The Simpsons.

The Simpsons follows the traditional narrative structure quite closely, as it always has an orientation, a complication to drive the plot, a solution to the complication, a quick re-evaluation of everyone’s relationship and a reorientation where everything returns to normal. In the episode ‘Simpson roasting over an open fire’ the orientation starts with Marge writing her letter and we realise that it is Christmas in Springfield which should be a classic example of any family’s relationship. The complication then arises when Homer doesn’t get his Christmas bonus and Marge uses up the ‘money in the jar’ getting rid of Bart’s tattoo, so Homer has no money to buy Christmas presents for anyone. This is soon solved when Homer brings back the dog he bet on at the racetrack and everyone loves the dog or ‘Santa’s little helper’. Everyone classically loves everyone else in the evaluation of their relationship and then everything returns to normal. The episode does also have the classic ‘Christmas miracle’ that usually leads to a “happily ever after” despite what Bart has to say about it.

Homer fits the role of stereotypical dad quite well as he goes to great lengths to make everyone happy for Christmas with almost no thought for his pride or dignity. He even takes up a second job as a low-paid Santa in dim hope of getting presents for everyone. However, he doesn’t tell his family that he is in this situation to save their respect for him (which is also stereotypical of most males). This goes against most other things we have seen him do over other episodes when he is acting stupid or careless towards his family and shows him in a new light. Marge starts off straight away being stereotypical when she is writing letters to friends and family. And when Bart gets a tattoo she acts very motherly in paying highly to get it removed straight away. Although one of Bart’s reasons for getting a tattoo was to show he loved his mum, he mainly wanted to be cool, which would stereotype him as teenage prankster, which he fits perfectly. It’s because of this that he finds out that his dad is Santa, at which point he becomes a stereotypical 10-year-old boy whose hero is his dad and shows his affection for his dad: “you must really love us to sink so low”. For the small part that Lisa was in the episode she fit the stereotype of “girls are smarter than boys” quite well, as she always does. She does not, however, fit any other stereotype, like doing what her parents want as she is very independent and is smart enough to make her own decisions even at her age. For example, she is the only family member that is vegetarian. And lastly, I guess that Maggie was all the stereotypical baby she could be, as she did nothing but get carried around and stay quite.

As a whole, the Simpsons are stereotyped like any other family in the same situation would be in another sitcom, except they go about solving their problems differently. It really is a classic situation and even though the ending result is stereotypical, although not exactly predictable (i.e. the dog), the Simpsons make the whole thing enjoyable to watch. The Simpsons are highly stereotyped as ‘family in need of help and get Christmas miracle at the last minute’ and the ending is pure evidence of this, although nothing like a miracle would ever normally happen. Despite all the stereotypical ending, Matt Groening still managed to add his own touch in the form of Bart chiming in wise cracks after every line of the carol, which would limit the Simpson’s stereotypicalism (is that a word?) ever so slightly, even though it happens a lot through the entire episode.

(More to come)

Victor Stout 10P