In one memorable The Simpsons moment, Homer laughs hysterically at a standup comic, pausing
only to gasp, "It's true, we're so lame!" In a sense, that is author Chris Turner's main thesis:
Over the last 15 years, The Simpsons has chronicled the absurdities and the defining events of
an increasingly confusing culture At the same time, Turner suggests, the show has transcended
being just a cartoon and has had a profound and lasting influence, defining attitudes toward
everything from pop culture to global politics

This extremely funny examination of the 18-time Emmy-winning show uses individual characters
to define different facets of the American personality: Homer is the slightly doltish but well-
meaning everyman; Lisa speaks as the show's social conscience; Bart is the punk icon; Marge the
moral authority; and C Montgomery Burns represents the evil of unchecked capitalism The ensemble
provides a framework for identifying, through ruthless parody and subversive wit, the wrongs of
our time By Turner's analysis, the popularity of the show illustrates a generation's cynicism,
restlessness, and ultimately, optimism and love of humanity

Download File Size:233.55 MB

---