Simpsons When the Oxford English

Simpsons

When the Oxford English Dictionary opted to include "d'oh" as a new entry in 2001, it was clear: The Simpsons had made their mark on history. The Oxford English Dictionary, which is "widely considered the leading authority on the English language," is not the only arena in which the Simpsons has proved to be an enduring cultural icon (Libaw 2001). There are several reasons why Matt Groening's the Simpsons has had such a dramatic impact on popular culture, not least of which is the fact that its writers were brilliant throughout much of the show's production. On the sheer basis of quality comedy production, the Simpsons deserves to endure. The ability of the Simpsons to influence popular culture to the extent to which it has goes beyond the show's production value and quality of writing. For one, the Simpsons elevates satire to a new high, showing what is wrong with American society in particular. The show begs viewers to have a sense of humor about what are actually serious issues, and encourages an intelligent but lighthearted worldview. Moreover, the Simpsons has the ability to transcend cultural boundaries even though many of the show's best jokes contain specifically American cultural allusions. The Simpsons combines highbrow and lowbrow humor in ways that appeal to a diverse viewing audience. Corporate marketing has also capitalized on the Simpsons fame; marketing cannot be ignored as a factor influencing why the show has such a strong impact on popular culture. The Simpsons has had a strong impact on popular culture for all these reasons: intellectually poignant satire; cultural commentary cloaked in humor; diverse and strong characterization; and ironic but effective marketing.

The quality of satire in the Simpsons is nearly unparalleled in television history, which is one of the reasons the show has had a strong influence on culture -- popular and otherwise. A "sophisticated viewer," according to Armstrong (n.d.) will watch the show and "engage in media and cultural analyses," (p. 12). Yet what makes the Simpsons remarkable is that even an unsophisticated viewer will find the show funny. The Simpsons is not a show that focuses only on highbrow humor that appeals to intellectuals; the Simpsons succeeds because the blends highbrow with lowbrow in ironic and playful ways. Although the Simpsons goes out of its way to make fun of Christianity, some Christians recognize the value of the Simpsons in promoting the religion's core doctrine (Couchman n.d.). The level of satire achieved on the Simpsons is so lofty that it forces viewers to self-reflect in ways other shows do not.

The cultural commentary explored on the Simpsons is therefore every bit as powerful as that which would be tossed about in academic circles. The Simpsons has already made its way into school curriculums, as a means to illustrate everything from popular culture to political apathy (Armstrong n.d.). Cultural commentary cloaked in humor is difficult to execute well, as too often the humor takes a back seat to the commentary or vice-versa. On the Simpsons, however, cultural commentary is embedded in many shows. For example, in the John Waters episode, Homer humorously entertains his homophobia. Mr. Burns is a caricature, albeit highly realistic one, of a corporate Moghul. Lisa champions vegetarianism, sometimes to comical extremes as in the tree hugger episode. No one is exempt from the cultural commentary on the Simpsons. Everyone takes a stab, and is better for it in the end. The impact of the Simpsons on popular culture is therefore due to the diversity of opinions and issues explored on the show.

The Simpsons makes fun of diversity frequently, capitalizing on the comedy of stereotyping through the heterogeneous cast of characters. Strong characterizations provide one of the clearest mechanisms by which the show impacts popular culture. In short, everyone can relate to the Simpsons, even if on a superficial level. Even babies have their mirror in little Maggie, the only character who can shoot Mr. Burns and get away with it both morally and legally.

Finally, the sometimes-distasteful marketing campaigns that capitalize on the Simpsons characters have entrenched the show in popular culture. Butterfingers is one example of how Matt Groening has gradually sold his soul to the same capitalism he satires on the Simpsons. He cannot be blamed; milking the show for all it has during the peak of its fame has enabled the Simpsons to become a cultural icon that will surely stand the test of time. The Simpsons will become a classic of the television era, studied in textbooks of the future.

The Simpsons have left a strong imprint on popular culture, American and otherwise, because of the show's quality of satirical writing, depth of social commentary, strong characterizations, and ubiquitous marketing. By incorporating "d'oh" into the Oxford English Dictionary, leading authorities on culture are affirming the value of the Simpsons.