>> Overview research

They take centre stage in the plot and, quite often, in the viewers' reception as well – the main characters of children's and TV programmes. Who are the heroes of 6- to 15-year-olds, what makes them so attractive, and how are they integrated into constructions of identity and modes of adapting to life? This main research topic looks into such questions from a national and international perspective.

Literature: 
Götz, Maya: TV-Hero(in)es of boys and girls. Reception studies of favorite characters. Frankfurt, Main: Lang 2014.
TelevIZIon 21/2008/E

What is the Value of Children’s Television Classics for Children?

Characters such as Pippi Longstocking, Vicky the Viking and Maya the Bee, who can – to a certain extent – already look back on a century of success in children’s culture, have particular meaning for children. What is the essence of the characters from the children’s perspective? A qualitative study which proceeds phenomenologically: Children produce drawings and respond to open questions, and this gives them the space in which to (pre-consciously) explore the character moments that mean something to them. This method increases the possibility of self-reflection, as it involves children becoming actors in their own biographical identity construction. Looking back on their younger selves, they describe what they enjoyed at the time, recall its practical value, and judge from a third-person perspective the quality of the character for younger children.     

Literature: 
Holler, Andrea: Children's identity issues in a Viking animation. Vicky the Viking from the children’s perspective. TelevIZIon 29/2016/E, 47-49
Haager, Julia Sophie: What makes Pippi Longstocking a classic of identity empowerment? TelevIZIon 29/2016/E, 44-46.
Götz, Maya: Maya the Bee: nice, helpful and self-confident. Munich: 2016.

From Hannah Montana to Avatar: the Significance of Current Favourite Characters for Pre-Teens (2009-2010)

Qualitative reception studies on the appropriation of popular programmes: successful heroes of children's and young people's television such as Avatar, Yugi, SpongeBob, Hannah Montana, Zack and Cody, as well as selected films (High School Musical, Camp Rock, etc.) are analysed for implicit links to typical themes of boys and girls.
Götz, Maya: TV-Hero(in)es of boys and girls. Reception studies of favorite characters. Frankfurt, Main: Lang 2014.

Favourite TV Characters and their Utility Value (2005-2010)

What makes a television character a favourite? In this study, the concept of television characters' utility value is developed from the point of view of children and young people, quantified, and tested at a representative level

Literature:
Götz, Maya: What makes them so special? The utility value of children's favourite heroes and heroines. TelevIZIon, 24/2011/E, 27-32.
Götz, Maya: TV-Hero(in)es of boys and girls. Reception studies of favorite characters. Frankfurt, Main: Lang 2014.

The Significance of Favourite Characters for Girls' and Boys' Coping with Life (2004-2010)

When children become particularly enthusiastic about a television character, they often ascribe to them a major significance for their own lives. What form does this relationship between television character and coping take? What kinds of gender-specific bias are revealed? What makes a television character an absolute, meaningful favourite? These questions are examined with the aid of an analysis of the life environments of 40 girls and 40 boys aged between 9 and 11.

Literature:
Götz, Maya: TV-Hero(in)es of boys and girls. Reception studies of favorite characters. Frankfurt, Main: Lang 2014.
Maya Götz, Maya: Just pretty, responsible, and compliant? Girls' favourite characters. TelevIZIon 21/2008/E, 22-25
Reinhard Winter/Gunter Neubauer : Cool heroes or funny freaks. Why certain programmes and TV characters appeal to boys. TelevIZIon 21/2008/E, 30-35.

The Significance of Television Characters for Young People (2004-2007)

The aim of this project is to investigate the television characters which are relevant for young people between the ages of 12 and 17 and understand their importance for the development of identity. In this the emphasis is placed on the development of gender and cultural characteristics.
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Literature: 
TelevIZIon 21/2008/E 

Young People's Favourite Television Characters: an International Comparison (2004-2005)

The appropriation of television characters may be closely related to the development of a cultural identity, in other words a sexual, ethnic, religious/national, local, or other identity. How this can take shape in New York City, Bangalore, Johannesburg, and Munich is investigated with the aid of 6 individual case studies of pre-teens (14-15 years) in each city.

Literatur: 
Divya C. McMillin: "When we stop being scared ...". Youth culture, gender, and television in India. TelevIZIon, 21/2008/E, 45-49.
Firdoze Bulbulia: Race, class and TV preferences. Adolescents in South Africa - four case studies. TelevIZIon, 21/2008/E, 50-51.