Those damned kids!

If you want to see me go from 0-100 real fast, go ahead and tell me that my generation is useless. Tell me how technology is ruining this country through a link you posted on Facebook. Tell me how we are whining about the price of college, when the prices for tuition have absolutely exploded since my parents were in school. Or, my favorite, tell me that we are the world's most apathetic generation when all you can do it seems is give us crap about what we're passionate about.

Go ahead, and see what happens (Incase you're wondering what would happen, and can't stand the suspense; I will go the route of Mark Twain, and beat you over the skull with your own shin bone.)

Our culture does little to appreciate it's children. It says it supports them, but actions speak louder than words, and somehow I don't thinks standardizing it's school systems is a actual form of care. However, that is a whole other rant. Instead, I want to complain about something that is equally bothersome to me; the way we look at stories aimed at younger audiences.

When someone is to think of influential literature, they think of the classics. Shakespeare and Austen pop into their heads, and can not help but be moved by their work. This is fine and all, but one should also consider what first piqued their interest. What made them fall in love with stories? What made them love to read?

For me, it was Junie B. Jones by Barbra Parker. The series was the first I read all on my own accord; I was in love with the story, and the characters. I couldn't wait to know what happened next. I spent hours tucked away in my room, After that, came the Harry Potter series, Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism, and The Hobbit. All of these books shaped the reader and writer I am today, but they are largely discredited, because of their ties to younger audience.

For some book, this is understandable. But for books like Harry Potter, it is a huge issue. When I am told in my AP Literature class that Harry Potter is not a credible work to draw from, I'm appalled. Here is a story so incredibly woven, filled with intricate details, and messages important for all readers, young and old. To say this work lacks literary merit is ridiculous, and stems from a prejudice for younger readers.

The same thing occurs with movies and TV shows. Movies like Frozen win awards because they are popular, not because of their story. Committees don't care about animated films, as evidenced by the Academy voters during in 2014 (The year Frozen was up). Four out of the seven members abstained from voting, one going as far as to say "I did not see any of them. I have no interest whatsoever. That ended when I was 6." Similarly, when you tell people you watch cartoons, you get a look of disgust and confusion, because why would you, an adult, enjoy something made for children?

And here writers find themselves in a kind of predicament. Do they write children elaborate and creative stories, create complex and layered worlds, and put in the time and effort to teach them important lessons? Or do they just produce the bare bones skeleton with a few poop jokes thrown into the mix, to make everyone happy and not work hard because no one is going to care anyways?

For me, the first answer is the correct one. However, something has to change. We need to recognize those writing for children do so with a purpose, and just because you might think it below you because you are an 'adult', does not make it so. We need to create a space for children to learn important lessons as well as be entertained, and honestly, people my age and older need to sit back, relax, and enjoy it too.