|
|
| Page 1 of 1 |
maadmn
Posts: 293
Location: transit...
|
 Posted: Fri, 19th May 2006 21:40 Post subject: The Simpsons as philosophy |
|
 |
With the likes of Douglas Coupland, George Walden and Stephen Hawking as fans, taking the Simpsons seriously is no longer outre but de rigeur.
It is, quite simply, one of the greatest cultural artefacts of our age. So great, in fact, that it not only reflects and plays with philosophical ideas, it actually does real philosophy, and does it well.
How can a comic cartoon do this? Precisely because it is a comic cartoon, the form best suited to illuminate our age.
To speak truthfully and insightfully today you must have a sense of the absurdity of human life and endeavour. Past attempts to construct grand and noble theories about human history and destiny have collapsed.
We now know we're just a bunch of naked apes trying to get on as best we can, usually messing things up, but somehow finding life can be sweet all the same. All delusions of a significance that we do not really have need to be stripped away, and nothing can do this better that the great deflater: comedy.
The satirical cartoon world is essentially a philosophical one because it reflects reality by abstracting it, distilling it and presenting it back to us, illuminating it more brightly than realist fiction can.
The Simpsons does this brilliantly, especially when it comes to religion. It's not that the Simpsons is atheist propaganda; its main target is not belief in God or the supernatural, but the arrogance of particular organised religions that they, amazingly, know the will of the creator.
For example, in the episode Homer the Heretic, Homer gives up church and decides to follow God in his own way: by watching the TV, slobbing about and dancing in his underpants.
Throughout the episode he justifies himself in a number of ways.
"What's the big deal about going to some building every Sunday, I mean, isn't God everywhere?"
"Don't you think the almighty has better things to worry about than where one little guy spends one measly hour of his week?"
"And what if we've picked the wrong religion? Every week we're just making God madder and madder?"
Homer's protests do not merely allude to much subtler arguments that proper philosophers make. The basic points really are that simple, which is why they can be stated simply.
Excerpt from BBC News
well im a HUGE fan of the show... though i like all the animated shows like Futurama, South Park, American Dad and Family Guy, they cant hold a candle to the Simpsons. The show is not as "edgy" as it used to be but ill watch it evry now and then. and ofcourse will definitly be seeing the movie later next year =]
FreeWill or FreeThinking...
The gnostic pretends to knowledge,
but I avow ignorance: that is my knowledge.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
| Posted: Fri, 19th May 2006 22:29 Post subject: |
|
|
hahahahahah what a load of shit that article is 
Oh god.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
maadmn
Posts: 293
Location: transit...
|
| Posted: Fri, 19th May 2006 22:33 Post subject: |
|
|
yaah dont care much for the article itself but thought it was funny that "intellectuals" were trying to "explain" why we like it...
FreeWill or FreeThinking...
The gnostic pretends to knowledge,
but I avow ignorance: that is my knowledge.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SycoShaman
VIP Master Jedi
Posts: 24468
Location: Toronto, Canada
|
| Posted: Sat, 20th May 2006 03:23 Post subject: |
|
|
Ive watched the simpsons since it first started. Great show, but its getting way to predictable and the characters dont have the same impact they once did. imo anyway
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
| Posted: Sat, 20th May 2006 06:16 Post subject: |
|
|
| SycoShaman wrote: | | Ive watched the simpsons since it first started. Great show, but its getting way to predictable and the characters dont have the same impact they once did. imo anyway |
sooooooooo true
old episodes apply to the articl;e
but no rthe new ones
they're so p redictiuble
its not finny anymore
'it doesnt apoly to peo[ple
it doesnt mimin the everyday man
it's just a shit show that should've been cancelled years ago
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
-=Cartoon=-
VIP Member
Posts: 8823
Location: South Pacific Ocean
|
| Posted: Sat, 20th May 2006 06:22 Post subject: |
|
|
i think its more the fact that we have grown up .. and there are new shows that focus purely on larfs (eg family guy)
The simpsons is more a comedy drama
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
maadmn
Posts: 293
Location: transit...
|
| Posted: Sat, 20th May 2006 18:24 Post subject: |
|
|
indeed... i think its gonna be the last run for the show with FOX...they have cpl more seasons, i believe and the movie, posibly a game... who knows. THANX for the replies guys.
FreeWill or FreeThinking...
The gnostic pretends to knowledge,
but I avow ignorance: that is my knowledge.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SycoShaman
VIP Master Jedi
Posts: 24468
Location: Toronto, Canada
|
| Posted: Sun, 21st May 2006 02:41 Post subject: |
|
|
| -=Cartoon=- wrote: | i think its more the fact that we have grown up .. and there are new shows that focus purely on larfs (eg family guy)
The simpsons is more a comedy drama |
Naw, it does have anything to do with maturity...atleast i dont think it does.
Like I said, the jokes are predicatable and the plot lines are ridiculous. Like Injur said, the old episodes are best. The new one's feel like they are trying to reproduce a winning format and are failing at it you know? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kumkss
Posts: 4834
Location: Chile
|
| Posted: Mon, 22nd May 2006 01:01 Post subject: |
|
|
agree. the first seasons were the best ones.
it is a show that applies to all ppl. even old ones, who have watched the show, found it very funny.
anyway, someone knows about the main thematic of the film? or will be a mix?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
| Posted: Mon, 22nd May 2006 18:55 Post subject: |
|
|
The first season(s) adressed political and social sensitive issues much more then the latter.
I suspect South Park too.
Is that the foul smell of money I reek?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Page 1 of 1 |
All times are GMT + 1 Hour |
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB 2.0.8 © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
|
 |
|
