Staying on track

Since I last wrote about the pernicious message of Thomas The Tank Engine, nearly three years ago, Stanley has thankfully largely grown out of the series. Nevertheless, I can still very much appreciate the value of this critique from the New Yorker's Jia Tolentino, who refers to the programme's "repressive, authoritarian soul" and, surveying the evidence, concludes quite justifiably that the Rev W Audry "disliked change, venerated order and craved the administration of punishment".

On the one hand, Tolentino notes that as a child she was too distracted by what seemed like a "beautiful daydream" to perceive the message - but, on the other, that message is so relentlessly reiterated and reinforced that it surely sinks in subconsciously.

(Thanks to Simon for the link.)