I was a freshman college student when I was invited to go
on my first youth retreat as an adult leader.
The assistant pastor of my home church was the leader, and he based the
program on the book The Gospel According to Peanuts by Robert
Short. It is not surprising that Peanuts
is still a staple in the comic section of the newspaper. Afterall, Dennis the Menace, B.C. and Family
Circus are still around, but in my opinion Snoopy is different. He is not the main character, yet he has
become a cultural icon. It is snoopy,
not Charlie Brown, who appears every year in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. What is even more astounding is that Snoopy has
become somewhat of a cult hero among Gen Z’s.
Ypulse, a marketing firm that traces trends among teens and
young adults, recently identified Snoopy as one of the nostalgic kids’
characters that Gen Z’s and Millennials identify with. They point to the fact
that the single hashtag #Snoopy has 2.4B views on TikTok. Experts explain
Snoopy’s popularity among the younger generation in part due to his youthful character
and the nostalgic feeling that it conveys.
It is not just Peanuts and Snoopy. YPulse also reports that 75% of
13-39-year-olds have bought merchandise based on or inspired by a kid’s TV
show, movie, or book.
What is it about Snoopy, in particular, that young adults identify
with? I believe Snoopy embodies many of
the positive qualities such as imagination, resilience, and loyalty, that resonate
with Gen Z's values. His playful nature and ability to find joy in simple
pleasures align with the desire for authenticity and mindfulness among younger
audiences.
Perhaps there is another reason behind the appeal of Snoopy.
Snoopy is creative and he has an imagination that allows him to take on a
couple of different personas, Joe Cool, and the lawyer/businessman for example.
However, I believe the character that most resonates with young people is the
W.W. I flying ace who takes on the Red Barron.
In that role Snoopy takes on an enemy who is both fearless and threatening. In many ways that is like the seemingly
insurmountable challenges facing all of us today.
