I really enjoyed this. I do wish it was longer, and had some punch line or narrative arc (while staying vox-only), but I loved what was there. And it made me laugh out loud, which is always good.
Since I?m so used to such somber and solemn radio pieces, I wasn?t really into it at first. I was waiting for some facts and narration? but was surprised when I heard personal accounts of what happened when children?s innocence was shattered. The narrator(s) are basically non-existent in this piece. It bothered me a little, but then again, the piece IS only two minutes long.
This piece flows very well. After a while, because the music compliments the theme of the piece so well, I forget that it even exists. I became more focused on the anecdotes. No microphone movement was heard, no voices going in and out of the microphone. No overly loud background sound? just cheery responses to how Chicagoan youths idea of Santa Claus?s existence was shattered like other urban dreams, like the Easter Rabbit and Tooth Fairy.
Chris, Porsha, and Jasmine created a very jocular and light-hearted piece about something that people don?t really think about ? who it was that killed Santa Claus for them. It puts me back in the winter of the mid-nineties, back when my older cousin unsympathetically boasted about how jolly ole Saint Nick didn?t exist because she assisted my mother and grandmother in wrapping the gifts. I was hopelessly devastated for about two weeks? so disheartening and disappointing, especially since I was only in about the third grade?
Curie Youth Radio's vox pop on how exactly Santa Claus was "killed" is a humorous foray into teenagers' bildungsroman.
Many of the teenagers' interviewed indicate how they didn't want to know that Santa Claus didn't exist. For a little while, Santa was an integral part of the celebration of Christmas. Others pointed out that their parents were a bit cruel, especially one girl's recollection of how her parents made her buy, wrap, and place presents under the Christmas tree! Another recounts her mother's refusal to give Santa credit for presents she had bought for her daughter.
The sweet and humorous students' anecdotes give us a little reminder that growing up means giving up a little bit of your imagination. After all, part of a teenager's bildungsroman is to be attuned with reality, and to be ready to react it.
The only minor issue I have with this segment is how its tightly-packed, funny vox pop slowly unravels into a boy talking about how the Easter bunny is a lie as well. The music, timing, and selection of anecdotes was excellent -- another great segment by Curie Youth Radio!
I love this piece. It could add great punctuation to any holiday special.
Like any good voxpop, it's the question that is asked that makes it so good. That is to say, this is very simply a great idea. It's also well produced and mixed, and it seems like the perfect length. (It doesn't drag, but it doesn't seem too abbreviated.)
I loved the title of this piece, which is actually the reason I wanted to listen to it.
Most parents expect their children to let go of Santa at some point, and without realizing it (or sometimes with full intention) rip the tradition away from them. It's very funny to hear the teenagers tell their story of how they came to learn the truth about Santa Claus, and most even laugh themselves.
This is one of those stories that everyone (at least here in America) can relate to. The piece used many different points of view, and didn't center too long around an individual person; just enough to get the point of each story and that was it.
It wasn't repetitive, and the music flowed really well with the whole thing. The sound quality was great; you could hear everything perfectly, and there were no infamous microphone bumps or anything.
I think this is a great piece for the radio, mostly because it's fun to listen to, especially around the holidays.
Comments for Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
Produced by Chris Flynn, Jasmine Gonzalez, Porsha Thomas for Curie Youth Radio
Other pieces by Curie Youth Radio
Rating Summary
5 comments
Rekha Murthy
Posted on April 06, 2008 at 01:49 PM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
I really enjoyed this. I do wish it was longer, and had some punch line or narrative arc (while staying vox-only), but I loved what was there. And it made me laugh out loud, which is always good.
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 11:01 AM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
Since I?m so used to such somber and solemn radio pieces, I wasn?t really into it at first. I was waiting for some facts and narration? but was surprised when I heard personal accounts of what happened when children?s innocence was shattered. The narrator(s) are basically non-existent in this piece. It bothered me a little, but then again, the piece IS only two minutes long.
This piece flows very well. After a while, because the music compliments the theme of the piece so well, I forget that it even exists. I became more focused on the anecdotes. No microphone movement was heard, no voices going in and out of the microphone. No overly loud background sound? just cheery responses to how Chicagoan youths idea of Santa Claus?s existence was shattered like other urban dreams, like the Easter Rabbit and Tooth Fairy.
Chris, Porsha, and Jasmine created a very jocular and light-hearted piece about something that people don?t really think about ? who it was that killed Santa Claus for them. It puts me back in the winter of the mid-nineties, back when my older cousin unsympathetically boasted about how jolly ole Saint Nick didn?t exist because she assisted my mother and grandmother in wrapping the gifts. I was hopelessly devastated for about two weeks? so disheartening and disappointing, especially since I was only in about the third grade?
Minhal Baig
Posted on December 31, 2007 at 02:11 PM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
Curie Youth Radio's vox pop on how exactly Santa Claus was "killed" is a humorous foray into teenagers' bildungsroman.
Many of the teenagers' interviewed indicate how they didn't want to know that Santa Claus didn't exist. For a little while, Santa was an integral part of the celebration of Christmas. Others pointed out that their parents were a bit cruel, especially one girl's recollection of how her parents made her buy, wrap, and place presents under the Christmas tree! Another recounts her mother's refusal to give Santa credit for presents she had bought for her daughter.
The sweet and humorous students' anecdotes give us a little reminder that growing up means giving up a little bit of your imagination. After all, part of a teenager's bildungsroman is to be attuned with reality, and to be ready to react it.
The only minor issue I have with this segment is how its tightly-packed, funny vox pop slowly unravels into a boy talking about how the Easter bunny is a lie as well. The music, timing, and selection of anecdotes was excellent -- another great segment by Curie Youth Radio!
andrew walsh
Posted on December 20, 2007 at 09:32 AM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
I love this piece. It could add great punctuation to any holiday special.
Like any good voxpop, it's the question that is asked that makes it so good. That is to say, this is very simply a great idea. It's also well produced and mixed, and it seems like the perfect length. (It doesn't drag, but it doesn't seem too abbreviated.)
Well done!
Zoe Bossiere
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 04:58 PM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
I loved the title of this piece, which is actually the reason I wanted to listen to it.
Most parents expect their children to let go of Santa at some point, and without realizing it (or sometimes with full intention) rip the tradition away from them. It's very funny to hear the teenagers tell their story of how they came to learn the truth about Santa Claus, and most even laugh themselves.
This is one of those stories that everyone (at least here in America) can relate to. The piece used many different points of view, and didn't center too long around an individual person; just enough to get the point of each story and that was it.
It wasn't repetitive, and the music flowed really well with the whole thing. The sound quality was great; you could hear everything perfectly, and there were no infamous microphone bumps or anything.
I think this is a great piece for the radio, mostly because it's fun to listen to, especially around the holidays.