From: slzm9@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Re: The Simpsons and what you should know.
Date: 7 Jan 93 19:02:57 GMT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1993Jan6.225717.16599@porthos.cc.bellcore.com>, dem2@pyuxd.uucp (Me) writes:
> In article <1993Jan5.203011.20899@netnews.noc.drexel.edu> 
> glovercj@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu writes:
>>[stuff deleted]
>>Now, I ask the question again, are the Simpsons really just a cartoon, or do
>>the Simpsons describe something much greater?
> 
> IMHO, the Simpson's are a reflection of *American culture* -- take that
> for what it's worth in deciding if the cartoon has a "hidden agenda".

       [some stuff deleted]

> 
> 	Darryle

   Well now you are talking about the only show on TV I watch. I don't own a
TV so I go to a friend's house or the cafeteria at school which has a big
scree TV to watch it. I might even go so far as to say I am a fan.

The Simpsons is not a simple show. Most of the jokes are not aimed at 
children. Watch the show with your children or a friend's children
and check out how man times and at what points you laugh and the children
laugh. Kids laugh when Bart drops a cherry bomb down a commode, flushes
it, and in the next bathroom Principal Skinner's mother is sent to the
ceiling like a skyrocket. Some adults laugh at that too but more likely
is when Lisa measures several distances and angles on a miniature golf
hole and tells Bart exactly where to hit the ball to make a hole in one.
When Bart hits the ball there and it goes in Bart says, "I can't believe
it Lisa, you just invented a practical use for geometry." Noone under 15
laughs at that joke, they don't know what a "practical use" is and most
don't even know what geometry is yet.

   The point of these examples is the show is aimed at adults not children.
Also many jokes are so subtle that sometimes I find entire adult audiences
missing them. So then the question is "Is there some underlying theme/
message to the Simpsons?"

   The answer is yes, but not the one I believe you think. First without
doubt the Simpsons are a family that reflect the mixed genetic heritage
of Americans (they are "yellow", Bart's hair is very curly, maybe even
dreads) but by their speech patterns and choice of phrases they
must be categorized as principly of caucasian descent. I have discussed
this with a friend in linguistics and she agrees. The voices of the Simpsons
pronounce words with a bone structure that is principally of Caucasian
descent - the linguists conclusion. Obviously she is correct when you
check out the possessors of the voices in the credits - they are white.

   Homer is a buffoon. He is typically bested intellectually by the
middle eastern clerk at the 7-11, his boss a white man, and various
and sundry characters of various descent that appear in different
episodes.

   The important question is does art imitate life or vice versa. Most
would say a little of both. The "problem" with the Simpsons is that
it imitates it a little to closely for a "comfortable" sitcom feel.
The boss really is a white, upper class, self-centered man driven
by greed with no regard for moral integrity (exept in the one episode
in which he believes he is going to die), other human beings even friends,
or environmental integrity.
   Homer is a inept, bumbling, family man with as much regard for his
own wants and needs as that of his family. He represents the selfishness
of the middle class white male.
   Lisa is a brilliant girl that is denied understanding  by her family,
school (she is sent out of the band room for playing his saxophone, solo,
she is not conforming), and society. Like America her world is inhabited
by people that will not suffer nonconformity.
   Bart is the thesis of the American kid. He is selfish, a bit slow,
destructive, shows little respect for his parents, glib, sarcastic and
violent but he does have a conscious.

   Now I think that all this hits  just a little too close to home for most
of us. We would prefer not to think that at the top is a callous,
racist, self-centered morally corrupt white man. But in our heart of hearts
we are afraid it is true. Similarly with most other characters for the
children for instance - we would prefer to believe that uniqueness,
talent, and sincerity go rewarded by the we are afraid that Public Enemy
was right, "Day after day, America eats it's young."

   Do the creators of the show intend to demonstrate that white
people are supposed to be in charge. I don't think so. Rather I believe
Matt Groening's point is to make us think about how scary these characters
are. What if  they were true, that wouldn't be so funny would it?
The message is "hey if it is so sad it's funny here on the screen what
about in your everyday life, huh?"

Peace, but not without justice,
Zip

P.S. My favorite Simpsons satirical moment: When Homer is revealed as the
     inventor of the "Flaming Mo" and becomes instantly famous he says,
     "I hope I never get like those incredibly popular fads and sell lots
     of Flaming Mo merchandise." In the background as he is saying this
     is a booth selling Simpsons dolls and other merchandise! Three people
     in an audience of 30 adults got that one.
Xref: sparky soc.culture.african.american:13675 soc.culture.asian.american:11439