Cult cartoon sets good example

‘Adventure Time’  has developed a following among young adults

A television show that has gained much popularity among college students lately is “Adventure Time,” a simply drawn cartoon that has been airing on Cartoon Network since 2010.

The first time I tried to sit through this show, I had to wonder how high I had to be to enjoy it.

However, since I have quite a few friends who enjoy “Adventure Time,” including my own sister, I began to give the show a chance.

To be fair, there are many times when an episode ends and I’m left with my eyebrows furrowed and that “WTF” feeling swirling through my brain.

However, since giving the show a chance, I’ve begun to see the merits of it, particularly the obvious mentions of feminism throughout the show.

Although “Adventure Time” is, technically, a kids show, I would definitely say it is just as enjoyable for adults. In fact, the sometimes-dark messages and often-sexual overtones are more for young-adults who watch the show.

Those who are old enough to notice the important themes within the show will probably recognize the real-life messages that are extremely relevant in today’s society.

The Ice King, the main villain of “Adventure Time,” doesn’t have much of a role in the show unless he is trying to kidnap a princess to force that princess to marry him

Where the Ice King is the epitome of misogyny, the show’s main characters, Jake the dog and Finn the human, are the complete opposite: men who recognize the princesses as people. At one point in the show, Jake yells at the Ice King, “your constant harassment of the female gender makes me sick!”

Applause for Jake the talking dog, a male who is aware that women are people too. In one episode, there was even a scene where the princess freed herself.

Although many of the plots revolve around Jake and Finn trying to help these princesses, they are perfectly capable of helping themselves.

The females on the show are smart and inquisitive, especially Princess Bubblegum who is usually the one helping Jake and Finn out of the mess that they’ve gotten themselves into. In fact, the females in the cast outnumber the males.

There is Marceline, the vampire queen, an independent, free-spirited, rock-and-roll gal. Marceline has issues with her father, who comes back in one episode and is obviously verbally abusive. Marceline teams up with Jake and Finn to free herself and the rest of their fictional world from her evil father. She also alludes to when she once had a sexist boyfriend whom she kicked to the curb.

There is also the Lumpy Space Princess who adores all her lumps and has no problem with body image.

There was even an episode where one of the princesses yells “No means no!” at the Ice King. This anti-rape message is refreshing to see in our society, where rape jokes and finger-pointing have been showing up more and more.

I think that the “Adventure Time” writers deserve some serious props. The show is female positive and deals with hard-hitting issues for females.

While “Spongebob” is filled with mind-numbing nonsense, “Adventure Time” provides viewers of all ages serious criticisms of today’s society.