Communism

[Malachy]

I believe in Communism in theory, but Democracy in all practicality. So, is Fraggle Rock supposed to be alluding to a working Communist state?? I'd heard this before but wasn't sure...can one of you experts fill me in?

 

[Frogster]

Fraggle Rock is of no real republic state of living of any kind. They are just characters in a show who spread love and peace to the viewer. They have no real political leaders (if that's what you're asking) and follow no laws. They learn and teach to otheres what they know is right and wrong, but that's as far as it goes. Think of it as a bunch of kids living in their own world, with no worries. Just each other.

 

[GelflingWaldo]

Yes the characters on Fraggle Rock are all communists. Heck, one is even named "Red"! Traditional communism is the common ownership of the means of production. The doozers and fraggles live in a classless society in which all property is owned by the community as a whole and where all people enjoy equal social and economic status. The Fraggles all share in the resources no equally, no matter how much work they did. The Doozers work all day for no pay. They have no currency. The only real governmental leaders are the Gorgs, who are the "cruel Dictators" of the Universe.



Jim Henson designed to show to indoctrinate the youth of the world to embrace communists and socialists by watching character that lived in peace, harmony, and happiness in a communist society. Once all the youth accepted the governmental ideals he planned to take over the world! (honestly puppetry for entertainment?!? Get real). With Fraggle Rock, and the subliminal messages he hid in Sesame Street, Jim Henson complete control over the youth of the world. He would have succeeded except the final piece of his plan, The Jim Henson Hour, was canceled by the FBI who caught on to his plan.



If you couldn't tell: I was being sarcastic . Fraggle Rock is a fantasy children's show. They didn't complicate the show by adding in economic systems and governmental powers. It is just meant to be fun and entertaining. Many shows are like this, look at Smurfs and such. Don't read to far into things like this (like Bert and Ernie’s relationship or Tinkey Winky the teletubby’s “life style”).

 

[Luke]

No, i think Fraggle Rock went a lot deeper than just being a "fantasy childrens show" for Jim Henson. After all, he said it was a show he wanted to change the world or something like that. That said, i don't really believe in all the communism theories but i think there might have been a few coincidental themes and things in the writing that were quite close to Jim. There are a few references which could be taken as mildly religiously related if you compare them with Christian science teachings. People will be scoffing at that comment but actually back in Jim's pre-Muppet days when he was actually practising Christian Science he trained and taught a local puppeteer to teach religion through puppetry and was apparantly a supporter of it. They could just have been coincidental though or even just non-intentionally subliminal. A lot of the time if you are a writer your past life experiences come over in your work even if you don't mean it too.

 

[Foodie]

I believe in Communism in theory, but Democracy in all practicality. So, is Fraggle Rock supposed to be alluding to a working Communist state?? I'd heard this before but wasn't sure...can one of you experts fill me in?

It's anarchy in it's truest sense actually. Yup. Yup.


Nick

 

[The all knowing]

Thinking never hurt anyone!

Coincidental or not, when you define ‘communism’ as a society in which everybody does what he or she is good at and where everybody receives what they need (and no more or less), then you have to admit that this is the case in Fraggle Rock. So, if you accept this definition, you then have to admit that the way the Fraggles live is the most pure and idealistic form of communism. (and definitely not anarchy, since the basic role here is the right of the strongest, which means there is no room for equality) Whether this was intended or not stays a question. But here is something else to think and wonder about. Their trash heap, their oracle, their God, was in fact made out of trash. Now ask yourself ‘what is trash?’ And the only sufficient answer you would be able to come up with is ‘everything’. So their oracle, their God is EVERYTHING. Even if not intended, it’s a beautiful thought isn’t it?!
What I really want to make clear is that is doesn’t matter what was symbolic and what wasn’t. If you recognize it, it was in the series and inside of you! And that’s all that really matters. Thinking has never hurt anyone!

 

[Foodie]

Coincidental or not, when you define ‘communism’ as a society in which everybody does what he or she is good at and where everybody receives what they need (and no more or less), then you have to admit that this is the case in Fraggle Rock. So, if you accept this definition, you then have to admit that the way the Fraggles live is the most pure and idealistic form of communism. (and definitely not anarchy, since the basic role here is the right of the strongest, which means there is no room for equality) Whether this was intended or not stays a question. But here is something else to think and wonder about. Their trash heap, their oracle, their God, was in fact made out of trash. Now ask yourself ‘what is trash?’ And the only sufficient answer you would be able to come up with is ‘everything’. So their oracle, their God is EVERYTHING. Even if not intended, it’s a beautiful thought isn’t it?!
What I really want to make clear is that is doesn’t matter what was symbolic and what wasn’t. If you recognize it, it was in the series and inside of you! And that’s all that really matters. Thinking has never hurt anyone!

Hmmm... I can see that. But isn't anarchy in it's truest form a way of life where government just isn't nesessary since everyone umm... behaves, works together, is peaceful & so on?


Nick

 

[Brian Damage]

Many shows are like this, look at Smurfs and such.

Ohhh, don't be so sure about the Smurfs.

Rumour is, the creators named them the Smurfs because it stands for "Small Men Under Red Father". And then there's Papa Smurf's curious resemblance to Karl Marx, the way they all live in that little commune where everyone has a function and everyone works very hard, and the way in which the crafty (and very much capitalist) Gargamel is always trying to turn the Smurfs into gold (capitalist trying to make money at the personal expense of the communists)...

Actually, I don't believe that stuff much. But it makes people stare when you tell it to them, and that's one of the things I live for...

 

[Xela]

Ohhh, don't be so sure about the Smurfs.

Rumour is, the creators named them the Smurfs because it stands for "Small Men Under Red Father". And then there's Papa Smurf's curious resemblance to Karl Marx, the way they all live in that little commune where everyone has a function and everyone works very hard, and the way in which the crafty (and very much capitalist) Gargamel is always trying to turn the Smurfs into gold (capitalist trying to make money at the personal expense of the communists)...

Actually, I don't believe that stuff much. But it makes people stare when you tell it to them, and that's one of the things I live for...

Haha, I love doing that to people. Maybe that's why I am considered 'weird' to so many of my classmates.

 

[Xerus]

You know, Fraggle Rock and the Smurfs are kind of the same. Both creatures live in a society where they work without money.