Long perpetuated by strict parents and unfortunate kids who had said strict parents, comes the original brain rot, “SpongeBob SquarePants.” However, now that the generation who practically acquired Bikini Bottom citizenship has grown up, we’re beginning to realize all that this “mindless” cartoon taught us.
The Value of Hard Work
In “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” SpongeBob states that he has received 374 consecutive employee-of-the-month awards during his time at The Krusty Krab. While our parents used to call us lazy for watching SpongeBob all day, perhaps we really were being taught the importance of having passion for your career. Even though he wasn’t climbing some corporate ladder, SpongeBob still took pride in his work and inspired us to be the best in our field.
The antithesis of hard work and the dangers it brings is something the show also illustrated to us in the ever memorable “Procrastination” episode. Although it’s unlikely we ever believed that our house would catch fire if we failed to be proactive, the iconic imagery of the episode will always come to mind when pushing off an assignment.
Community & Empathy
Most of us love SpongeBob because of his positive outlook and determined attitude, but all of his friends and neighbors are valuable characters with important lessons to impart. In the episode “SB-129,” Squidward finds himself so far in the future that he’s finally alone. However, he quickly realizes that he never wanted to be alone proclaiming, “I miss Bikini Bottom! I miss my Easter Island head! I even miss SpongeBob!”
This shows us that even the most antisocial among us rely on one another to have a sense of community. Even the main antagonist, Plankton, gets to learn about “FUN” and sing along with SpongeBob — showing us that kindness and friendship are incredible strengths. Despite there also being many episodes criticizing his compassion as a weakness, like “No Weenies Allowed,” SpongeBob always succeeds because of his gentleness.
Generational Humor
VALLEY would be remiss if we didn’t mention the continued cultural significance that “SpongeBob SquarePants” has had on our society. It seems like every month we get a new meme from the show — from the “confused Mr. Krabs” to “Squidward looking out the window,” it seems almost every frame has its 15 seconds of fame. However, this cultural exchange of SpongeBob transcends just memes.
Half of our generation’s vernacular consists of quotes and references from the show. “I’m ready,” “imagination” and “firmly grasp it” are totally normal and understandable references from the show, even “at night.” For those who understood each of those references, you basically qualify for Bikini Bottom citizenship, and those who didn’t need to revisit that pineapple under the sea soon.
What’s your most memorable moment of “SpongeBob SquarePants?” Let us know on X @VALLEYmag!
Related
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http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/from-nickelodeon-to-now-drake-bell-and-josh-peck-reunite/
