Courage The Cowardly Dog - The Mask (QUEER UNDERTONES & THE SUBJECT OF ABUSE)

In which we are (or try to be) very philosophical people. And because thematic (queer subplot, anyone?) cartoons. Skip to 8:05 for the start of the episode analysis :D
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If you wanna see us scream like babies because of The 100 Season 3 Finale, we have another video on Tate's channel:
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Comment below if you like Kitty and Bunny's happy ending and not gunshot wounds! :D
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ROYALTY FREE MUSIC:
Bensound - Acoustic Breeze
Bensoud - Cute
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ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS:
• How Courage saw Kitty and her "mask" represents, in my opinion, the stereotypes surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and that the one wearing the mask (Kitty) tries to hide their identity and appear differently towards the rest of the world. But alas, the one they're mainly hiding from is themselves. The mask may also symbolize "denial" as if the facade the wearer is presenting gives them a sense of security that what they show to others is indeed who they are.
• Comparing and contrasting Courage and Mad Dog: Courage is cowardly, neurotic, empathetic and selfless; Mad Dog is barbaric, territorial, manipulative and heartless. Both obviously opposite in every way (even down to the height difference, color scheme and cuteness level) but they share one fundamental thing in common - they are both DOGS. As mentioned in the video, “dogs can obviously be equated to, well, men.” Many members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially the “L” demographic, have probably experienced AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFE that they have had a negative encounter with a man/men relating to toxic hypermasculinity. The embodiment of toxic hypermasculinity in this queer-theme centered episode is MAD DOG. He is the total package. And based on what Mad Dog has done to both Kitty and Bunny (a tandem clearly equivalent to “gal pals”) we can easily get the picture why Kitty would say that “Dogs are evil.” She was obviously traumatized by one. And right then and there, as Kitty kept walking from the Wrong Side of the Tracks™ to the middle of Nowhere™ before Mad Dog was even formally introduced, we are, as usual, focused with our kind-hearted canine hero, Courage... being absolutely clueless as to why a scary anthropomorphic cat wearing a mask is walking towards him. But, as Courage slowly learned about their story and tried to help, Kitty and Bunny saw altruism and goodness beyond anything they have experienced - AND FROM A DOG! The very kind that caused their tragedy... is also the cause of their resolution. And as Bunny shouted “Kitty! That dog saved my life! He saved my life!” and Kitty replied “I was wrong, Bunny. Not all dogs are bad”, it is saying that Courage is a true ally. A dog that is differently good that would support and fight for you. He even fought for Kitty and Bunny against brutes without even getting anything in return. He just did it for the sake of doing the right thing. And there exists, too, men who are out there to positively impact //for// the LGBTQ+ community - those who walk the ideals that we are all made to be raised together as equals.
• The reason why Courage kept on imagining bad, hyperbolic scenarios of the “monster mask wearer” version of Kitty is, for me, because of his pondering as to why Kitty is so prejudicial towards him [Courage] and kept on sadistically hurting him just because he’s a dog. This image Courage had of Kitty remained the same until even the last imagined scenarios since he was mostly confused as to why even though he’s ~trying~ to help Kitty in every little way he can, he’s still being savagely maltreated. This can be related to true cis straight men allies of the LGBTQ+ people being alienated by the community. They are bewildered by so many offenses and “policies” as some new allies are still unfamiliar with the terrain. This is possible because they are unaware of the stories behind the members of the community. As such, it is each of our responsibilities to educate one another; we must convey to one another the stories of what makes the LGBTQ+ community worth fighting for.
• In the end, when Courage saved Bunny from Mad Dog and his goons and was reunited with Kitty, we see that Courage was that "ally" they needed. After knowing their story, Courage went out of his way to get them back together. We can connect this to how the true allies of the LGBTQ+ community do their best to understand the people who love differently have individual stories of their own. And that there are people like these said true allies out there that would risk their limbs to fight with and for the community, as none of us are completely alone in this struggle to stand for what’s worth fighting - for love.

[@meowrasaur]

Super late update buuut check out the description box to look into my ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS on the episode "The Mask" 👌 Hoping to have captured at least some glimpses to what the writers like to convey 😁

[@fredericksaxton9782]

Themed means it is the main focus of a story. This episodes theme was abuse. Yes it may have a queer undertone, but it's not a theme. It's "Queer undertones in an abuse themed episode."

