SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE: THE SIMPSONS

Social Perspective: The Simpsons

Social Perspective: The Simpsons

I choose to analyze The Simpsons for this part of the essay. The episode is about Bart not believing in souls until he thinks he really lost his. It was quite humorous and I enjoyed watching it. The first approach I am going to use is socio-culture analysis. I choose this method because I think this particular episode offers lessons on society, values and social norms, most of them indirectly. The Simpsons are a family and their roles are quite stereotypical of families. Homer, the father, goes off to work to support the family, while Marge, the mother, stays home to raise the family. Bart and Lisa, two of the three children, constantly fight like most brothers and sisters do. Their attitudes and behaviors are also quite typical, if a little exaggerated. Homer usually goes to the local bar for a beer with the guys and Bart is always playing jokes on his family, but they do go to church and this is where this episode starts. Bart goes about his normal day and begins to realize that something is not right. He isn't finding the Itchy and Scratchy show funny like he usually does, electric doors won't open for him, he has no breath in cold weather and his own cat sneers at him. Lisa and Bart decide to really test his soul and they set up Homer to trip over Bart's skateboard.

The social lessons here are obvious. Lisa teaches us, indirectly, that we do have souls and how important they are to us as a person. I also think this is an important lesson for children who watch the show. Bart, in some children's' eyes, is a role model. He and Lisa are teaching them that Bart ...