View Full Version : The Smurfs and Socialism
Today in my philosophy class the teacher was talking about different ways of seeing society. The first teory was Individualism, which says that the person is much more important than society. The second one is Colectivism, which says that each person isn't important, and what really matters is society. So they are both kind of extremist.
And what on earth does this stuff has to do with The Smurfs?
Well, there's a teory between this two: Socialism. It says that BOTH individual and society are important. To examplify this teory he used... The Smurfs.
According to him, each Smurf has a particular quality or characteristic that makes him different from the other Smurfs. But if that Smurf leaves the village, then he begins to lose those qualities that made him a Smurf. So it's kind of representing that every single Smurf is important and unique, but if he leaves his society, then he begins to lose himself. He said that this, in fact, was the intention of the autor of The Smurfs... pretty simbolic.
Interesting, uh? I never thought that The Smurfs could have any philosophic 'secret' hidden while I watched them every saturday morning at the age of 5. So, what d'you guys think about it? :sylvester
candy17
05-02-2005, 06:40 PM
Today in my philosophy class the teacher was talking about different ways of seeing society. The first teory was Individualism, which says that the person is much more important than society. The second one is Colectivism, which says that each person isn't important, and what really matters is society. So they are both kind of extremist.
And what on earth does this stuff has to do with The Smurfs?
Well, there's a teory between this two: Socialism. It says that BOTH individual and society are important. To examplify this teory he used... The Smurfs.
According to him, each Smurf has a particular quality or characteristic that makes him different from the other Smurfs. But if that Smurf leaves the village, then he begins to lose those qualities that made him a Smurf. So it's kind of representing that every single Smurf is important and unique, but if he leaves his society, then he begins to lose himself. He said that this, in fact, was the intention of the autor of The Smurfs... pretty simbolic.
Interesting, uh? I never thought that The Smurfs could have any philosophic 'secret' hidden while I watched them every saturday morning at the age of 5. So, what d'you guys think about it? :sylvester
Tch. I've been scouting out hidden philosophies and "adult" references in kiddie cartoons since I was fourteen. But this happens to be my favorite.
Why?
Well, because there are so many questions to ask and theories to make about the show as you get older because, in my case, I've been reading books and paying attention in class and somehow what I know can get in the way of watching a show (because usually I can spot a reference to a movie or book) or I can nitpick a part, explaining why it couldn't happen in real life or a plot hole in the story.
All I'm saying is: Watching the cartoons you grew up with with the mindset of an adult can just...well, make you think differently.
It's amazing how much theories have been made about smurfs (some with good reason, others pretty researched).
I'm really curious about the part of this being the author's (Peyo) original intention. There was never an episode where a smurf left the village and then lose his special quality (was there?). Pretty interesting theory, nonetheless.
It's amazing how much theories have been made about smurfs (some with good reason, others pretty researched).
I'm really curious about the part of this being the author's (Peyo) original intention. There was never an episode where a smurf left the village and then lose his special quality (was there?). Pretty interesting theory, nonetheless.
Well... By saying "his special quality" I meant his "humanness..." (If a guy leaves society he eventually will lose his humanness, that's what my teacher meant). Smurfs apparently lose their little tails if they left the village. That's why Pitufina (how was her name in english?) didn't have a tail, because she wasn't by born a smurf :) And Gargamel (Again, how was his name in english?) "made" smurfs, but they weren't REAL smurfs because they didn't have a tail.
And my teacher said something about Smurf-Dad's RED hat... you know, he was the head of the village... And he had the color of socialism over his head XD.
Is Peyo Belgian?
rodineisilveira
05-02-2005, 09:08 PM
Well... By saying "his special quality" I meant his "humanness..." (If a guy leaves society he eventually will lose his humanness, that's what my teacher meant). Smurfs apparently lose their little tails if they left the village. That's why Pitufina (how was her name in english?) didn't have a tail, because she wasn't by born a smurf :) And Gargamel (Again, how was his name in english?) "made" smurfs, but they weren't REAL smurfs because they didn't have a tail.
And my teacher said something about Smurf-Dad's RED hat... you know, he was the head of the village... And he had the color of socialism over his head XD.
Is Peyo Belgian?São Paulo - SP, Brazil, May 2, 2005 (Yesterday was the Labor's Day in the whole world [minus USA]!).
Hola para ti, amiga Umi de México!
I was reading your commentaries about the Smurfs (known in Spanish as Los Pitufos), and I'd like of elucidate your doubts with the names of some characters from this series.
Pitufina is known in English as Smurfette. The evil sorcerer Gargamel (the main villain from The Smurfs) mantains the same name in English. And the creator of this series (originally created as a comic book), Pierre Culliford (known as Peyo, who left us in 1993) is Belgian.
Perhaps this goes help to refresh your mind.
Well, that's it!
Ciao!
Cheers from this faithful friend who writes 4 U,
Rodinei Campos da Silveira (from São Paulo, Brazil)
Meet me on my e-mails: mailto:rodinei@starmedia.com (rodinei@starmedia.com), mailto:rodineic@excite.com (rodineic@excite.com), mailto:rodineisilveira@bol.com.br (rodineisilveira@bol.com.br) or mailto:rcsbrasil@mort.zzn.com (rcsbrasil@mort.zzn.com). You're always wellcome!
