Writing Strategies

1. What purpose or goal of The Simpsons does Benlow focus on?

 The Simpsons to Benlow reveals the shortcomings of mainstream American entertainment, and even pokes fun at the institutions of everyday life.

Exploring Ideas

1.     Why does Benlow think The Simpsons is important?

It goes where most sitcoms, most American entertainment, will not. It satirizes everything (and nearly anything) mainstream America cherishes. From SUVs to friendly fast-food chains, the familiar elements of everyday life are revealed as ridiculous creations of a Revealing the Ugly Cartoonish Truth: The Simpsons culture blind to its own vices. Certainly, it takes shots at big targets: nuclear power, organized labor, corporate fraud, slick politicians, organized religion, hyperconsumerism, hyper-consumption, and even television programming (often slamming its own network, FOX). But these are more than easy targets; these are the entities that seem to run amuck consistently, the institutions that maintain their status despite repeated failings, the bullies of our culture that always seem in need of a punch to their maniacal eye sockets.