Text 1: The Simpsons
Watch S1 / E4 - Family Prayer on #Simpsonsworld
http://www.simpsonsworld.com/
The Simpsons is a animated sitcom that uses satirical depictions of the daily lives of the characters. This satirical structure alone sets up this text to be post-modern. The show is set up as a parody the American lifestyle and culture. This is done by several political reference, historical allusions, and religious aspects. For example in this clip of the episode "Family Prayer". Homers family is eating dinner while watching TV. The audience understands this family behavior as the typical american dinner setting. Homer tries to get the family to eat dinner at the table and say a prayer in order to be a "normal family". This is were the producer is poking some fun on how american families would try to do the "normal" family activities but either failing at it or only doing it once. The producer is also poking fun on religion when Homer was saying grace at the table. The audience understands that saying grace at the dinner table is to thank the lord for the food and the family. But Homer does the opposite of that and complains about his family. The producers uses this satirical, comedy structure to show the reality of the fictional world in the reality of the real world. Having this fictional town that mirrors the real world of the audience helps show the real world problems and society. how families don't really have a focus on one another but rather on other things like televisions and cell phones. Although this episode was created in the 1990's this behavior is common in today society and now even diverted due to technological advances.
http://www.simpsonsworld.com/
The Simpsons is a animated sitcom that uses satirical depictions of the daily lives of the characters. This satirical structure alone sets up this text to be post-modern. The show is set up as a parody the American lifestyle and culture. This is done by several political reference, historical allusions, and religious aspects. For example in this clip of the episode "Family Prayer". Homers family is eating dinner while watching TV. The audience understands this family behavior as the typical american dinner setting. Homer tries to get the family to eat dinner at the table and say a prayer in order to be a "normal family". This is were the producer is poking some fun on how american families would try to do the "normal" family activities but either failing at it or only doing it once. The producer is also poking fun on religion when Homer was saying grace at the table. The audience understands that saying grace at the dinner table is to thank the lord for the food and the family. But Homer does the opposite of that and complains about his family. The producers uses this satirical, comedy structure to show the reality of the fictional world in the reality of the real world. Having this fictional town that mirrors the real world of the audience helps show the real world problems and society. how families don't really have a focus on one another but rather on other things like televisions and cell phones. Although this episode was created in the 1990's this behavior is common in today society and now even diverted due to technological advances.
Good comments about the satire throughout the clip. You highlighted the main aspect of post modern framework with this text well.
ReplyDeleteI never thought to look at The Simpsons as critiquing what is "normal" for a lot of families. More or less I just laughed because I related to a lot of it. Cool perspective! If I really had to complain about one thing at all, it would be that, in my opinion, you could get a lot more interesting moments and literary themes in The Simpsons episodes from season 3-8.
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent way of breaking down and analyzing something as commonly overlooked and simplistic as The Simpsons. This shows your good skill in processing something and interpreting what it means, as you also do through your structure of your paragraph. I only wished you would have included the clip but that's just because I would have wanted to see it
ReplyDeleteexcellent connection back to your introduction but also great relation to the world outside of the simpsons. I really understand Post Modern Criticism a lot better because of this example
ReplyDelete