Notions that shake your worldview
Notions that shake your worldview
Example: defying the divine right of kings
Items in this lesson
Notions that shake your worldview
Example: defying the divine right of kings
What does it mean to be a Muppet?
Is Oscar the Grouch a muppet?
Yes
No
When we say Muppets...
muppets
Muppets
The Muppets (show, 1976)
The Muppets (film, 2011)
The Muppets (series, 2015)
A definition of "Muppet"
“A proprietary name for: any of a number of humorously grotesque glove or rod puppets and marionettes, chiefly representing animals, developed by Henson from the earlier puppets, first popularized by the children’s television programme Sesame Street (1969 – ) and more recently in The Muppet Show (1976-80). Also: a toy made to resemble one of these.”
Oxford English Dictionary
A definition of "Muppet"
“A proprietary name for: any of a number of humorously grotesque glove or rod puppets and marionettes, chiefly representing animals, developed by Henson from the earlier puppets, first popularized by the children’s television programme Sesame Street (1969 – ) and more recently in The Muppet Show (1976-80). Also: a toy made to resemble one of these.”
Oxford English Dictionary
Why it doesn't work
Chiefly animal
Grotesque
What Is a Muppet? A Definition
When you say muppet do you mean...
We pick...
1. The core group of Muppet characters now owned by Disney
2. Any and all puppets associated with Jim Henson
3. The series "The Muppet Show"
The 2011 film "The Muppets"
The 2015 - 2016 series "The Muppets"
Let's stick with "any and all puppets associated with Jim Henson"
What Is a Muppet? A Definition
We pick...
When you say muppet do you mean...
1. The core group of Muppet characters now owned by Disney
2. Any and all puppets associated with Jim Henson
3. The series "The Muppet Show"
The 2011 film "The Muppets"
The 2015 - 2016 series "The Muppets"
Let's stick with "any and all puppets associated with Jim Henson"
Drag and Drop
Monster
Animal
Oscar the Grouch
Big Bird
Skesis
Beaker
Muppets; all the same?
Popular theory to try categorise Muppets:
monster
animal
humanoid
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
Meet Gary and Walter: brothers
Never defined how or "what" Walter is
Both go through the question of whether they are a man or muppet --> proof both ways are possible
Gary (L) & Walter (R)
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
Only one of his kind in town
Has human brother
Wants to become a Muppet (or a Muppet™️)
In universe: The Muppets™️is a name of a show that Walter loved growing up and Tex Richman wants to own the name.
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
Being a muppet means...
???
Can be evil(-adjecent)
"you forget I am a Muppet"
Uncle Deadly
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
Muppet universe: Walter was cast as Walter in for the film
What is he outside of that?
"Disney paid Walter roughly the same amount as 67 movie tickets."
Behind the scenes Walter
Becoming a Muppet?
Drawing yourself as a Muppet
Implying:
looks define what a muppet is or isn't (in line with film)
Identifying as a Muppet can be a choice: is being a Muppet a choice?
There is a grey area (incomplete muppet?)
Muppets are...
Often creatures but not defined by their looks
Capable of breaking the fourth wall
Have off-screen lives beyond their film representation (or can have)
Capable of big emotions
???
Performative...?
Muppet or no?
Yes
No
Muppet or no?
Yes
No
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
Has admitted to an off-screen affair with Miss Piggy
Breaks the fourth wall
Treats himself as a muppet
Jim Curry as Long John Silver
What does it MEAN to be a muppet?
You are a Muppet when you choose to identify as a Muppet
