Violent Values In Cartoon Content Production: "an Analytical Study Of A Sample Of Posts From The Cartoon Box Page On Facebook"
Keywords:
Animated cartoons, Digital media, Negative values, Satirical content, Symbolic violenceAbstract
The rapid and pervasive circulation of brief, satirical cartoon content across major social media platforms, exemplified by the highly popular "Cartoon Box" page, necessitates a critical examination of its role in shaping contemporary social values. This phenomenon presents a significant and unexplored challenge in media studies, particularly concerning the hidden inclusion of negative social and cultural messages. Accordingly, the primary objective of this research was to analyze the nature and structure of the latent messages and value systems embedded in this content, with a specific focus on measuring its representation of symbolic violence and its promotion of negative values. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach and utilized quantitative content analysis as the main research tool. The research sample consisted of 31 videos purposively selected from the "Cartoon Box" Facebook page, published between September 10 and March 10, chosen for their high levels of interaction and engagement. The analysis systematically revolved around two main axes: first, the manifest forms of symbolic violence (including verbal abuse, social marginalization, and psychological manipulation); and second, the types of harmful social values being promoted (such as excessive consumerism, radical individualism, and materialism). The main findings revealed a significant statistical presence of symbolic violence, with forms of physical violence (24.40%) and satire and ridicule of social values (23.70%) being the most frequently used. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis confirmed a clear tendency in the content towards the active promotion of negative values, especially those manifested in radical individualism and consumerism, often framed within humor or normalized behavior. The results also showed that the content relies excessively on gestures and bodily movements (42.68%) instead of dialogue. The study concludes that this type of cartoon content on social media, operating under the guise of light entertainment and satire, functions as a powerful "hidden curriculum" that is likely to undermine the ethical frameworks of its audience, which often consists of young people. The study strongly recommends the urgent development of media literacy and critical consumption programs specifically designed for educational application, coupled with a formal call for content creators and platforms to adhere to strict professional and ethical standards that prioritize the reinforcement of constructive social and cultural values.
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