Ok - so we are watching Finneas and Ferb (the all time greatest kids cartoon - the only thing that can draw all THREE Claflins including ME to the couch in front of the TV on Saturday morning.)
The episode? "Chronicles of Meap," my favorite.
We're watching as Candace rides a bicycle into space with Meap on the handlebars. I see my teaching moment.
Me: Emma - this is an allusion. Do you know what an allusion is?
Emma: (without turning from tv) No...........
Me: An allusion is when one piece of literature or art references another piece of literature or art. So right now when Candace is riding her bike into space with Meap it is ALLUDING to a movie called ET from the mid 80's when I was kid. In the movie a boy rides in the sky with his little alien called ET.
Emma: (without turning from tv) oh
Me: Also - the part where Finneas and Ferb think that the bad guy, Mitch, is Meap's father is allusion to another series of 80's movies - ones that you are very familiar with. You know.......? Star Wars? Only here Mitch is NOT Meap's father - he is really just Meap's Mortal Enemy. And that is bordering on irony, because it isn't what you or the other characters expect and it keeps complicating the plot. That's what makes this cartoon so funny and great. Don't you think?
Emma: (without turning from tv) Plus Meap is really cute.
Me: Right.
I guess we'll try again later.
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