[@meowrasaur]

Siris The Lion thank you for sharing your insights! I just realized that, I even changed the title of the video. Truly enough, the central theme: a cauldron full of abuse, domestic violence and isolation.

[@DyoKasparov]

One of the best episodes

[@meowrasaur]

You definitely got that right! For me, it is a contemporary cartoon classic ✨

[@renesarabia6442]

Cool and profound analysis of stories episode Kate and Tate. Once we re-examine old childhood episodes like this, now that we are older, we see it in a different light.

[@meowrasaur]

New user who dis (😂 Just kidding~ Thanks for watching, manong! Rekindle with the kid inside us :3 wITH PHILOSOPHY)

[@sowohs]

RAWRxxxMExxxDINOSAUR actually I feel that episode of courage the cowardly dog was well made it dealt with controversial topics without butchering it like other kids shows do, it highlights this in a mature way by having a ligher sub plot e.g Muriel and the locked door, as comic relief whist the main sub plot shows domestic themes so it's easy to convey to kids e.g the way the mad dog treats bunny and how it effects courage etc. So in a way that episode was a masterpiece rather than silly the writers knew exactly how show adult themes in a kid friendly way. Even today, I look back on this episode and I can still say it's well written and one of my favourite shows.

[@meowrasaur]

I referred "silly" as to the way we presented the video 😂 but yes, I agree with you entirely. They knew what they were doing and how to tackle themes and topics that are normally sensitive unless created subtextually like this for kids to understand without it being too blunt and traumatizing. Truly a masterpiece of a cartoon!

[@razkable]

eustace and muriel remind me of my grandparents...i love this episode cause he tells her nobody is perfect...so adorable

[@watchforever1724]

Interesting to know about this video considering it’s 4 years old

[@Dantick09]

Nice I didn’t catch the “soiled” symbol, I just thought it was weird

[@meowrasaur]

It /is/ a pretty weird scene tho

[@heposlis2409]

It means raped :(

[@meowrasaur]

:

[@kannan-sar1758]

Most episodes if not all episodes are dark and have many moral values

[@jorgesblog8017]

Great reaction.

[@mtalhakhalid1679]

this is the darkest reality of today society

[@neverbackdown1918]

The only other thing which I haven’t seen mentioned, is why Courage is so scared of bunny. I thought it could be alluding to racist misconceptions. Courage has had bad interactions with felines, specifically Katz and the Fox from the Cajun Granny Stew episode. So he probably think of her as just as evil, especially given that she treated him very poorly. So courage and kitty both had misconceptions about each other.

[@tatespinkroom]

SUCH SERIOUSNESS

[@meowrasaur]

WHICH PART IS SERIOUS AGAIN 😂

[@tatespinkroom]

+RAWRxxxMExxxDINOSAUR THE PARTS WHEREIN IM SILENT

[@meowrasaur]

+tatespinkroom ...IT MEANS YOU BRING LIFE INTO THIS VIDEO? 😂👍

[@tatespinkroom]

IF BY LIFE YOU MEAN NONSENSE THEN YES

[@meowrasaur]

NONSENSE = LIFE MUCH NIHILIST 😂

[@cheeto1353]

Does anyone know Kitty's voice actress? Please tell me

[@meowrasaur]

Little Tomato I’m sorry, I don’t know 😭

[@sadpuppy413]

Amazing

[@bitesedition]

You hate getting scared, kate?? Let me know😊

[@meowrasaur]

If you're referring to 5:21 dude I said I "hate skater girls" 😂 WHICH ISN'T WHAT I MEANT I JUST DONT LYK THE ACCENT :

[@shrutimoosun4398]

Where can we watch it?

[@Hamantha]

You cut out Eustace’s iconic line lol

[@rmalmeda9609]

Filipino

[@KiiBon]

Can you react to cajun granny stew

[@meowrasaur]

Man, I'd love to but I can't promise a full-on commitment to making an actual video about it anytime soon 😓 I'll be sure to add it to my long KZbin videos to-do list though! Thanks for suggesting 😁

[@harukatakahashi8822]

xD lol