Notes
The word entertain originates from the Latin inter-tenere, meaning "to hold among" or "to hold inside." In Old French, entretenir meant “to maintain,” “to uphold,” or “to keep someone in a state.” From its etymological origin and historical use, entertainment was less about pleasure and more about maintaining someone within a certain frame of mind.
Vincent’s preference—rescue cartoons like Paw Patrol and Fireman Sam—present an orderly world where crises are always effectively resolved by institutions: firefighters, police, and rescue teams. After a long day, his need for soothing found through identification with larger-than-life characters within a safe narrative sequence, is being interrupted by the authority in his life, the parent.
These parent-child relationships offer a way to observe how agency functions within a dynamic of power imbalance. And how when it’s growth is supported rathar than supressed, it shapes a sense of safety in the world not only through a certain degree of trust in structures, but also through trust that one’s needs can be met through negotiation with them.