Hanging out with "Dirtgirl"

Dirtgirl or her show "dirtgirlworld" is another show (and/or set of characters) than can be located in "ABC for Kids" online.  According to the credits page, "dirtgirlworld" is a 52x11min preschool animation series co-production between a number of Australian and Canadian based production houses (co creators are Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace).

 

Picture sourced from: http://www.abc.net.au/children/dirtgirlworld/

"Dirtgirlworld" has four main characters.  The lead character is "dirtgirl" who seems to have a scientific background.  It is not clear if "dirtgirl" is an adult or a child, but she has an Australian accent.  The male lead character is called "scrapboy", as he likes to collect (and recycle) pieces of scrap/junk. He also has an Austsralian accent.  There are also three insect characters, a spider, a grub (called "Grubby") and "Ken" (the weevil).  Both "Ken" and "Grubby" speak with Canadian accents and have human-like faces.

As outlined on the MeMeMe Production website, "dirtgirlworld" aims to represent:

"real kids in real gardens having unreal fun. dirtgirlworld is a celebration of life outside".

dirtgirl and scrapboy - photo sourced from an interesting article on the show, featured here - http://www.girl.com.au/dirtgirlworld-go-get-grubby.htm

According to this project's established critiera for what "Australian" identity is (as outlined in blog entry) dirgirl contains a number of recognised "Australian" themes including:

• personal well-being (safety, health, education - for example in episodes 31 and 44, "dirtgirl" was very keen to spend time teaching the audience about how to read a map, how to work together with others on a scavenger hunt, and to learn about how rainbows are made); 
• democracy; agreeableness of personal characteristics (e.g., friendly, kind, fair - as already noted, most programs targeted at the pre-school group tend to be friendly and kind.  "dirtgirl" and "scrapboy" don't appear to agrue and treat all their insect and animal friends kindly and humanely); 
• rules of citizenship (language - Canadian and Australian)

What is more obvious is "dirtgirlworld's" emphasis on environmental issues like sustainabilty (represented by her vegetable garden) and protecting nature.  There are plenty of examples in the wider community about how big a topic the environment is and how there is an emphasis on children being taught about how to look after the environment.

 dirtgirl is shown in other countries, including the BBC in the UK, and according to this article, also has a range of clothing and merchandise.

For example, a recent publication by Julie M Davis, titled "Young Children and the Environment: Early Education for Sustainability" (published by Queensland University of Technology, (2010), cover blurb notes the following::

"Young Children and the Environment tackles one of the biggest contemporary issues of our times –    the  changing environment ..." (source:http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521736121&ss=fro)"

 

As well as tacklling current environmental issues, "dirtgirlworld" also fits in with the definition of 'new literacies' as explored by Shore (2008) in the previous blog entry. "Dirtgirlworld" not only has a very sophisticated online presence at http://www.abc.net.au/children/dirtgirlworld/ (which features lots of games and learning activities like a 'matching' card game and 'watering' your garden activity), but the television show itself, invites the audience to get involved via its "green thumbs" segment.  During the "green thumbs" segment, we see lots of pre schoolers dressed in "green thumbs" t-shirts participating (or demonstrating how to participate) in whatever the show's main theme for the day is.  For example in Ep.20, the "green thumbs" were invited to go on a scavengerhunt to find something "soft", "something that smelled nice" etc.  In Ep.31. they were invited to "make a rainbow" using flowers and fruit.

 dirtgirl on her tractor - source: http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s2948139.htm

Although this show demonstrates a few of the themes mentioned in this project's criteria for what is "Australian", this show may also be attempting to portray a different kind of Australia, where there is more of an emphasis on science (over sport for example) and female characters seem to have a strong voice and are capable of taking the lead.  Perhaps it aims to promote Australia (and its co producing company of Canada) as 'environmentally responsible' nations.  Perhaps this is part, or the beginning, of a new dialogue where local issues are also global issues.  Also "dirtgirlworld" itself is a farm of some sorts and could be anywhere in the world.  The very use of the word "dirtgirlworld" could indicate that this place is universal in theme and that the inhabitants of "dirtgirlworld" are more like citizens of the world, joined together to help protect the environment (or maybe not!).  Either way, in comparison to "Banana's in Pyjama's", "dirtgirlworld" is representative of a whole new world in both early children's entertainment and possibly new literacy as well.