Term Paper on "Role of Satire in the Simpson"

Term Paper 4 pages (1225 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Satire in the Simpsons

Satire and not pure comedy is what makes 'The Simpsons' as immensely popular and longest running cartoon show on television today. There is something about the characters and the idea behind this show that 'The Simpsons' has always been a show both for children and adults. "The Simpsons has always operated on two levels. On one level appealing to children as a fast paced cartoon and then for the older audiences for its wit and satire" (Batscha) it reflects various aspects of American life including parenting, religious, discrimination etc. To help us see our own flaws and laugh at ourselves. Some people maintain that if it were not for television policies, the Simpsons would certainly be on prime time. The Simpsons is an exaggerated reflection of what is wrong with Americans and their various beliefs. How the show has managed to stay right at the top, even surpassing the Flintstones in popularity is no mystery. Satire plays an immense important role in colossal popularity of this program since 1987 when it first appeared on HBO. "The cartoon... premiered in 60-second snippets... before getting its first special, a half-hour Christmas show on December 17, 1989" (Keveney 2).

Homer Simpsons is the device for delivering the most satiric comments on everything ranging from alcohol to children to law to religion. What makes this satire quite wholesome and hilarious is the lack of subtlety with which it is presented to the audience. Homer isn't interested in pleasing anyone so he says what is on his mind and that takes the viewers by complete surprise, though may be no longer with everybody becoming familiar with the show's incongruity. MacGregor maintains: "It is Homer Simpson who drives the show...As a moving, ever expanding satire, he is at once the best and worst of American dadness. He is forever wanting the things he'll never have, scheming to get them and failing, his appetites and disappointments as classic as the central conflicts from which all great theater and literature derives." (MacGregor 27)

Take religion for example, the Simpsons loves to take satirical hits on religion. Homer is not a religious person and he makes no qualms about accepting the truth. Somehow going to the Church is synonymous to going to an unpleasant place and every Sunday he looks for excuses to avoid going to the Church. "I have been having a wonderful day, and I owe it all to skipping church!" Homer often questions religious believes and lives in fear that he "picked the wrong religion." And on days when he succumbs to pressure and decides to go to Church, he comes back complaining and prefers watching TV that he feels "helps get rid of the unpleasant aftertaste of church." In his defense, Homer naively talks to God and does a bad job at explaining his position: "God, "I'm not a bad guy... So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to hell?." Homer convinces himself that he is happy with the way he follows religion and adds: "So I figure I should try to live right and worship you in my own way." At this point, God appears and replies: "Hmm, you've got a point there. You know, sometimes even I'd rather be watching football. Does St. Louis still have a team?" (Groening 94)

Homer is not just an empty character with too much satire and not enough substance. With all his stupidity and inappropriate behavior, Homer is sincere to the core. What he says, he says with complete conviction. He actually believes religion and spirituality are hollow concepts and similarly believes in everything that Americans find wrong in… READ MORE

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