Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Tim Delaney (Oswego, NY) is assistant professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Oswego and the author of Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld, American Street Gangs, and Contemporary Social Theory, among other works.

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Simpsonology

Prometheus Books

Contents

About the Author...................................................................................11Preface............................................................................................13Acknowledgments....................................................................................15Chapter 1 An Introduction to The Simpsons.........................................................17Chapter 2 The Culture We Live In..................................................................32Chapter 3 Friendship and Community................................................................63Chapter 4 Love and Marriage.......................................................................88Chapter 5 America's Family: The Simpsons..........................................................112Chapter 6 Gender Roles and Expectations...........................................................137Chapter 7 Springfield: A Racial Melting Pot Often Lacking in Tolerance............................164Chapter 8 Religion and Other Things We Believe In.................................................189Chapter 9 Beware the Enviromare...................................................................218Chapter 10 The Political World of Springfield......................................................245Chapter 11 The Wide Diversity of Sports in Springfield.............................................274Chapter 12 Springfield's Educational System: Where Every Child Is Left Behind!.....................306Chapter 13 Physical and Mental Health in Springfield...............................................335Chapter 14 Tricks and Treats.......................................................................362Chapter 15 The Animation Domination of The Simpsons................................................388Bibliography.......................................................................................401Index of Cited Episodes............................................................................407

Chapter One

"As far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family." -Homer Simpson

A brother and sister are pushing and shoving each other in the living room of a modest, working-class family home. Their father rushes in to stop the siblings from fighting. The children explain that they are merely arguing over who loves their father more. Feeling better about himself, the father allows the children to continue their disagreement. The boy shouts, "You love him more." His sister responds, "No, you do." Disappointed, but guided by a greater concern, the father instructs the two children to get their mischief out of their system before they all leave for his company's family picnic at the boss's home. Welcome to one of America's most dysfunctional families-the Simpsons.

From the beginning, Matt Groening made it clear that the Simpson family is anything but normal. The scene described above comes from the "There's No Disgrace Like Home" episode (#4), original airdate, January 28, 1990. As the Simpson family heads to stately Burns Manor, or as Homer describes it, "Heaven on Earth," Homer warns his family, "Okay now look, my boss is going to be at this picnic so I want you to show your father some love and/or respect." Homer's daughter Lisa replies, "We get a choice?" Bart, Lisa's brother, responds, "I'm picking respect." Homer, who is a working drone, needs to make a favorable impression with his boss, Mr. Burns. Homer realizes that he will be judged based on the behavior of his family. Homer is so concerned about the impression that his family might make with Burns that he gives one last bit of instruction shortly after entering the Burns estate, "Now remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family."

Although the company picnic is not a complete disaster, Bart and Lisa run amok throughout the grounds and Homer's wife, Marge, gets drunk. At the conclusion of the picnic, Burns announces that the party is over and that everyone has ten minutes to leave the premises before he releases the hounds. As the Simpsons and other families head back to their cars, Homer admits that he is glad to leave so that he can go home and act in his normal manner. In this regard, Homer reflects the sentiments of many employees who are uncomfortable spending time with their employers outside of work. On the other hand, the Simpson family is hardly the barometer of "normalcy"!

MMM ... A FAMILY CALLED THE SIMPSONS, YOU SAY?

The Simpsons represents one of America's most recognizable families. They are certainly themost famous animated one. The Simpson family includes Homer Simpson, 36; his wife, Marge, 34; their three children, Bart, 10; Lisa, 8; and Maggie, 1; their dog, Santa's Little Helper; and their cat, Snowball (various versions). The Simpson family resides in Springfield-the state is unknown-a fairly typical midsize American city. (Note: Springfield is most likely located in Oregon, the home state of Groening. As Groening states, "Secretly, I've always believed that the Simpsons live in Springfield, Oregon" [Turnquist 2007, E-4].) Springfield is large enough to have its own "badlands," it is home to a minor league baseball team, has its own blimp, a number of cultural museums, an unendingly burning pile of tires, an air force base, and an international airport (among other things).

The Simpson family is headed by Homer J. Simpson. Although The Simpsons was first centered primarily on the antics of Bart, it is Homer Simpson who has become the primary focus of many Simpsons storylines. Homer is overweight and bald and works as a safety inspector in Sector 7-G at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. If Homer were a safety inspector of a nuclear plant in real life, we might all be in great peril! Homer's occupational ineptness is demonstrated by the fact that he holds the plant record for most years worked at an entry-level position.

Homer is known for saying "D'oh!" when he is upset and "Mmm ..." when tempted. Homer's "D'oh!" expression has become a part of popular culture and his constant use of the word is responsible, at least in part, for its inclusion into the Oxford English Dictionary, where it is defined as "expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned, or that one has just said or done something foolish." Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, explains that the "D'oh!" sound uttered by Homer was originally written in the script as "annoyed grunt." Dan Castellaneta, who does Homer's voice, created a shortened version of the sound that the character actor James Finlayson made in old Laurel and Hardy movies (Playboy 2007).

Homer Simpson loves to drink Duff beer and consume large quantities of food, especially donuts, pork rinds, Krusty Burgers, and pork chops. Homer's unhealthy eating habits have led him to endure a large number of medical procedures, including a triple bypass operation. Homer is just as lazy at home as he is at work. His favorite pastime is sitting on the couch watching television while drinking beer and eating munchies. Homer purchases a great deal of his beer and food at the local overpriced Kwik-E-Mart, owned by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a "semilegal" immigrant from India. (See chapter 7 for...