2027 - Englisch: Social Commentary and Criticism in The Simpsons
Since its premiere on Dec 17, 1989, The Simpsons – the first animated prime-time series since the 1960s - has appealed to a vast, global fan base among younger and middle-aged audiences. Matt Groening, father of the yellow average American family based in random ‘Springfield’, has thus combined comic strips and direct social and political criticism of American society.
For the past 30-something years, The Simpsons has held up a mirror to America’s controversial stances on pollution, immigration, politics, religion, education, and the media. I am thus convinced that students who, on the one hand, enjoy watching the series and those who, on the other hand, are interested in current US events, will find their very own field of expertise in this seminar.
Lehrkraft (voraussichtlich): Frau Sliwensky
Mögliche Fragestellungen zur Orientierung:
- Satire and Postmodernism in The Simpsons
- Moral Issues That Sharply Divide the Nation – Gay marriage in The Simpsons
- Intercultural differences in The Simpsons
- Science vs. Christianity in Springfield
- The American Dream in The Simpsons
- ‘Coming to Homerica’ – America’s Pet Peeve ‘Immigration’
- Homer Simpson – Embodiment of a Patriarch?
- The Simpsons’ Take On Climate Change
- Media Violence and the Youth
- The Flanders vs. the Simpsons – A portrayal of two All-American families
- The Trump Presidency As Foreshadowed in The Simpsons