HANNA-BARBERA - FLINTSTONES - 45 YEARS
http://www.toonarific.com/pics_root/00003338/smurfslogo.jpg
Attention, HB-fans! The Hanna-Barbera building is saved from the demolition (http://www.hannabarbera.org (http://www.hannabarbera.org/))! Let's continue to preserve this wonderful building!
LONG LFIE FOR WILLIAM HANNA & JOSEPH BARBERA!
:cool:
Frank
05-02-2005, 09:47 PM
It's amazing how much theories have been made about smurfs (some with good reason, others pretty researched).
I'm really curious about the part of this being the author's (Peyo) original intention. There was never an episode where a smurf left the village and then lose his special quality (was there?). Pretty interesting theory, nonetheless.It could be due to political correctness. Anti-social attitudes were not allowed in the Smurfs, or pretty much any Saturday Morning cartoon. The Smurfs were not originally for kids before their debut as an animated cartoon in 1981.
Zechs
05-02-2005, 10:16 PM
The Smurfs were not originally for kids before their debut as an animated cartoon in 1981. What say you? That's intresting so who was it original ment for?
Mr. Pedro
05-02-2005, 11:46 PM
Thanks to this, now I can't help but ponder the real reason that our old family doctor kept all of those Smurf fugurines in plain view in his office. :D
But yea, this kinda thing has piqued my curiosity a bit, although I've never really taken it all that seriously.
Frank
05-03-2005, 01:14 AM
What say you? That's intresting so who was it original ment for?Well, I read in a Toonopedia article on the Smurfs that the original Smurf albums were more aimed at adults.
Well, I read in a Toonopedia article on the Smurfs that the original Smurf albums were more aimed at adults.Not adults, they were aimed at the average person, like Looney Tunes were.
Frank
05-04-2005, 03:18 AM
Not adults, they were aimed at the average person, like Looney Tunes were.Well, the animated series was more toned down than the album. Toning the show down was not needed.
São Paulo - SP, Brazil, May 2, 2005 (Yesterday was the Labor's Day in the whole world [minus USA]!).
Hola para ti, amiga Umi de México!
I was reading your commentaries about the Smurfs (known in Spanish as Los Pitufos), and I'd like of elucidate your doubts with the names of some characters from this series.
Pitufina is known in English as Smurfette. The evil sorcerer Gargamel (the main villain from The Smurfs) mantains the same name in English. And the creator of this series (originally created as a comic book), Pierre Culliford (known as Peyo, who left us in 1993) is Belgian.
Perhaps this goes help to refresh your mind.
Well, that's it!
Ciao!
Cheers from this faithful friend who writes 4 U,
Rodinei Campos da Silveira (from São Paulo, Brazil)
Meet me on my e-mails: mailto:rodinei@starmedia.com (rodinei@starmedia.com), mailto:rodineic@excite.com (rodineic@excite.com), mailto:rodineisilveira@bol.com.br (rodineisilveira@bol.com.br) or mailto:rcsbrasil@mort.zzn.com (rcsbrasil@mort.zzn.com). You're always wellcome!
HANNA-BARBERA - FLINTSTONES - 45 YEARS
http://www.toonarific.com/pics_root/00003338/smurfslogo.jpg
Attention, HB-fans! The Hanna-Barbera building is saved from the demolition (http://www.hannabarbera.org (http://www.hannabarbera.org/))! Let's continue to preserve this wonderful building!
LONG LFIE FOR WILLIAM HANNA & JOSEPH BARBERA!
:cool:
Thanks a lot ^_^. You do like the Smurfs, don't you? *points at the image in your signature* :anime:
Steve Carras
05-05-2005, 02:21 AM
It could be due to political correctness. Anti-social attitudes were not allowed in the Smurfs, or pretty much any Saturday Morning cartoon. The Smurfs were not originally for kids before their debut as an animated cartoon in 1981.
Kind of odd, considering June Foray (ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE, Warner Bros.and the early 1960s Hanna-Barbera, and DFE shows like SUPER 6 discussed elsewhere heron) was involved (ditto for her and GUMMI BORES - I mean GUMMI BEARS - with the addition of--:o BULLWINKLE J.>MOOSE himself,. Bill Scott!:) with the voices (Lucille Bliss, another Ward great..not to mention Hanna Barberians who'd seen better days IMO.;) ).
Thanks to this, now I can't help but ponder the real reason that our old family doctor kept all of those Smurf fugurines in plain view in his office. :D
But yea, this kinda thing has piqued my curiosity a bit, although I've never really taken it all that seriously.And probably that's why there was this rumor that the Smurfs were diabolic xD, YEAH! o_O a friend said that devils where blue and Gargamel was a Christ... And so The Smurfs where pure hell *LOL*. Well, it's a way to see the show, I guess...
Evil, evil Smurfs :evil:
brakattack
05-13-2005, 10:57 AM
Thats so cool that you got to learn about that in college - i wish i had classes like that! i think there is a lot of deeper meaning to cartoons. most of the time there are very smart people working on them and they have other meanings, smurfs is a great example.
Natey
05-15-2005, 06:25 PM
And probably that's why there was this rumor that the Smurfs were diabolic xD, YEAH! o_O a friend said that devils where blue and Gargamel was a Christ... And so The Smurfs where pure hell *LOL*. Well, it's a way to see the show, I guess...
Evil, evil Smurfs :evil:
yes, the smurf are terribly evil!:marvin: :harley:
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.10 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.