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How is The Simpsons a satirical artwork engaged with important social, political, and cultural issues? In time for the twenty-fifth anniversary, Henry offers the first comprehensive understanding of the show as a satire and explores the ways in which The Simpsons participates in the so-called "culture war" debates taking place in American society.
This dissertation explores The Simpsons as a satirical artwork that engages with important social, political, and cultural issues in American culture. The primary purpose is to examine the ways in which the show participates in the so-called "culture war" debates that have been taking place in American culture over issues related to race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, and religion. As the growing body of scholarship on The Simpsons attests, the show does more than simply mirror modern American life; it also makes regular interventions into the heated debates surrounding many of the contentious issues that have been gathered under the umbrella of the "culture wars"--E.g., definitions of "American" identity, immigration policy, gender equality, gay and lesbian rights, and the increased secularization of society. This dissertation also examines the tensions inherent in the show's status as a commercial and artistic object and the impact this potentially has on dealing with such highly politicized issues. The examination of The Simpsons' use of satire is intended to illuminate how the show both reflects and influences the cultural conversations taking place in American society over these issues. To elucidate the satirical aims of The Simpsons, I first situate the show within a number of contexts, including the legacy of nuclear family situation comedy made popular on television in the 1950s, the rise of Fox Television as a fourth broadcast network in the 1980s, and the satirical tradition in American mass media. The remaining chapters of the dissertation approach of The Simpsons and American culture thematically, exploring in more detail questions concerning race, ethnicity, class and national identity; gender, feminism, and female identity; sexuality, gay rights, and queer identity; and, finally, religious and spiritual identity.
This book looks at The Simpsons place in the pop culture firmament, from inspirations like Mad magazine to its critical role in the renaissance of animated television. The author recounts the birth of the show, discusses its remarkable merchandising success, and examines the show’s popularity as the longest running episodic program in TV history.
Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2006 im Fachbereich Didaktik für das Fach Englisch - Sonstiges, Note: 1,3, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (Englisches Seminar), Veranstaltung: Landeskunde: Britain and Europe, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: The following essay will explore political and social satire in The Simpsons. This essay will prove Homer Simpson wrong saying in the episode “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington”: “...cartoons don’t have any deep meaning. They are just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh”. In this essay it will be argued that The Simpsons provides us with an in-depth satirical reflection on U.S. society and, to a certain degree, on Western societies in general. Furthermore, this essay will examine the view of creator Matt Groening and the other writers of The Simpsons that the programme skilfully incorporates the subtext that “[t]he people in power don’t always have your best interest in mind” (Cantor 1999, p. 745). Armstrong (2005a, p. 11) emphasises in his article about “Satire as Critical Pedagogy” that satire is a vehicle through which political literacy will be developed and underlines that it is an important part of political education. Thus, the analysis of satire is a vital part of cultural studies and is accordingly examined in this essay.
Author : John Alberti Publisher : Wayne State University Press Page : 388 pages File Size : 22,97 MB Release : 2004 Category : Drama ISBN : 9780814328491
Since its first appearance as a series of cartoon vignettes in 1987 and its debut as a weekly program in 1990, The Simpsons has had multiple, even contradictory, media identities. Although the show has featured biting political and social satire, which often proves fatal to mass public acceptance, The Simpsons entered fully into the mainstream, consistently earning high ratings from audiences and critics alike. Leaving Springfield addresses the success of The Simpsons as a corporate-manufactured show that openly and self-reflexively parodies the very consumer capitalism it simultaneously promotes. By exploring such topics as the impact of the show's satire on its diverse viewing public and the position of The Simpsons in sitcom and television animation history, the commentators develop insights into the ways parody intermixes with mass media to critique post modern society. In spite of the longevity and high cultural profile of the show, The Simpsons has so far attracted only scattered academic attention. Leaving Springfield will be of importance to both scholars of media and fans of the show interested in the function of satire in popular culture in general and television in particular.
Sacred centers -- The difference race makes: Native American Religions, Hinduism, and Judaism -- American Christianity, part 1: backwards neighbors -- American Christianity, part 2: American Christianities as dangerous threats -- Stigma, stupidity, and exclusion: "cults" and Muslims -- List of episodes referenced
Author : Joseph J. Foy Publisher : University Press of Kentucky Page : 365 pages File Size : 20,70 MB Release : 2021-05-11 Category : Social Science ISBN : 081318326X
The modern landscape of American entertainment is filled with commentary on the state of the union. Viewers turn to The Daily Show instead of Fox or CNN, satirical films such as Wag the Dog, cartoons like The Simpsons, or controversial action dramas similar to 24 in order to learn more about current events in the United States. Popular culture is educating America more than the nightly news, aiding viewers in their quest to understand the American political system. In Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: American Politics through Popular Culture, Joseph J. Foy and other contributing scholars offer diverse political perspectives through the framework of popular culture. From the classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to the cutting-edge television program Chappelle's Show, a wide spectrum of entertainment media is used to explain the complexities of U.S. politics and how audiences engage with them. Popular culture and politics have never been so intertwined in the American consciousness as they are today. As political knowledge becomes increasingly fragmented, Homer Simpson Goes to Washington explains how popular culture can actually help connect people to their government.
A volume of enlightening essays on how TV shows, movies, and music can change hearts and minds. Amid all its frenetic humor, the long-running animated hit The Simpsons has often questioned what is culturally acceptable, wading into controversial subjects like gay rights, the war on terror, religion, and animal rights. This subtle form of political analysis is effective in changing opinions and attitudes on a large scale. Homer Simpson Marches on Washington explores the transformative power that enables popular culture to influence political agendas, frame the consciousness of audiences, and create profound shifts in values and ideals. To investigate the full spectrum of popular culture in a democratic society, editors Timothy M. Dale and Joseph J. Foy gather a top-notch team of scholars who use television shows such as Star Trek, The X-Files, All in the Family, The View, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report, as well as movies and popular music, to investigate contemporary issues in American popular culture.
This two-volume set surveys the profound impact of political humor and satire on American culture and politics over the years, paying special attention to the explosion of political humor in today's wide-ranging and turbulent media environment. Historically, there has been a tendency to regard political satire and humor as a sideshow to the wider world of American politics—entertaining and sometimes insightful, but ultimately only of modest interest to students and others surveying the trajectory of American politics and culture. This set documents just how mistaken that assumption is. By examining political humor and satire throughout US history, these volumes not only illustrate how expressions of political satire and humor reflect changes in American attitudes about presidents, parties, and issues but also how satirists, comedians, cartoonists, and filmmakers have helped to shape popular attitudes about landmark historical events, major American institutions and movements, and the nation's political leaders and cultural giants. Finally, this work examines how today's brand of political humor may be more influential than ever before in shaping American attitudes about the nation in which we live.
Animation, both in film and on television, has long been regarded as a playful, subversive medium that is free to communicate countercultural messages, as it is not bound by the use of tangible sets and cinematographic conventions associated with live-action productions. Though many countries around the world have experimented with animation, it is considered to be indigenous to the United States, and American animation has a longstanding tradition of questioning the dominant sociopolitical ideologies that guide American citizens, both at home and abroad. This thesis examines Fox's animated television sitcoms, The Simpsons (1989-present) and King of the hill (1997-present) and discusses the satirical strategies (both narrative and visual) used in these series to make viewers aware of the difficulties that arise when we try to define 'American culture' in an increasingly global world. Factors that complicate attempts to name general characteristics and symbols that 'sum up' America and the American way of life, such as regionalism, immigration, and globalization, are explored in detail as they are represented and negotiated in these popular series.