EU: Discussion #6 | University of Wyoming

University:
University of Wyoming
Course:
POLS4215 | European Union
Academic year:

2023
Views:

448

Pages:

1
Author:

Allison B.

For this week’s discussion, I looked at some of the games and materials on the European Union’s “Learning Quarter” and enjoyed it a bit too much. Some of the interactive game highlights being “Guess the gifts with Grandma”, in which her grandchildren present her with souvenirs from their travels in Europe and she makes deadpan comments about them and guess what part of Europe they are from. Another featured game, “The EU: What’s it all about” allows players to look at different member states, only member states as the UK and Norway are grey and nothing happens when you click on them. Each member state has a description with fun facts and famous members. However, my favorite piece of propaganda by far was a printable “paper hen” (or “cootie catcher”) featuring questions like: “Do you know when we celebrate Europe Day and why?” and “This is the flag of the European Union. Do you know why it looks like this?”. The document is downloadable in all of the EU member states’ languages. This piece of propaganda reminds me of a recurring conversation we have had in class, would the US government itself ever publish a “paper hen” for kids about the constitution or government? How else though, besides attempting to educate youth, is the EU supposed to increase its popularity and knowledge of its institutions?