G.C.S.E. coursework Media Studies - The Simpsons

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Josh Davies 10M

15/02/02

G.C.S.E. coursework Media Studies

The Simpsons

The American television cartoon programme The Simpsons centres on various members of the Simpson family, but usually Homer, the father takes the central role. Homer is an overweight, not very bright, middle aged, working class man. His favourite occupation is sitting on the couch whilst watching TV and drinking beer. He is blessed with a loyal and loving wife Marge, and with three children, Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. Homer is a loveable character for his simple-minded decisions and often rather uncouth, but amusing behaviour. Each episode covers a complete story and often involves every-day type issues, but also deals with a moral or social issue. My reason for attempting to carry out a study on The Simpsons is to establish whether The Simpsons is anything more than entertaining.

Situation comedy, whether using cartoon or real people, conveys its messages through making fun of every day situations. “The Simpsons” humour appears to be its greatest appeal. Based on the findings from my survey I now know that “The Simpsons” appeals to people of all ages. People aged six too seventy regularly enjoy watching the program.

        Many aspects of society are revealed in The Simpsons for example the corruption within politics the police force. Also revealed is the abuse of nature due to a desire for power and money and issues about pollution and the environment. The Simpsons also shows us about the life style of the average American family through the eyes of the creator, Matt Groening. Also revealed is people’s obsession with TV. It is often said that children will believe anything that they see on TV almost every episode shows us this. The corruption within politics and the police is a major aspect of society revealed in many episodes. One such episode is Marge vs. The monorail. In this episode Springfield, the town in which the Simpsons live in is awarded three million dollars. A town meeting is called and the mayor asks, “What are we going to do with the two million dollars we have been awarded?” Lisa Simpson then asks, “Isn’t it three million dollars?” The mayor is obviously trying to take part of the money for himself. In the same episode there are issues brought up about nuclear power, the environment and the abuse of nature due to a desire for money are brought up. Mr Burns the owner of the nuclear power plant on the edge of Springfield has been dumping radioactive waste in children’s playgrounds and in tree trunks. The Simpsons shows a stereotypical view of the average American family through the eyes of Matt Groening. Homer is an overweight middle-aged lazy man with very little ambition. However his wife Marge has no job and spends most of her time cooking, cleaning and looking after her children. She is Groening’s stereotypical view of a housewife. The Simpson family is obsessed with the T.V. and a day does not go by when they do not demonstrate their dependence. As Homer says “Cable. It’s more wonderful than I dared hope.” Also Bart and Lisa often Kiss and Hug the TV, this shows their complete obsession with it. The writer shows us all these aspects of society in a funny way so we are educated and entertained at the same time.

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        Matt Groening clearly thinks the media is a major influence in our lives. A large number of episodes have references to the media. In the episode the Springfield files there are many references to the media. Even the title is a parody of the x-files and mullder and scully the characters from the x-files appear in the carton. Leonard Nemoy who plays Spok in star trek also appears. Music from the film Psycho appears

 and other well known characters appear like Chewbacca from star wars, Marvin the Martian, ET and Donkey Kong. The writer includes all of these references to ...

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