The Simpsons Critique

Tingleff’s, The Simpsons as a Critique of Consumer Culture, describes how hypocrisy in America is displayed through humor. This text also proves that by going against the norms and taking risks, a television network advances. America’s educational systems, religious beliefs, political structures, and capitalism are all illustrated in cartoon style through The Simpsons. The characters represent ideas rather than displaying specific personalities. The plot focuses on issues relating to middle class Americans. Although animated, people can relate to this fictional family with three children and a dog because it opens our eyes to problems of our society in a sarcastic way.

The Simpsons outline our consumer culture through the eyes of middle class Americans. When the family sings about “candy” they are displaying the compulsive behavior of our society. Once we, as Americans, decide “that’s what I want” we are determined to retrieve it, no matter what it is. Characters represent ideas allowing them to be shaped to succeed according to the situation at hand. Lisa, for example, is the voice of reason or the angel that’s against the devil on your shoulder. Her high intelligence, compared to the rest of the family, allows her to be a guiding force to reason. Mr. Burns represents greed as the money-hungry, egotistic boss without regard for anyone else. These views, reason and greed, can be seen throughout America’s consumer culture.

So we aren’t reading Vogler now, but I still see Vogler.
Tingleff states that the characters represent ideas instead of personalities allowing them to fit perfectly to each episode. Vogler introduced us to archetypes which he described as masks worn by the character. The Simpsons is a prime example of the use of archetypes although they are not always typical. Lisa may be considered a mentor, Mr. Burns, the villan and Homer, the hero facing dilemmas daily. The members of the family encounter problems which call them to adventure. In the end, lessons are learned or something is gained just as the Hero’s Journey.

Marge represents the problems of the modern housewife. Do you think these problems exist today?

Male sexuality is questioned throughout a few episodes. Why do you think they would include this?

It was stated that Homer’s character is “an icon of masculine normality”. Do you agree with this? If you could create “an icon of masculine normality” what would you include?