Sitcoms have been part of American culture for decades and reflected, influenced and comforted US society through social change.
Hopefully the video clips are embedded.
Sitcoms have been part of American culture for decades and reflected, influenced and comforted US society through social change.
Hopefully the video clips are embedded.
The Simpsons, Hyper-Irony, and the Meaning of LifeBy Carl Mathes.docxjoshua2345678
The Simpsons, Hyper-Irony, and the Meaning of Life
By Carl Matheson
From “The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer” by Open Court Publishing.
Disaffected youth #1: Here comes that cannonball guy. He's cool.
Disaffected youth #2: Are you being sarcastic, dude?
Disaffected youth #1: I don't even know anymore.
("Homerpalooza," season seven)
What separates the comedies that were shown on television fifty, forty, or even twenty five years ago from those of today? First, we may notice technological differences, the difference between black and white and color, the difference between film stock (or even kinescope) and video. Then there are the numerous social differences. For instance, the myth of the universal traditional two-parent family is not as secure as it was in the fifties and sixties, and the comedies of the different eras reflect changes in its status � although even early comedies of the widow/widower happy fifties, sixties and seventies were full of non-traditional families, such as are found in The Partridge Family, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Julia, The Jerry van Dyke Show, Family Affair, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, Bachelor Father, and My Little Margie. Also, one may note the ways in which issues such as race have received different treatments over the decades.
But, I would like to concentrate on a deeper transformation: today's comedies, at least most of them, are funny in different ways from those of decades past. In both texture and substance the comedy of The Simpsons and Seinfeld is worlds apart from the comedy of Leave it to Beaver and The Jack Benny Show, and is even vastly different from much more recent comedies, such as Mash and Maude. First, today's comedies tend to be highly quotational: many of today's comedies essentially depend on the device of referring to or quoting other works of popular culture. Second, they are hyper-ironic: the flavor of humor offered by today's comedies is colder, based less on a shared sense of humanity than on a sense of world-weary cleverer-than-thou-ness. In this essay I would like to explore the way in which The Simpsons uses both quotationalism and hyper-ironism and relate these devices to currents in the contemporary history of ideas.
Quotationalism
Television comedy has never completely foregone the pleasure of using pop culture as a straight-man. However, early instances of quotation tended to be opportunistic; they did not comprise the substance of the genre. Hence, in sketch comedy, one would find occasional references to popular culture in Wayne and Shuster and Johnny Carson, but these references were really treated as just one more source of material. The roots of quotationalism as a main source of material can be found in the early seventies with the two visionary comedies, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, which lampooned soap eras by being an ongoing soap opera, and Fernwood 2Night, which, as a small-budget talk show, took on small-bud.
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Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
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Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
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Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
3. Background
• The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by
Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company.
• The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American
lifestyle epitomized by its dysfunctional family of the same
name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and
Maggie.
• The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and
parodies American culture, society, television, and many
aspects of the human condition.
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4. Why is it postmodern?
• Narrative-speaking - the Simpsons follows a non-linear narrative creating confusions over time and
space. This is a post-modern trait, and is typical of comedy programs such as Family Guy. This trait
is made obvious to the audience when a character may state something like “oh don’t worry, it’ll all
be alright by the next episode”, making the audience feel as if the characters are almost aware that
they are in a show.
• Simulacra and stimulation - using a cartoon within the actual cartoon, called “Itchy & Scratchy”. In
effect, this show that the two children of The Simpsons family watch, is a stimulation of the “real
world” of Springfield – essentially a hyper reality inside a hyper reality. It is also interesting to note
that “Itchy & Scratchy” uses no consequential violence just like the cartoon “Tom& Jerry” and
almost seems an exact replicate of the cartoon, which is ironic.
• programme seems to not be localised in any other region rather than America, nor any other period
of time than the post modern era. As well as this, there is no sign of progress being made within the
children in school. For example, Maggie is forever sucking her dummy, and the audience never
actually witness her growing, such as learning to walk or talk, etc.. Every single character’s image
stays stagnant.
