Simpsons


 * The Simpsons **

// The Simpsons // is an American situational comedy animated series that is televised on Fox Broadcasting Stations. This series was created by [|Matt Groening]and debut on December 17, 1989. // The Simpsons // features the adventures of a dysfunctional and politically incorrect family. Homer is an unhealthy and delirious father, and his wife Marge is a hardworking stay-at-home mother. Their eldest child, Bart, is a trouble maker, while Lisa is an unappreciated child genius ﻿. Lastly, their youngest daughter is a silent infant ﻿﻿ named  Maggie. The Simpson's has had success since the debut of the show in 1989. It has ran a total of 23 seasons and has won numerous awards.

__ Table of Contents __ 1 Development of the show 1.1 Origins

1.2 Behind the voices
1.3 Characters 2 Springfield 3 Achievements, Legacy 3.1 Reception 3.2 Achievements 4 //The Simpsons// and Postmodernism

//**﻿ **//
 * Development of the Show **

[|James L. Brooks], one of the executive producers of the show in the mid-1980’s was asked by Fox to create a series named the “[|Tracey Ullman Show]”. In order to rejuvenate this show to captivate American audiences Brooks decided to create an animated short series with counterculture cartoonist Matt Groening which would later become //The Simpsons//. To retain licensing rights for his animated characters Groening developed a new short series idea. This animated short would premier in its own prime time show on January 1990.
 * // Origins //**

This animated show includes six main cast members that creatively do voice overs for not just one but several characters on the series. The primary characters are played by Dan Castallanetta as Homer Simpson, Barney Grumble, Krusty the Clown and other male characters.Julie Kavner performs Marge Simpson and her two twin sisters Patty and Selma Bouvier. Lisa is played by Yeardly Smith, the only cast member to only perform one role. Bart Simpson is played by Nancy Cartwright who is the only primary voice actor to receive professional training prior to working on the show. Hank Azaria performs for characters such as Apu and Moe as well as other a majority of the other male towns people who reappear on many of the different episodes.
 * // Behind the voices //**

//** Characters **// // The Simpsons // live on 742 Evergreen Terrace Springfield in the US. The Simpson family is the primary focus on the show. Homer Simpson is the father who works at a nuclear power plant. He is abrasive, wild, and acts on impulse. His wife Marge is a modern American house-wife who keeps the family toget ﻿ her. Bart Simpson is the eldest of their three children ﻿ ﻿ ﻿   ﻿﻿and a ﻿disobedient ﻿ ﻿ ﻿   daredevil. As for his younger sister Lisa, ﻿she is ﻿the complete the opposite  ﻿of Bart. She is a child genius, and ﻿she ﻿ prides herself in having the most moral values in the family. The youngest daughter, Maggie, is a young infant that communicates through her pacifier. The unique chracteristics of The Simpsons cast adds to the charm and quality of the show.


 * Setting **

//** Springfield **// The setting of the series is rooted in Springfield USA. It contains deserts, farmland, various economic standpoints, and a vast array of different people. It is also landlocked near the ocean. Springfield has, in essence, whatever the writers need it to be.


 * Responce and Achievements **

//** Reception **// //The Simpsons// has received various amounts of responses. In the earlier seasons of the show, Bart Simpson played a prominent role in ﻿its success. His spiky hair and phrases such as “eat my shorts” and “Underachiever and proud of it man!” soon took the United States by storm. Millions of Bart Simpson merchandise were sold over the course of the early 1990’s. Many conservatives and American public schools believed Bart to be a negative role model for children and therefore banned Bart Simpson merchandise. Though there was some cold responses for the lack of values that some thought the show did not have, //the Simpsons// went on to become an animated classic.

//** Achievements **// By the second season //the Simpsons// had achieved such great success it was moved from its regular scheduling on Sunday to Thursday nights competing with the reigning television show, The Cosby Show on NBC. It eventually surpassed its ratings and became number one on television ratings. On February 9 1997, //The Simpsons// became the longest running prime-time animated show by exceeding The Flintstones. In 2007 it then became the longest running prime time show in America by surpassing Ozzy and Harriet. //The Simpsons// has also won numerous awards. It has notably won 27 Emmy awards, 27 Annie awards, and with an outstanding total of 123 awards won. It has also received a star on the [|Hollywood Walk of Fame].


 * //The Simpsons// and Postmodernism **

// The Simpsons // is a dynamic and innovative show that premiered toward the end of the twentieth century. Since its debut in 1989, the show has experienced great success. The program features a dysfunctional American family in the town of Springfield. This new realistic approach to comedy within the show reflects and encompasses many ideals of postmodernism. This is through the shows portrayal of society, and with that the rising rate of consumerism, and fragmentation of the storyline.
 * Analysis **

The first and foremost connection that //The Simpsons// reflects postmodernism is its portrayal of current society. The makers of the show ingeniously created an animated world that allowed its viewers to relate to Springfield by depicting a variety of characters. The fictional multi-faceted town of Springfield is specifically located in “anywhere, anytime” USA. The formatting and setting of the show, along with the fact that it is animated creates the perfect atmosphere of limitless boundaries for both its characters and plots. Because of this, it is possible to make social commentary on subjects such as religion, politics, pop-culture, the media, and much more; all of which //The Simpsons// rarely leave untouched. With fewer limits to the plotline the show is able to use the postmodern technique of pastiche. This is where other works, artists, or periods are recreated. //The Simpsons// is commonly known for its parodies on these subject matters. The creators’ achievements in developing a fictional world such as Springfield have come the closest in ontemporary television to best reflect society as a whole.

Similarly to //The Simpsons,// religion is viewed differently in a postmodern world. Constant change is rooted in the belief that there are no absolute truths or values, only individual religious impulses in such a society. In essence, there is not a wrong or right religion. In the American society this is becoming a more common development. During modernism, society was mainly focused on individual religions and how there could only be one true religion; the postmodern society has brought about more acceptance. This can be seen when prayer was taken out of schools in 1963 in order to be more neutral. The Simpson family attends church on a regular basis, but they don’t really follow common Christian values. Other characters on the sitcom have various religious belief systems and are able to peacefully coincide with those with differing viewpoints. This emphasizes how society is working towards acceptance of those with other beliefs.

Politics in the postmodern society also breaks traditional values with its belief that democratic principles are usually flawed, difficult to manage, unfair to the minority of society, and has an economic system that doesn’t provide equal distribution of wealth. During the Reagan administration, Ronald Reagan sought to restore economic stability through what was called supply side economics. By giving tax breaks to the wealthy, the belief was that the wealth would trickle down to lower classes. A majority of the lower working class felt that this was unfair due to a drastic increase in the gap between the wealthy and poor.

In addition to making endless social commentary about many subjects, //The Simpsons// has also been able to portray a major aspect of the postmodern society: consumerism. The invention of the television and its widespread use continues to be an integral part of the postmodern society. It has become a necessity because it is used to publically reach many viewers for things such as advertisements, television shows, movies, and music. Therefore, the television has significantly added to the rate of consumerism. The crazed impulse to acquire began after the economic boom of the 1950’s. Increased military spending helped to stimulate domestic prosperity. This economic boom gave room for more spending which also caused the advertising industry to grow.

In a postmodern society advertisements are seen everywhere. Americans are fed advertisements about needs and wants on a daily basis; the citizens of springfield also face the same predicament. Characters are frequently swayed by advertisements about how to look better, feel better, act better by using a product. A multitude of episodes comically display how advertisers use various methods to sell their products to naive consumers. Advertisers usually market to target group depending on their product. This is also comically displayed when Homer, the patriarch of the Simpson family, in “Homer’s Odyssey” (season 1 episode 3) watches an advertisement by Duff Beer that is targeting the unemployed. Though some of the advertisements found in //The Simpsons// are somewhat far fetched, they are based on events that occur in the American society.

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Thirdly, the show contradicts traditional modern television programs. The fragmentation of the storyline throughout the plot was innovative during the late twentieth century. The unpredictability of the plot is shown through the erratic placement of the storyline. A great example of this is the opening credits of the show. Clouds are parted then scenes of each Simpson family member, as well as tertiary characters from the program are shown in an almost chaotic and rushed manner, but in the end the main characters end up on the couch with their problems resolved, peacefully to watching television. Another example can also be seen in “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass” (season 16 episode 8). There are two stories being told that eventually merge into one. Homer teaches several sports figures, while his neighbor Ned Flanders creates gory Bible films. At the end of the episode, both Homer and Ned work together to create a Super Bowl half-time show. In separating the plots into two or more stories the program contradicts traditional story lines of the twentieth century which were neither erratic nor fragmented.

Fragmentation of the full storyline has been a normal part of American politics during various administrations in postmodern times. This has caused a sense of distrust of both the Federal Government and presidents in the American public. For instance the Reagan administration was involved with the Iran-Contra Affair that took place in 1985.During the Iran and Iraq war, President Reagan secretly dealt arms to Iran in return for American hostages. Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, a part of the National Security Council, also covertly diverted the funds from arms sales to the insurgent Contras’ cause in Nicaragua; only in November of 1986 did the American public find out about the full details of the controversy. As stated earlier in this paper the Reagan administration was important in helping the nation's economy rebound but was also secretly involved in dirty dealings. Though Americans disapproved fragmentation in the government, fragmentation in the storyline of //The Simpsons// has received praise from its many viewers. // The Simpsons // is a classic show that has successfully and humorously depicted the American society in the fictional city of Springfield. By doing so it has both impacted and defined postmodernism through its direct references of society, consumerism, and erratic plot lines.
 * Work Cited **

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//YouTube -// // ‪ NEW! SIMPSONS 1st OPENING IN (HD)//// ‏ //. //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 07 June 2011. [].