An Analysis of the Visual Representation of Peer Bullying and the Bystander Effect in School-Themed Children’s Animations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21996880 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Selin Kiraz Demir (0000-0001-5901-857X, Amasya Üniversitesi, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 1648-1661 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Turkish Online Journal of Design Art and Communication (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2146-5193 • E-ISSN: 2146-5193 |
| Publisher | Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.7456/tojdac.1929395 |
| OpenAlex | W7166858615 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 13 |
This study aims to examine the visual representations of peer bullying and bystander positioning in children’s animations within the context of school-themed narratives. The object of analysis is an episode of the animated series Arthur, in which overt bullying behaviors and bystander dynamics within the school environment are prominently depicted. The analysis demonstrates that bullying is constructed not only at the narrative level but also as a representational practice shaped through visual centering, the isolation of the victim, and the directional orientation of peer gazes. The study surveys school-themed scenes in domestically produced children’s animations available on digital platforms and qualitatively evaluates the representation of peer bullying in these contexts. The findings indicate that in local animations, the school space is predominantly constructed around pedagogical learning, cooperation, and the transmission of values. Overt bullying, ridicule, exclusion, and peer conflicts grounded in power asymmetry are either absent or presented in implicit and softened forms. In this respect, social situations involving peer tension are frequently resolved through empathetic responses, collective support, and teacher guidance
Bystander effect · Narrative · Social influence · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child Development and Digital Technology · Literacy, Media, and Education
Reading Images
Association Between Bullying and Psychosomatic Problems
Participant role approach to school bullying
Bullying and the peer group
On seeing human
Naturalistic Observations of Peer Interventions in Bullying
Why Do Bystanders of Bullying Help or Not? A Multidimensional Model
Bullying as a group process
Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication
| Highly cited | No |
|---|