The workweek can be hectic, with family, work and life in general. That is why, every once in a while, the DVR can bring a smile, laughter and an escape from the everyday hubbub. This past Thursday, NBC’s “Community” brought back for many the memories of lazy, rainy, wintery days making blanket forts in the house.
However, unlike the blanket forts in most of our history, Abed and Troy decided to create a community of blanket forts with rules like “three farting strikes”. This community, which had no age requirements, ranged from the young and old collaborating to make what started out to be young adults realizing they are now too old to play in forts, to a diverse community coming together to share in a creative collaborative experience.
Unlike so many of our communities today, this prime time show's blanket community, offered a no bias approach, displaying a sense of religious and racial tolerance. It was a community, if one were to look at through a sociological lens,could perhaps take notes. It is ok to have fun and celebrate one another and at the same time, it is ok for us to be different and exist together in peace.
Blanket Fort in Definition Form
According to the online research conducted for this article, a blanket fort is a construction most often created by but not limited to the utilization of blankets, bed sheets, pillows, and sofa cushions. Other synonyms for this construction are couch fort or pillow fort.
Childhood Memories
A blanket fort is a staple of early childhood play. Blanket forts are in books such as, “Corduroy's Sleepover” and “If You Give a Pig a Party”. Building blanket forts can be an activity for parents to play with their children. Many activities can take place in a blanket fort, such as reading, playing board games, or watching a movie. Given NBC’s latest “Community” episode, we now know that social clubs, shrines and parades are also an acceptable part of this imaginary, creative play.
Blanket/Pillow Fort Construction
After viewing this funny episode, I tried to find the best “How To” website. The website that gave a good step by step process was WikiHow.com. In the article, “ How to Make a Blanket Fort ” it takes the reader through fourteen steps on how to gather materials and create a blanket fort. The materials on all the sites researched were similar in objects required to create this imaginary adventure spot. It was the creative process that varied.
Items Required to Create Fort
The following items were found to be necessary for the fort creation:
- Parent’s permission (if appropriate)
- An area free of a lot of obstacles to allow the creative process to grow
- At least four chairs, a table and/or a tall item to go in center for height
- Use safety pins, ties or pegs to connect sheets and blankets together to keep the sheets from falling down
- Create an entrance of some sort
- If needed, books can help to weigh down sheets, blankets etc.
- A snack can be a nice touch
- Additional pillows and blankets needed to lounge
- A sibling, friend or daring mom and dad to enjoy this newly created masterpiece
A College Contest
After viewing the “Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design” episode online, it would be interesting to see a clever undergrad come up with some campus contest to raise money for the homeless, utilizing this clever episode as an inspiration for the true sense of community. It would be even more inspirational if it was televised or given some form of media attention as to inspire us all on the need for more laughter, creativity and community in our ever-global environment...calling all college students, here is a challenge for you.
