Wrapping It Up!

It's been a fun episode! Several design elements discussed in class were present throughout it.

I felt as if there were much more rhetorical devices used in Sesame Street than design elements. Much of the music in the entire episode was very light, cheery, and went along with what the characters on screen talked about. When Elmo counted clowns, there was the recognizable circus theme. During the march, there was snare drum tapping. Sound effects also aided, with dings and silly effects making up the most of it. There was some interaction with the kids, but the studio puts in the responses so that the kids don't have to worry about shouting their own answers at the screen.

Design elements were not completely absent, though. The letter C and number 7 were made simple, easy to read, and recognizable any time that they appeared on screen. Even though Sesame Street may not have been consistent in the same design at later parts of the episode, they still made the numbers work for what they were doing.

Overall, I can see why Sesame Street has been very popular for so long. It incorporates teaching, education, and morals all while having characters be silly, entertaining, and funny towards kids of a young age group. They switch from segment to segment very easily or by telling the kids what's coming up so that they can be excited for what they're about to see next. If some kids really enjoy Elmo's World or Abby's Flying Fairy School, then they'll stick around to watch whatever is showing currently and perhaps learn something from what they see. It's a good trick to keep kids' focus and help them learn. It's no wonder that they have been on the air as long as they have - they found the right formula.

That's all for my blog, I hope you have enjoyed it!

Signing out,
-Wes

Works Cited below

"Grouch Messing Machine." Sesame Street. Sesame Workshop: WSKG, Television. 5 Apr 2011.
"Sesame Street Characters." Sesame Street Games. Web. 5 Apr 2011. .

Entry 5 - The Family Song

Continuing with the family theme of Elmo's World, Elmo's TV shows up and plays The Family Song for us all on the "Family Channel". The tune that goes with the song is a very obviously upbeat and happy. The first few families that show up begin with one member, and the others are introduced as their part of the song is sung. Once another member shows up, they get within close proximity to the rest of their family. Everybody eventually appears on the screen, and the entire family does a dance or somehow interacts together with the rest of the family. It's emphasizing the togetherness and fun that a family has together, as well as teaching that all sorts of creatures (birds, cats, and even fleas) has a family.

Once they get to the only human family in the animation, they show them all together already dancing in their house. This change is probably due to the fact that human families have already been shown in Elmo's World a few times, and this is just furthering that idea. They appear with a cat and a mouse that are almost like a part of their family - showing that a family pet can be a large part of the family just like the human members are.

First picture is the solo entrance, second is them all together

Entry 4 - What can have a family?

Elmo's World is much farther into the episode, after an episode of fairy school. Elmo talks all about families, who is in them, and what they do. Elmo has one part of Elmo's World where he asks, "How many clowns can fit into the family car?" Nine animated clowns (and the family hippo) all fit in there. I found it interesting that they divert from the number seven this time, however, it has been far in the episode since they talked about seven, so that may be why.

Elmo then goes into the drawer to seen what else can have families. The first example, a birthday cake and cupcakes, is placed on a simple table top. When the kids in the studio respond that a cake can't have a family, then a family appears and Elmo says that a family can have a birthday cake instead. The family is grouped together, and the background is a nice purple contrast to the green table (with pictures of a family on both). Another similar example of soccer balls is given, and then Super Grover and his Super Mommy are shown. The families stay chunked together, both the objects' "families" and the real families.

Blow out the candles!

Entry 3 - Playing with Seven

Murray does another transition, this time into a segment all about the number seven. There can be several parallels draw from this segment to the first segment about the letter C. The number seven is shown with a quick camera pan to a white number (this time, in a purple circle). Again, it is repeated whenever the number seven is reached, and the symbol is shown on the screen with a "You are correct!" bell noise. Seven tap dancers count out themselves as they join in a dance, seven hula-hoopers are shown, Murray counts out seven pink hats, and seven children "appear" on the screen and count as they show up. As with the first two entries, this one also takes place outside in the world.

After this, a step team performs a routine about the number. It's energetic (like Murray), yet the number appears differently when shown on screen, interrupting the consistency. Two reasons I can see for this change would be because the board that the children dance on is painted with the same color as the seven that appears on the screen. The other reason is that the bright purple and white seven may look very awkward and confusing on the background of the outside, even though it has already appeared in the outside in the segment.

One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN!

Entry 2 - Cadets, formation!

Murray transitions from his game to an animation about the letter C. The animation stars a lead ant and several "cadets" following him, marching behind. The entire animation is done to the sound of marching and military snare drums. The lead ant does a military-style chant as they march, and almost makes myself want to get up and march along with him. The picnic area in which they march through is very bright and colorful, and keeps consistency in staying outdoors. The voices of all the smaller ants are more high pitched, like a child's would be. They sound very enthusiastic about their march, and stay with the rhythm of the song as the lead ant sings to them.

In the entire march, the lead ant asks the cadets "What letter?" in which they respond enthusiastically. Further reinforcing the letter C, the lead ant makes the sound of a C as the cadets shout "C!" behind him as well as pointing out the carrots that begin with the letter C. Nearing the end of the animation, the ants get into "formation" and make the letter C appear one more time, ensuring that the child watching knows what the letter looks like.

Just before the C appears in all black

Entry 1 - What's On Me?

Fourteen minutes into the episode, after Elmo finds a way to reuse a broken washing machine, a Muppet named Murray enters the camera. He's standing outdoors and talks very excitedly about what is up next. He builds up to the point where the camera quickly does a spinning motion towards the letter C. The simple white-on-blue background make the letter easy to identify, and the shape that it is encased in is shaped somewhat like the letter itself. Throughout the game that they play, "What's on me that begins with the letter C?", the letter reappears in the same style, color, and shape after a correct answer and reinforces what the game is about.

After the C is shown, the camera pans quickly back to Murray. He's now dressed with different objects on him as seen in the picture. Before asking various children what objects are on him, he asks them how the letter C sounds to let the kids watching know how it sounds. Murray continues with asking the children about what's on him. The answers are obvious enough for little children to get them (carrot, crown, coat), and Murray stays very animated throughout the entire game. He also keeps eye contact and tries to stay on eye level (since he's a larger Muppet) with the children, putting focus on them.

Murray and his cool, carrot coat

Introduction and Welcome

Hello! Welcome to my blog for English class.

As you can tell from its current title, I will be posting about Sesame Street. The goal of this blog is to analyze and discuss the different visual design and rhetorical devices that the episode of Sesame Street uses. The episode, Grouch Messing Machine, has features about the letter C and number 7, as well as Elmo's World that talks about family.

I realize it could potentially be a problem that the postings will appear in reverse order of posting (newest first). However, I'm sure it wouldn't be too much to ask for anybody to start at the bottom and working their way towards the newer posts. There may even be a setting to place the oldest posts at the top, I would just have to do some digging in the Blogspot settings.

I'll see you on Sesame Street!

The Muppet cast of Sesame Street
Picture located at this URL