The Simpsons is perhaps the most popular cartoon series of recent years, almost everyone has seen at least one episode, in this article we offer a reflection on how this program shows serious social prejudices through the character of Lisa Simpson.
The Simpsons is a comic book-style comedy created by Matt Groening for Fox Entertainment. It debuted in 1989 and has been on television ever since. There’s no doubt we’re talking about one of the most iconic series on American television.
- Everything is happening around the Simpson family.
- A parody of Groening’s own family.
- The Simpson family consists of Homer.
- Marge.
- Bart.
- Lisa and little Maggie.
- They live in the fictional small town of Springfield.
- Symbolizing the small isolated towns of the United States.
The Simpsons are primarily a parody of American culture, their society and their habits, but it is also the satirical representation of the human condition. Some fans even claim that it is a new way of representing philosophy, as well as ethical and moral debates.
Homer’s character, for example, depicts a working-class white man. Without further complications, Homer lives his life through food and television. His wife, Marge, is a housewife responsible for childcare and home.
The eldest son, Bart, is a small replica of his father. Without academic or professional aspirations, Bart is not a complex character. Then there is Lisa, 9, a precocious girl, extremely intelligent. Finally, we see Maggie, a baby.
In 2018, it reached its twenty-ninth season. Despite being on TV programming for so long, the series is not what it used to be.
Many fans explain that he had a “golden age”?that coincided with the first 13 seasons or so. During this golden period, the atmosphere was more absurd and the tone of the program was very light.
For this group of fans, after the golden age, it became a show where linear history and character development predominate, meaning that we can understand a little more the psychology of each of the characters: light and the?Insignificant humor? He sacrificed himself in favor of history.
Interestingly, after the twelfth season, Lisa Simpson’s character changes. This change is subtle, but it develops over time.
Lisa Simpson becomes the character most punished by the creators of the show. These punishments are often completely unfair and unnecessary for Lisa as a character.
The other characters in the central family are often rewarded with small punishments, ranging from personal growth, love and care or community approval; However, we constantly see how Lisa’s pain and suffering are never rewarded.
Lisa Simpson is still an extremely lonely character. With manifestations of depressive behavior, he rarely finds comfort. Because of her intelligence, her interest in learning, Lisa is ridiculed as a “smartass. “
Lisa Simpson is a notoriously different character from the rest of the family; he has an in-depth knowledge of music, literature and science; he is intelligent and wants to know more about the world; it’s not just about the life of a small town.
Lisa’s intelligence, which makes her different, seems to be the reason she can never find happiness. In episodes after the Golden Age, the series emphasizes that Lisa will never be able to have real friends.
Few episodes meet people you can sympathize with, unfortunately these friends always end up disappearing one way or another.
The Simpsons, a satire of everyday life, seem to identify and defend an idea: exceptional people cannot be happy, it is as if intelligence is contrary to the satisfactions of everyday life, in this case what it shows is only the representation of social prejudice.
There is no real reason why an educated and intelligent person cannot be happy. There is a kind of myth that ignorance is a blessing, that not understanding or not knowing is not necessarily a bad thing.
However, it is also not necessary to know and understand. Being able to understand the world is a virtue to be protected. This is where the sciences, the arts and all the genius that endures in time come from.
Western society often ridicules people who are engaged in the education of their minds. Despite this, it is important to remember that happiness is a decision.
Resisting direct and indirect attacks can be difficult for educated people, however, there will always be other people with the same tastes and interests.
If you feel identified with Lisa, keep searching until you find a group of friends with which you can share your knowledge.