Accepting Difference through Big Round Eyes and Yellow SkinLooking at the instances when the cartoon family dealt with social issues.

By: Travis Butler

Intent▪ This photo essay is intended to demonstrate the

numerous instances throughout the run of the television show, “The Simpsons”, has demonstrated how to deal with social issues including social standing, religion, and sexuality. One of the most effective ways to deal with such sensitive subjects s to poke fun at it. If a person is laughing you have got their attention and lowered their guard. If you can’t do that, you need to make them think. I plan on highlighting some of those instances through quotes, photos, and clips from the show.

▪ The Simpsons have shown us how ridiculous we can be when we rely on stereotypes. Let’s take a look.

Economic Strife, can be fun too…

• Old Gil has been a content reminder of how some people will do anything just to maintain. He has lost his wife and kids, and gets fired from everything he does, but he doesn’t give up.

Thank the Ones That Help

▪ Homer to Billy Corgan (of the Smashing Pumpkins): "Thanks to your gloomy, depressing music, my children no longer hope for the future I can not afford to give them."Corgan: "Yeah, we try to make a difference."

▪ Sometimes, you have to know your limits.

Do Things the American Way

▪ It’s funny, but this quote embodies the American principles of the working class. Work is not fun. Work does not make you happy. You just have to grin and bear it for the sake of your family.

Remember How We Got to Where We Are

When taking the Citizenship Test: Proctor: All right, here's your last question. What was the cause of the Civil War?Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.Apu: Slavery it is, sir.

Elections are a Civic Duty

▪ Homer votes. That is what you are supposed to do. This clip shows some of the faults in the voting process and the outlook of the people.

Go to Church, Learn Why You’re Going to Hell

▪ Homer: I'm not a bad guy! I work hard, and I love my kids. So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to Hell?

Make Sure Your in the Right Church

▪ Bart: What religion are you?Homer: You know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that don't work out in real life. Uh... Christianity.

▪ Episode: 3F21 Homerpalooza

A Different Perspective

▪ Apu & Homer are in the Airport in India, there are groups of Christians trying to win converts, and some Hare Krishna's walk by and say, "oh, Great. Christians."

Often the Irony is Made Clear

▪ Reverend Lovejoy in a sermon about the Movementarians: "This so called new religion is nothing but a pack of weird rituals and chants designed to take away the money of fools. Let us say the Lord's prayer 40 times, but first let's pass the collection plate."

Don’t Let the Opportunity to be Happy Pass

▪ Smithers has hid his love for Mr. Burns for years but finally decided to show it when an apocalypse was adverted.

▪ This was a huge step for acceptance because at the time of airing, there was very little homosexual content in the media.

The Fear of Fathers…

▪ When Marge befriends Jon Waters, Homer worries about it’s affect on Bart. Homers doesn’t respond well to finding Bart like this.

▪ The homophobic fears of a Homer are relatable to many, but his eventual acceptance shows progress, and reflects societal changes.

Influence Around the World

▪ The Simpsons have reached around the world, spreading their influence about American culture and in a way, how we see other cultures.

The Simpson’s Reach

▪ The main point of this presentation was to demonstrate the ways the television show, “The Simpsons” has mocked our culture. This mockery allows us to look at our own lives in a different way. When we can laugh at ourselves while hearing another perspective, we change. Acceptance of everyone no matter their background is at the root of these examples.

References

Armstrong, P. (2005, June). The Simpsons and democracy: Political apathy, popular culture, and lifelong learning as satire. In Proceedings of the 4rth annual adult education research conference (pp. 7-12).•Between having multiple current and former presidents as reoccurring characters has allowed “The Simpsons” to have a political voice. The voice is not limited to government politics as Homer was the president of his union at work where he was quoted saying, “If you don’t like your job, you don’t strike. You just come in every day and do it really half-assed. That’s the American way.”•Found through: Google ScholarFeltmate, D. (2013). It's Funny Because It's True? The Simpsons, Satire, and the Significance of Religious Humor in Popular Culture. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, lfs100•Religion being a huge part of our social interactions is the focus of this paper. Ned Flanders, the most religious of all characters on the show often is criticized and mocked for his beliefs, and the show regularly points out the flaws in the religious doctrine in general. Even with the mocking and open resentment the town accepts Flanders and others for their beliefs.•Found through: Google Scholar Halpern, P. (2007). What's science ever done for us?: What The Simpsons can teach us about physics, robots, life and the universe. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley. •Although this source is focused on the scientific aspects of “The Simpsons” it regularly references the social aspects of the issues being discussed. One is to Lisa’s concern for a gene defect that would leave her being a simpleton like her father and brother. This is a concern because she views herself as a genius and this would change the way she is viewed and how she views herself.•Found through: Google ScholarScanlan, S., & Feinberg, S. (2000). The Cartoon Society: Using "The Simpsons" to Teach and Learn Sociology. In Teaching Sociology (2nd ed., Vol. 28, pp. 127-139). American Sociological Association.

References Cont.

•“The Simpsons” is a source of examples of not only how people see each other through stereotypes but also how understanding can change that perspective. Throughout episodes the challenges of socioeconomic placing, race, religion and other aspects of society are dealt with and eventually rectified.•Found through: Google ScholarStub, Y. (2012, November 1). The Simpsons- valuable life lesson. Retrieved August 12, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbF5qeAo-VQ •This clip is indicative of the use of stereotypes parodied on the show. The episode revolves around Bart falling in love with a girl outside his social class, and of a different race/religion. Even though the relationship was not traditional Homer was able to relate it to the “nuclear family” he has. •Found through: YouTubeThe Simpsons: Lesson about Women. (1192, October 15). Retrieved August 12, 2015, from http://www.hulu.com/watch/22132 •Often discussed is roles of gender types in society. This clip not only identifies some of those implied roles but also discusses the benefits of playing into the stereotypes. •Found through: Hulu.comThe Simpsons funny stereotypes. (2012, September 8). Retrieved August 12, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU0sjtP3nnY •The many travels of The Simpsons allows the show to regularly parody the stereotypes about other cultures and our own. At one point shown in the clip they visit a section of the city called “Ethnic Town”, which depicts several cultural stereotypes of European immigrants. •Found through: YouTube