The Simpsons: A Cultural History (The Cultural History of Television)

From its crudely drawn vignettes on The Tracey Ullman Show to its nearly 700 episodes, The Simpsons has evolved from an alternative programming experiment to a worldwide cultural phenomenon. At 30 seasons and counting, The Simpsons boasts the distinction as the longest-running fictional primetime series in the history of American television. Broadcast around the globe, the show's viewers relate to a plethora of iconic characters--from Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie, and Bart to Kwik-E-Mart proprietor Apu, bar owner Moe, school principal Seymour Skinner, and conniving businessman Montgomery Burns, among many others. In The Simpsons: A Cultural History, Moritz Fink explores the show's roots, profiles its most popular characters, and examines the impact the series has had--not only its shaping of American culture but its pivotal role in the renaissance of television animation. Fink traces the show's comic forerunners--dating back to early twentieth century comic strips as well as subversive publications like Mad magazine--and examines how the show, in turn, generated a new wave of animation that changed the television landscape. Drawing on memorable scenes and providing useful background details, this book combines cultural analysis with intriguing trivia. In addition to an appreciation of the show's landmark episodes, The Simpsons: A Cultural History offers an entertaining discussion of the series that will appeal to both casual fans and devoted aficionados of this groundbreaking program. --Steven Keslowitz, Author of The World According to The Simpsons "Library Journal" From its crudely drawn vignettes on The Tracey Ullman Show to its nearly 700 episodes, The Simpsons has evolved from an alternative programming experiment to a worldwide cultural phenomenon. At 30 seasons and counting, The Simpsons boasts the distinction as the longest-running fictional primetime series in the history of American television. Broadcast around the globe, the show's viewers relate to a plethora of iconic characters#8212;from Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie, and Bart to Kwik-E-Mart proprietor Apu, bar owner Moe, school principal Seymour Skinner, and conniving businessman Montgomery Burns, among many others. In The Simpsons: A Cultural History, Moritz Fink explores the show's roots, profiles its most popular characters, and examines the impact the series has had#8212;not only its shaping of American culture but its pivotal role in the renaissance of television animation. Fink traces the show's comic forerunners#8212;dating back to early twentieth century comic strips as well as subversive publications like Mad magazine#8212;and examines how the show, in turn, generated a new wave of animation that changed the television landscape. Drawing on memorable scenes and providing useful background details, this book combines cultural analysis with intriguing trivia. In addition to an appreciation of the show's landmark episodes, The Simpsons: A Cultural History offers an entertaining discussion of the series that will appeal to both casual fans and devoted aficionados of this groundbreaking program Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: From Counterculture to Couch Culture 1 “So, We Meet Again, MAD Magazine!” 2 The Birth of The Simpsons 3 The Simpsons’ Road to Success Part Two: Springfield on the Map 4 At Home at 742 Evergreen Terrace 5 A Town Called Springfield 6 Pop Culture Institution Part Three: Simpsonized 7 The Renaissance of Animation 8 Merchandising The Simpsons 9 The Simpsons in Remix Culture Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index About the Author This book looks at The Simpsons place in the pop culture firmament, from inspirations like Mad magazine to its critical role in the renaissance of animated television. The author recounts the birth of the show, discusses its remarkable merchandising success, and examines the show’s popularity as the longest running episodic program in TV history.