Preview

Postmodernism and the Simpsons

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
10787 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Postmodernism and the Simpsons
Hugvísindadeild

Postmodernism and The Simpsons
Intertextuality, Hyperreality and Critique of Metanarratives

Ritgerð til B.A.-prófs

Björn Erlingur Flóki Björnsson bjornfloki@gmail.com Kt. 110982-5779 Maí 2006

Abstract

This essay offers a postmodernist reading of the popular television program The Simpsons, with special regard to the postmodern theories of intertexuality, hyperreality, and metanarratives. Before delving into The Simpsons, some major theoretical aspects of postmodernism in aesthetic production are outlined. Three of the most prominent theorists of postmodernism – Lyotard, Baudrillard and Jameson – are introduced, as well as their theories which will be brought into consideration in the following chapters. The objective of the essay is to apply these theories to The Simpsons and thereby reveal some of the foremost characteristics of the postmodern which are readily exhibited in the show. The first section, on Lyotard’s theory of metanarratives, explores the manifestations of anti-authoritative tendencies in The Simpsons and the methods used to express them. The following section covers the subject of intertextuality in The Simpsons through parody, pastiche and self-reflexivity. This section concludes by identifying parallels between The Simpsons and Jameson’s theory on the loss of historical reality in the postmodern era. In the final section we examine how Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality can be applied to The Simpsons. Particular attention is given to the role of the mass media in the construction of postmodern hyperreality, in order to illustrate the media’s influence on Springfield’s most famous citizen, Homer Simpson.

Table of Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 Postmodernism: Profile of a Cultural Movement ................................................................ 4 Key Terms and Theories of Postmodernism

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Donovan, C. (2005). Postmodern in Counternarratives. New York: Routledge. [Online]. Retrieved at: www.library.nu [January 2nd 2011].…

    • 15087 Words
    • 61 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Parodies, today, can be found just about everywhere in literacy and in some forms of media; TV or internet. A parody is a literary term meaning, an exaggerated impression of another literary works’ style. Prominent examples of parodies are found in the film industry. The Simpsons is a great example of a show that uses parodies. The Simpsons usually has parodies of films, most conspicuous example is the film Citizen Kane. In the episode Rosebud, the use of symbols and cinematography creates a parody of the classic film Citizen Kane to appeal to many demographics.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Simpsons Satire

    • 223 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Simpsons is an American TV series, created by Matt Groening. This TV show is more for children. The series is a satirical representation of the middle-class American lifestyle epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a request for a series of animated shorts with a producer James L. Brooks. The Simpsons have a place in the fictional town of Springfield American in an unknown and impossible to determine, in the US state. The show is intentionally elusive regarding the location of Springfield.…

    • 223 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Society has now entered a new, postmodern age, and we need new theories to understand it (33 marks)…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This book looks closely at character development and how linguistics and dialogue further the development of the characters in a variety of television shows. The book specifically looks at Gilmore Girls in Part One, “Fictional Television: Dialogue and Drama,” and in the chapter “The Genre of Dramedy and its Audience.” In this chapter, Bednarek looks at the relationship between dialogue and genre, specifically the intertextual references and dramedy of Gilmore Girls. In analyzing the dialogue, Bednarek looks specifically at the “intertextual references to classical literature, popular culture, American and European history, celebrity, feminist activism and current events” (31). It also gives an overview of the show itself, discussing its commercial success and its place within both The CW and The WB. This will help me as I discuss the intertextuality within the dialogue and will help support my argument that the intertextuality in the episode and the show as a whole furthers character development and audiences’ perception of the characters.…

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In recent discussions of the show Family Guy, a controversial issue has been whether it should be watched or not. Family Guy is a television show that has been on air for over a dozen seasons, but it has been criticized greatly over the years and has gained media controversy due to its inappropriate and distasteful jokes. The show does in fact make jokes about celebrities and situations in a manner that causes serious conflict amongst some viewers. Family Guy is a comedy intended for adult viewers that enjoy this type of humor, so if it is not appealing to you, you should just refrain from watching the show. Despite the negative aspect of the jokes and the language being used,…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Simpsons Satire