• Patiche - programme constantly makes fun of issues in the real world which is a decline of the
meta-narrative, being a frequent theme throughout. Fun is poked at religion, the government, social
issues and more, with light consistently being made out of any situation.
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5. Why is it postmodern?
• Intertextuality - Intertextuality is where media texts show references to other well known scenes or
images, and is often used in The Simpsons where many episodes contain intertextual references
from classic scenes in well known movies. In ‘Bart To The Future’, the name itself is a play on words
from the hit 80s film ‘Back To The Future’ and throughout the episode there are images and object
taken from that particular film. For example various gadgets such as the flying car, and hover
crafts are often cited as iconic objects from the back to the future trilogy.
• Hyper-reality - One of Baudrillard’s most well known theory’s of hyper-reality is also used by
Groening. Although the show is based on real life events that could potentially happen to real
people, occasionally the laws of nature are opposed by some of the episodes containing aliens or
other religious or mythical creatures. This particular episode of the series shows hyper-reality as
Bart is able to take a look into his future, and throughout the scene frequently switches back to the
‘present’ so the audience are able to see Bart reflect on the state of his future self.
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6. Girls just want to have sums
• Harvard principle Skinner is fired for offending feminists by suggesting differences in
performance in math/science may be due to innate differences between men and
women. He is then replaced by women’s educational expert, Melanie, who demands that
the males and females in Harvard are separated immediately, and the audience see
females treated differently from now on.
• “What is the source of this illusion, or as I call it, the biggest lie ever told?”
Principle Skinner states as he stands on stage, speaking out to all of the feminist women
before him, who do not look very pleased. There is an instant display of lack of
seriousness and irony in this clip, as the Principle of the school is mocking quite a serious
topic (feminism). This is a very post-modern trait as it is making light of political issues
that do happen in the real world.
• Then, a woman in a pink blazer stands up and shouts “you’re a worse version of Hitler”
as she ironically points her hand out at Skinner, almost as if she is mimicking Hitler.
The irony is reinforced here – the episode is beginning to look like a parody, as the topic
of Hitler is very serious and a piece of history is being mocked. Also, another crucial
post modern aspect of this is that it is intertextual by referencing to Hitler.
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7. Girls just want to have sums
• Stereotypes and mocking of serious matters - Skinner states “please, believe me I understand the
problems of women” as he laughs and stands to the side in a flowery, pink dress. The idea that The
Simpsons are representing a stereotype of females here, to all wear floral dresses, is very post modern
as again, this is a sensitive subject that especially feminists, would not like to set their eyes upon. The
mocking of serious subjects returns yet again when a child shouts “ha ha, Skinner’s a tranny”. Of
course, many transsexual individuals could feel deeply affected by this sort of mention as these “new”
subjects are not usually spoken about, but it is apparent that the modernity of this program really does
push boundaries.
• “How do numbers make you feel?” Principle Melanie passionately asks a student after she switches on a
light that makes fraction symbols and numbers float around the room. This presents another stereotype
of females to constantly think with their emotions instead of thinking rationally and practically, and
being “soft” and “girly”. The fact that The Simpsons confidently represents this stereotype is very post
modern.
• Pastiche - When the next scene presents the new Principle, Melanie, teaching her new class of females,
there is an element of pastiche conveyed. It is interesting to note that the previous scenery was very
traditional and sensible in the school’s assembly hall, which suddenly switches to an “airy-fairy”,
feminine classroom suddenly full of purple pufé chairs, flowers and soft-lighting. This represents the
very post modern merging of looks/genres.
• The Simpsons has a general liberal attitude to serious matters like Feminism, which can be taken very
seriously by many individuals. I felt that this whole episode made light of serious issues and was very
ironic and mocking, which of course, is very post modern.
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