Homer Simpson example essay topic

The Simpsons How does a television series keep going in this time of ever changing network schedules and shows that grow stale after twelve weeks? The Simpsons have not only lasted, but it has also become a staple of American life. Many tribute this longevity to the witty and hilarious satire that is present in every episode. By using incongruity, sarcasm, exaggeration, and other comedic techniques, The Simpsons satirizes most aspects of ordinary life, from family, to TV, to religion, achieving the true essence of satire. Homer Simpson is the captivating and hilarious satire of today's 'Everyman. ' With each passing season, Homer has emerged more and more as the central character in the series.

In one episode, a previously unenforced 200-year-old prohibition law is found on the Springfield books. Liquor then becomes outlawed and Homer becomes the city's 'Beer Baron. ' At the end of the episode, the law is simply done away with and Homer toasts the townspeople who have gathered in the park: To alcohol! The cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems!' This statement is a very ironic social commentary from the writers of The Simpsons. Much of life's problems can be blamed on the excessive consumption of alcohol, but the bigger picture is gluttony in general. Too much money, or food, or power, or alcohol can leave one with an empty happiness.

If a person is ignorant, they might try to remedy their problems with more false fulfillment. This quote is also comedic because it shows Homer's stupidity. Though the writers are attempting to prove a point, the character of Homer is totally sincere. Homer Simpson is, at once, the best and worst of American dad ness. Another episode of The Simpsons satirizes parents who push their children to succeed in athletics at the expense of good sportsmanship.

Bart is the star player on a youth hockey team that has advanced to the league championship. His sister, Lisa, is the star goalie on the opposing team. This sparks a vicious sibling rivalry and Marge, the mother and sole proprietor of good sportsmanship in the town, tries to soften the competitive edge by saying,' We love you both! You " re not in competition with each other! Repeat: You are not in competition with each other'! Just then, Homer comes rushing into the room shouting,' Hey!

Your coach just called. This Friday Lisa's team is playing Bart's team. You " re indirect competition. And don't go easy on each other just because you " re brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents' love'! Because it is so exaggerated, Homer's quote is a very funny contradiction of Marge's.

Though many parents do cross the line in pushing their child to succeed, Homer overly exaggerates it when he says, 'I want to see you both fighting for your parent's love!' Marge represents the 'good' parent, as she so often does, and Homer becomes the extreme satire of the 'bad' parent. He also says he doesn't want his kids going easy on each other because they " re family. This is in direct contrast of the 'family first' mentality most parents try to instill in their children. Instead, Homer wrongly puts winning ahead of anything else. There is a lot of incongruity in Homer's actions as well because one does not expect a middle-aged father to act so childish.

With exaggerated characters, the townspeople of Springfield satirize the stereotypes that the media so often depicts. Police Chief Clancy Wiggum is the corrupt and unintelligent head of the police force. His physical appearance alone is a satire of the stereotypical officer. He is very fat, always eating donuts and assorted artery clogging foods, and his nose bares a striking resemblance to that of a pig. In an act of comedy only possible in cartoons, Wiggum's round, upturned nose with large nostrils is unlike anyone else's in Springfield.

Aside from his physical features, his questionable character serves as a satire of crooked cops. In this scene, Wiggum is attempting to take a bribe from Homer who is unwilling: Homer: You know, one-day honest citizens are gonna to stand up to you crooked cops. Wiggum: The yare? Oh no. Have they set a date? This quote shows both the corruptness and total stupidity of the character.

Most policemen would not ask for a bribe, but that is commonplace amongst the Springfield force. With the ever-expanding LAPD scandal coupled with countless portrayals of crooked cops in television and movies, behavior like Wiggum's is becoming more and more believable. It is also absurd to think that any person, much less a police chief, would take Homer's threat of an uprise so seriously. Wiggum firmly believes that Homer is talking literally, thus portraying him as very unintelligent at best. Media stereotypes of police emphasize both of these character flaws in police officers, and The Simpsons overly exaggerate these characteristics for satiric and comedic effect. The strictness and limitations of religion are often satirized on The Simpsons.

Religion has long been a very controversial issue, but also a very popular target of satire. In one episode, Homer starts his own religion and refuses to attend church. He then has a dream that God speaks to him and sanctions his new faith: Homer: I'm not a bad guy. I work hard and I love my kids, So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to hell?

God: Hmm, you " ve got a point there. You know, sometimes even I'd rather be watching football. Does St. Louis still have a team? Homer: No.

They moved to Phoenix. Here, The Simpsons satirize the strictness of religion, mainly Christianity. God is depicted as the caring and understanding god that most people believe him to be; yet even he does not see much reason to attend church. The writers of the series are basically saying that being a good person should be enough in the eyes of God. They see many of the restrictions of the Church as wrong. God also comes across as a normal guy who loves football and some of life's other simple pleasures.

It is absurd that God would ask if St. Louis still had a football team because he knows all, but that just helps portray him as an " average guy. ' The Simpsons also satirizes people of one religious affiliation who look down on those of other religions. In the same episode mentioned in the previous paragraph, Homer says to Apu, who is a Hindu, 'No offense Apu, but when they were handing out religions, you must a been out taking a whizz'. This is a very sarcastic remark that may be funny on the surface, but is actually a very cruel and insensitive put-down. Many people often demean and degrade anything that is different (as in Allegory of the Cave). The writers are using Homer's crude and up-front mentality as a persona to display this form of bigotry.

This unwillingness to accept anything different does not only apply to religion. The writers have also satirized society's problems regarding ethnicity and sexuality. It is also ironic that Homer would criticize a religion considering he had just started his own that served more a san excuse to get out of church than anything else. The Simpsons has made a mark on television and social history that is ever-growing in distinction, and may never fade. Through very intelligent writing, the series not only makes the viewer laugh, but also makes them think. The Simpsons will always appeal to young audience because of its ever-present pratfalls and stupidity that is, at times, nothing short of brilliant; but, it appeals even more to young adults, or adults who are young at heart, who can laugh at the low comedy, yet understand the biting satire that truly drives the series.

By poking fun at family, television, religion, and basically the American lifestyle, The Simpsons is a satire that may not grow old for a long time to come.