trait. So when a male is seen using one it is assumed he must be homosexual or have gender issues.
- He's purple. Purple is a color that is often associated with the gay pride community
- Triangle on his head. A triangle is also the symbol of the gay pride community
- The tutu. Very often in episodes of The Teletubbies you will see Tinky-Winky dancing around wearing a tutu. Not commonly used by males. Again a very dominant female trait.
You're Fired!
Starting in March 1997 The Teletubbies show was full steam ahead making episodes, but in 2002 production was cancelled. This wasn't before they had made 365 episodes already though. This was helpful for them to continue airing the show even though no new episodes would be made. The show continued to be aired on PBS Kids until June of 2005.