Reflection of Down Syndrome Children on Cartoons: Cases of ‘My Brother Ozi’ and ‘Punky’

Özlem Dağlı-Gökbulut,Mustafa Yeniasır,Burak Gökbulut

doi:10.12973/eu-jer.10.2.719

Abstract

<p style="text-align:justify">In several shows prepared for children and adults in the media, the representation of “individuals with special needs” can ensure that other members of the society empathize with disability and the characteristics of disabled people, and make it easier that prejudices are replaced by social acceptance through gaining information. Finding a place frequently used in children’s literature, children’s reality satisfies the curiosity and experience-gaining demands of children about the cases they encounter for the first time using various examples, and helps them internalize the information and experience they gain. Children’s shows and cartoons have an effective power in influencing the viewpoint of children as target group for disabled people within the framework of “children’s reality” by means of the representation of children with special needs who are socially disadvantaged. In this context, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and examine in terms of various factors the social representation style of main characters with Down Syndrome represented in “My Brother Ozi” and “Punky” cartoons broadcasted on local children television channels and internet sites where cartoons for children can be found. 51 episodes of both cartoons (26 and 25) were viewed in the framework of the study and findings were analyzed using “document analysis” method which is a qualitative research method.</p>

Highlights

The social acceptance of individuals with special needs and their participation in educational environments has undergone significant changes over the years
The purpose of this study is to evaluate and examine in terms of various factors the social representation style of main characters with Down Syndrome represented in “My Brother Ozi” and “Punky” cartoons broadcasted on local children television channels and internet sites where cartoons for children can be found. 51 episodes of both cartoons (26 and 25) were viewed in the framework of the study and findings were analyzed using “document analysis” method which is a qualitative research method
Children who are the main characters in both cartoons based on the life of two children with Down syndrome aged 5-6 are represented as happy individuals loved by their families

Summary

Introduction

The social acceptance of individuals with special needs and their participation in educational environments has undergone significant changes over the years. Thanks to the developing medical and technological possibilities, it is seen that Down Syndrome, which can be detected from the prenatal period and whose prevalence can increase in parallel with the maternal age, is encountered at a rate of 1/700 today (Alp, 2007; Shaw et al, 2021; Yaman & Şahin, 2018) This chromosome anomaly, which is caused by trisomy in the 21st chromosome and accompanied by various similar deficiencies such as mental and cognitive retardation, language development disorders, and cardiac problems (Acarlar, 2006; Alp et al, 2007; Chapman & Hesketh, 2000; Çengelci, 2009; Gören, 2015; Haase, 2020; Kurada et al, 2017), is the most common genetically based syndrome

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