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Simpsons are one of the longest running and most popular television shows. This popularity exists because "the Simpsons [have] 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). Satire is the common thread with binds all of The Simpsons episodes. The writers show the absurdity in ordinary everyday situations including religion, politics and other social issues. This has been the leading cause for its controversy and longevity. However, the Simpsons' crude style is necessary and meant to induce anger. The public school system is one of the most common targets of satire.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological disorder. It is usually present from childhood and causes symptoms such as hyperactivity, poor impulse control, forgetfulness and distractibility. Bart Simpson, the eldest of the Simpsons’ family displayed signs of ADHD. His symptoms were shown though out the episode, especially in the starting. First evidence was shown when principle Skinner is telling Bart about the firefighting equipment and Bart, distractedly, asks about each of them, one after another. He also doesn’t listen to what the principle was telling him thus displaying one of the signs of ADHD. Second evidence was when Bart floods the school gymnasium without regard for the consequences he will have to go though thus showing another sign. The third evidence is of Bart talking non-stop about anything; this is a major sign of ADHD. Lastly, the patterns shown by principle Skinner show that Bart gets distracted easily by anything around him, thus causing those around him to get lower grades. This mental illness is very common in students these days and is better if caught early as medication can help cure it.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Simpsons Satire

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Long running animated comedy The Simpsons is known for making its audience laugh at the outrageous antics of its larger than life characters. However, The Simpsons does more than just make us laugh. It challenges us to think about issues we deal with on a daily basis such as morality, institutional power, and politics, giving us an avenue in which we can release tension we have built up over such issues through laughter at the characters’ unconventional handlings of situations arising from these issues.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Simpsons Satire

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Simpsons is a popular, prime-time, animated comedy program. Those who have never seen the program may dismiss it as being merely a children's show. That assumption could be made of many animated programs. However, those non-viewers are likely unaware that The Simpsons is a very cleverly written show. The humor in the show is written with various aspects that appeal to different segments of the audience. The characters are written in such a way that many people can relate to one or more of the characters. These factors allow the program to appeal to the large segments of the public in different ways.…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Postmodernism is best understood by defining the modernist ethos it replaced - that of the avant-garde who were active from 1860s to the 1950s. The various artists in the modern period were driven by a radical and forward thinking approach, ideas of technological positivity, and grand narratives of Western domination and progress. The arrival of Neo-Dada and Pop art in post-war America marked the beginning of a reaction against this mindset that came to be known as postmodernism. The reaction took on multiple artistic forms for the next four decades, including Conceptual art, Minimalism, Video art, Performance art, and Installation art. These movements are diverse and disparate but connected by certain characteristics: ironical and playful…

    • 160 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Information Age

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Postmodern which came into use shortly after World War II, it is the era that follows Modernism, and designates the cultural condition of the late twentieth century. Postmodern primarily occurred in the West, artist offered alternatives to the high seriousness and introversion of Modernist expression. Postmodernism is also self consciously populist even to the point of inviting the active participation of the beholder. Postmodern artist bring wry skepticism to the creative act, less preoccupied than Modernist. Postmodernist also acknowledged art as an information system and a commodity shaped by the electronic media, they are more designed than authorial, postmodernist are pluralistic. The visual arts of the Information Age have not assumed any single, unifying style. Rather they are diverse and electric reflecting the postmodern preoccupation with the media shaped…

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This paper is giving me a chance to write about my favorite show of all time. I am a very big fan of The Simpsons and have always wondered if some of the characters had some kind of personality disorders until now. After reading the information in the book and in the lectures I have come to understand exactly what kind of personality disorders are being portrayed in the show. I am writing this based on the movie and not one of the shows.…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Eck Is Interrupted?

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The idea of postmodernism claims to be the successor and defendant of the 17th century’s Enlightenment. Postmodernists believe that western powers’ claims of freedom and prosperity are nothing more than empty promises that have not met the needs of humanity. They believe that truth is a simple and relative idea; truth is up to each individual to determine for himself. The idea of postmodernism believes that nationalism builds walls, creates enemies, and destroys the Earth. This is capitalism creates a “have and have not” society, and religion causes moral friction and division among people. It is important to know that postmodernism challenges the core religious and capitalistic values of the Western world and seeks a change for a new era of…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Throughout history, people have been trying to settle the matter of how to properly establish the value of one man’s life. A task such as this is undeniably difficult because of the vast diversity and uniqueness between every person on planet Earth. Egomaniacal and deviant individuals have come and gone believing that they hold such answers nevertheless, acting as self-appointed appraisers of whether or not one man is worth more than the next. Is preparing a monetary or economic figure appropriate, or does ascertaining this amount require something deeper? A common response to this quandary is to not place importance on the value of a man’s life, but rather what is of value in said life. While many in today’s America get caught up with lucrative and self-serving desires, true value is dictated by how happy we are, the experiences we have, and the relationships we acquire. Two landmark films in American cinema, Citizen Kane and It’s a Wonderful Life, touch upon the topic of the valuation of a man through different means and character development. Along with the television series The Simpsons, both of the aforementioned works expounds upon where value genuinely lies in American culture.…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics