The Simpsons!

The Simpsons, an animated television sitcom created by Matt Groening, is a seen as a satirical parody of a typical middle class American type of lifestyle. This series follows a family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. It is set in a fictional city of Springfield. Many believe that this television show parodies not only American culture but also society, television, and even many facets of the life in general. The Simpsons draws upon actual events going on in our society at that time and also things that actually effect people today.



This is why it's so widely accepted, watched, and loved. The viewer can relate to the familiar situations and occurrences happening on the screen in front of them. However, another element that helps The Simpsons maintain their popularity is the escapism and comedy that comes along with the show. The viewer can dive and be immersed in everything the show has to offer. It deals with difficult elements and story lines but the show uses comedy to get their point across and help people cope with what they are going though.

Yet another manipulation on the part of The Simpsons is that fact that because it is a cartoon, the possibilities are limitless. While the show typically focuses on realistic and modern events and happenings, they have the ability to go back in time and to do things that would be otherwise impossible if it was a live action television show. This is seen in the many episodes including the one where Bart finds an underground subway station that seemingly pops out of nowhere.

The Simpsons is a part of Cartoon Realism, as discussed in Jason Mittell's article about genre mixing and the cultural life of The Simpsons. Mittell maintains that this show is not just one genre but rather two. It blurs the lines and mashes up genres. In this case, The Simpsons is both a family situational comedy and also a cartoon. Both of these facets make up the formula for one of the most popular and prolific televisions shows ever, which has been on for an astounding twenty-one seasons. It is basically unheard of to last this long especially since The Simpsons is something that seemed risky on paper. Some wondered if it would even be a hit. The Simpsons aren't new but are actually hyper reflexive. This means that it refers to itself and makes fun of itself during the show itself. The Simpsons step outside themselves to comment on their own show. This is seen when "The Itchy and Scratchy Show" shows up.



I was never really big on cartoons when I was younger. Sure, I watched them but I wasn't one of those kids waking up early on Saturday morning to watch cartoons. One that comes to mind that I enjoyed was Gargoyles. It sounds weird and maybe it was geared a little more towards boys but I enjoyed all the characters! It had a historic element as well as comedy and entertaining adventure/action sequences. I think I still have a few VHS tapes of episodes, haha! My father, who was a stay at home dad for the first five years of my life, and I would watch it together whenever it was on. It was a great way for us to bond. He still imitates the characters from time to time. I still find it utterly amusing when he does that! My favorite character was Eliza, the detective, because she was strong and determined. She was hardworking and also caring. She was a great role model.