The Media that Made Me: SpongeBob and Originality
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? If you are like me, you’ve heard this question more times than you’d care to admit. SpongeBob had a grip on my childhood, unlike anything else.
Back in my prime, my brother and I could quote every word from every episode, that was until the late creator of Spongebob, Stephen Hilinberg, left after three seasons and a movie.
The world has never indeed been the same. While most casual viewers continued to watch as if nothing had happened, the true fans (including every member of my family) sat back and watched as the lovable sponge changed before our eyes.
In 1984 fresh out of college, Stephen Hillenberg began his career as a teacher at what is now known as the Marine Institute; during his time as a teacher, he created comic strips and characters based on marine animals to help his students learn.
One of the characters he created he named “Bob the Sponge,” which eventually evolved into a square pants-wearing sponge named bob. After his time teaching, he got a degree in animation, then several years later, after working his way up through Nickelodeon, his under the sea themed cartoon aired.
Spongebob's success started slow when it was first aired after the Kids’ Choice Awards but by the second season it was a hit. According to ratingraph.com, after the third season, ratings dropped.
This could be a response to a few different things. First, season four aired right after he first movie was released, which could have falsley signified the end of the show. Second, Hillenberg’s departure from the show could have upset hardcore fans (like me). Third, the theme and tone of the show took a turn and flanderized the characters. It culminated all three, especially the flanderiaztion (reducing a character to one or two traits).
The Spongebob who once could be described as goofy, funny, kind, caring, naive, and hardworking, is now just dumb and careless. The same could be said for Sandy, Patrick, and Squidward.
This type of writing is lazy and it happens to most shows after a certain point. While there are a few needles in the 13-season haystack, you’d need to be deadset to find one.
in 2018 Stephen Hillenberg passed away from ALS, leaving behind a cartoon now synonymous with legends like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny.
Before he passed away he was able to breathe life into Spongebob one more time by writing a new Spongebob Movie in 2015 that received critical acclaim. Spongebob Squarepants continues to air further straying from the masterpiece that was the first three seasons. Spinoff shows have also come out disregarding Hillienburg’s direct orders.
Weather its known for its peak seasons or all seasons, Spongebob will go down as one of the most influential pieces of media of all time.
Today it has completely changed the meme culture and humor of an entire generation. Currently, the show has created a new life where it lives online and in the hearts of every young adult whose mom lets them watch it.
