Postmodern TV showAmy Myers

Simpsons – Season 17 episode 19

“Girls Just Want To Have Sums”

Background

• The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company.

• The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its dysfunctional family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.

• The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture, society, television, and many aspects of the human condition.

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Why is it postmodern?

• Narrative-speaking - the Simpsons follows a non-linear narrative creating confusions over time and space. This is a post-modern trait, and is typical of comedy programs such as Family Guy. This trait is made obvious to the audience when a character may state something like “oh don’t worry, it’ll all be alright by the next episode”, making the audience feel as if the characters are almost aware that they are in a show.

• Simulacra and stimulation - using a cartoon within the actual cartoon, called “Itchy & Scratchy”. In effect, this show that the two children of The Simpsons family watch, is a stimulation of the “real world” of Springfield – essentially a hyper reality inside a hyper reality. It is also interesting to note that “Itchy & Scratchy” uses no consequential violence just like the cartoon “Tom& Jerry” and almost seems an exact replicate of the cartoon, which is ironic.

• programme seems to not be localised in any other region rather than America, nor any other period of time than the post modern era. As well as this, there is no sign of progress being made within the children in school. For example, Maggie is forever sucking her dummy, and the audience never actually witness her growing, such as learning to walk or talk, etc.. Every single character’s image stays stagnant.

• Patiche - programme constantly makes fun of issues in the real world which is a decline of the meta-narrative, being a frequent theme throughout. Fun is poked at religion, the government, social issues and more, with light consistently being made out of any situation.

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Why is it postmodern?

• Intertextuality - Intertextuality is where media texts show references to other well known scenes or images, and is often used in The Simpsons where many episodes contain intertextual references from classic scenes in well known movies. In ‘Bart To The Future’, the name itself is a play on words from the hit 80s film ‘Back To The Future’ and throughout the episode there are images and object taken from that particular film. For example various gadgets such as the flying car, and hover crafts are often cited as iconic objects from the back to the future trilogy.

• Hyper-reality - One of Baudrillard’s most well known theory’s of hyper-reality is also used by Groening. Although the show is based on real life events that could potentially happen to real people, occasionally the laws of nature are opposed by some of the episodes containing aliens or other religious or mythical creatures. This particular episode of the series shows hyper-reality as Bart is able to take a look into his future, and throughout the scene frequently switches back to the ‘present’ so the audience are able to see Bart reflect on the state of his future self.

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Girls just want to have sums

• Harvard principle Skinner is fired for offending feminists by suggesting differences in performance in math/science may be due to innate differences between men and women. He is then replaced by women’s educational expert, Melanie, who demands that the males and females in Harvard are separated immediately, and the audience see females treated differently from now on.

• “What is the source of this illusion, or as I call it, the biggest lie ever told?”

Principle Skinner states as he stands on stage, speaking out to all of the feminist women before him, who do not look very pleased. There is an instant display of lack of seriousness and irony in this clip, as the Principle of the school is mocking quite a serious topic (feminism). This is a very post-modern trait as it is making light of political issues that do happen in the real world.

• Then, a woman in a pink blazer stands up and shouts “you’re a worse version of Hitler” as she ironically points her hand out at Skinner, almost as if she is mimicking Hitler. The irony is reinforced here – the episode is beginning to look like a parody, as the topic of Hitler is very serious and a piece of history is being mocked. Also, another crucial post modern aspect of this is that it is intertextual by referencing to Hitler.

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Girls just want to have sums• Stereotypes and mocking of serious matters - Skinner states “please, believe me I understand the

problems of women” as he laughs and stands to the side in a flowery, pink dress. The idea that The Simpsons are representing a stereotype of females here, to all wear floral dresses, is very post modern as again, this is a sensitive subject that especially feminists, would not like to set their eyes upon. The mocking of serious subjects returns yet again when a child shouts “ha ha, Skinner’s a tranny”. Of course, many transsexual individuals could feel deeply affected by this sort of mention as these “new” subjects are not usually spoken about, but it is apparent that the modernity of this program really does push boundaries.

• “How do numbers make you feel?” Principle Melanie passionately asks a student after she switches on a light that makes fraction symbols and numbers float around the room. This presents another stereotype of females to constantly think with their emotions instead of thinking rationally and practically, and being “soft” and “girly”. The fact that The Simpsons confidently represents this stereotype is very post modern.

• Pastiche - When the next scene presents the new Principle, Melanie, teaching her new class of females, there is an element of pastiche conveyed. It is interesting to note that the previous scenery was very traditional and sensible in the school’s assembly hall, which suddenly switches to an “airy-fairy”, feminine classroom suddenly full of purple pufé chairs, flowers and soft-lighting. This represents the very post modern merging of looks/genres.

• The Simpsons has a general liberal attitude to serious matters like Feminism, which can be taken very seriously by many individuals. I felt that this whole episode made light of serious issues and was very ironic and mocking, which of course, is very post modern.

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