The Simpsons Essay example - 1184 Words

The Simpsons When the FOX network aired The Simpsons in 1989, the show brought the yellow-skinned and four-fingered cartoon characters named Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson into millions of American living rooms. This bent archetype of the American family, as well as the hundreds of zany characters that populate their all-American hometown of Springfield, fast became the targets of enormous criticism. Elementary schools banned T-shirts bearing the images of the Simpson family and their slogans. Former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett and even President George Bush berated the show as subversive and demeaning (McAllister 1494). However, a more careful investigation of the show reveals far more than†¦show more content†¦In one episode, Homer makes an unwitting jab at U.S health care. Americas health care system is second only to Japans . . . he says, then adds, Canadas . . . Swedens . . . Great Britains . . . well, all of Europe (McAllister 1494). In another, Homer tries to buy a gun although he is a felon and a former mental patient on the governments list of potentially dangerous people. In a lampoon of American gun control, the dealer tells him that being potentially dangerous means only that he must wait a week before he can buy a weapon (Cantor). In fact, according to those behind the scenes, these forays into politics mark more than just material for the next laugh; rather, they are deliberate efforts to shape American society. Simpsons creator Matt Groening says that, under its facade of humor, the show is trying to nudge people, jostle them a little, wake them up to some of the ways in which were being manipulated and exploited. He adds, The Simpsons message over and over again is that your moral authorities dont always have your best interests in mind (Doherty). Going beyond politics, and perhaps into trickier territory, The Simpsons often criticizes religion in America. For instance, the Simpsons over-pious neighbors are a stereotype with which the show lambastes the Religious Right, and the local minister condemns gambling, the eighth deadly sin, while his church hosts bingo, Reno, and MonteShow MoreRelatedThe Simpsons Essay1011 Words   |  5 PagesThe Simpsons A sitcom is a situational comedy television series. Sitcoms usually use comic devices to make them funny like puns, violence and exaggeration. They use satire, farce, parody, jokes, gags and slapstick to entertain the audience. Sitcoms usually last 30 minutes if shown on commercial TV and they involve chracters having problems which they try to sort out. Leaver it to Beaver was about a typical, white middle-class 1950s family that had problems and workedRead MoreEssay on The Simpsons1474 Words   |  6 PagesThe Simpsons The Simpsons is an original, satirical American sitcom cartoon, which is shown all over the world and appeals to a wide range of audiences with its unique, yet basic form of humour. It stereotypes and satirises the typical American lower middle class family. With its simple plots, exaggerated situations, unrealistic scenarios, lurid colours, humour, animation and familiar pattern, it is a typical cartoon but with an original twist. This makes it like noRead MoreEssay on The Simpsons1081 Words   |  5 PagesThe Simpsons Since its first episode in January 1990, The Simpsons has become a worldwide phenomenon. For the first time a show existed as an animated television sitcom, it addresses and satirises important issues through the fictional town of Springfield, (aka a typical American town). The show starts with 2 minutes of introductory credits, accompanied by boisterous music, through which the audience is shown around the town of Springfield and briefly glimpse theRead More The Simpsons as a Sitcom Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe Simpsons as a Sitcom The Simpsons is an example of an American sitcom. A sitcom is situation comedy, which is when the same setting and same characters appear in every episode. Examples of sitcoms are programs such as The Crosby Show and more recent sitcoms such as Friends. Sitcoms surfaced in the 1950s in America showing the ideal family. Slowly sitcoms started to show the reality of life and dealt with social issues such as divorce and unemployment. SitcomsRead MoreThe Simpsons on Television Essay1345 Words   |  6 Pages The Simpsons How does a television series keep going in this time of ever changing network schedules and shows that grow stale after twelve weeks? 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The Flintstones were the greatest TV cartoon of all time until The Simpsons came and took theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film The Simpsons 984 Words   |  4 PagesThe Simpsons often parody many classic films. One film they parody is Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese. In this film the character Henry Hill narrates his life as a gangster. He goes through the reasons why he decided to become a gangster. He explains how being a gangster makes him feel like a som ebody and how they offer him protection. The Mafia gives Henry Hill a place to call his own. The mafia becomes his family. The movie Goodfellas is based off of a book called Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi whichRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer Simpson s The Simpsons 1288 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study on Homer Simpson By: Ian Conway Homer Simpson is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists in the TV show The Simpsons. Dan Castellanta voices him. He lives in a fictional town called Springfield, Oregon, United States. He is married to Marge Simpson with three children named Bart, Lisa and Maggie. He has a pet dog named Santa’s Little Helper and cat called Snowball. Homer currently works in the show at a Nuclear Power Plant as a Safety inspector but has worked at previousRead MoreMr. Burns : An Episode Of The Simpsons1128 Words   |  5 Pageswoods. They recount a normalcy of how life used to be, an episode of The Simpsons. Throughout the recounts on what happened in the episode â€Å"Cape Feare†, the play introduces a new character which gives exposition to the current landscape of the United States. As the play continues into its second and third act, there is a large shift on the scenery, lighting, etc. as the cast begins to recreate the episode of The Simpsons which they discuss in the previous act. While it is easy to get lost on whyRead MoreThe Simpsons Essay1565 Words   |  7 Pages The Simpsons The Simpson is now arguably the biggest sitcom and animation of TV history, but what is it that makes it so successful compared to traditional sitcoms. In order to answer this question, we have to look at sitcom as a whole; then the difference if any between modern and traditional sitcoms. Sitcoms when first released were aimed at families and it tried to show what American should be like. Sitcoms, are popular for many different reasons; some of these including