CPYU 3-D Review
Television show:
"Clone High
Background and summary
This weekly half-hour MTV animated series debuted in January 2003. The story begins with a group of scientists secretly extracting DNA from the graves of some of the world's most celebrated personalities. The experiment continues as the now 16-year-old characters are observed as they walk the halls of Clone High and interact with each other through the struggles of adolescence. New episodes are shown every week and are re-aired at numerous times throughout the day during the remainder of the week.
Discover: What is the message/worldview?
· In the first two episodes, viewers are introduced to the show's main characters including Lincoln, Gandhi, JFK, Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. The remaining cast includes (among others) George Washington Carver, Genghis Khan, Elvis, Buddha, Moses and "Jesus Cristo."
· The satirical and humorous interactions between the characters chronicle adolescent realities including romance, peer pressure, sexuality, ethics and substance abuse.
· In some cases, characters exhibit obviously overstated teenage versions of the DNA donor's historically documented personality. In other cases, character traits are built on speculation.
· Lincoln and Joan of Arc tend to stand for honesty, although they are adolescents struggling to be consistent.
· JFK (raised by gay foster parents in the show) and Cleopatra are highly manipulative. JFK is driven by nothing more than his desire to have sex. Cleopatra is driven by her desire for power.
· Gandhi is a sexually frustrated and a hyperactive little wise-guy.
· "Clone High" utilizes a combination of sophisticated and crude humor, sight gags, and wordplays in a combination that can be truly engaging and funny at times.
Discern: How does it stand in light of the biblical message/worldview?
· Many of the adolescent struggles depicted are struggles of the contemporary teenage reality.
· "Clone High" is an extremely creative concept and creative show. The caricatures are very well done. In that respect it is marked by excellence.
· Judgment is rarely if ever passed on immoral behavior. Instead, it is usually used as a vehicle to entertain and humor.
· "Clone High" offers a confusing and tangled mix of those things that are good, true and right (for example, the "Extreme Blue" episode that satirizes the marketing industry's targeting of teens), with those things that are contrary to the will of God.
· While the Jesus character had not yet debuted at the time of this writing, one can only wonder if and how the character will be portrayed in a blasphemous manner.
Decide: What do we do with it?
· This is a show that should grow in popularity and audience size for a wide demographic (from children to adults). For that reason, it deserves our attention and response.
· We must challenge viewers to consider the role of humor and our response to it, especially the power of humor to take us from laughter to unconscious acceptance of immoral behavior over the course of time.
· Clips from the show could be used and adapted as topical discussion starters if used with discretion.
- Parents should steer young viewers away from "Clone High" for obvious reasons. Older viewers should use discretion and would be advised to select more appropriate viewing fare for entertainment purposes.
The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding.
For more information on resources to help you understand today's rapidly changing youth culture, contact the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding.
©2003, The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding