The construction of reality in the world of 'The Simpsons' applied to theories by Jean Baudrillard and others

Seminar Paper , 2011 , 17 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Maybe more than any other show on TV, the long-running series The Simpsons qualifies for a scientific analysis. The humanoid, yellow family and all their friends and fellow Springfieldians are citizens of a semi-realistic realization of a standard American city. As this paper will try to outline later on, there are incredibly many allusions to other pieces of art integrated within most of The Simpsons episodes. This paper will look at how this is done and why it works even if the spectator does not even realize these intertextualities. Moreover, it will try to apply some thoughts of the (literary) theories of Jean Baudrillard and Karlheinz Stierle to the setup of The Simpsons and thereby outline the depiction and structure of different realities or different levels of reality within the series.

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. The underlying theories
2.1 Jean Baudrillard - Simulacra and Simulations
2.2 Karlheinz Stierle - Die Fiktion als Vorstellung

3. The construction of the world of The Simpsons

4. Conclusion

5. Bibliography

• College: University of Duisburg-Essen (Department of Anglophone Studies)
• Course: Literary and Cultural Theories
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: B.A. Martin Reinhart (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 17
• Catalog Number: V187317
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656106234
• ISBN (Book): 9783656106036
• Language: English
• Tags: Simpsons, Postmodern, Baudrillard, Stierle, Theory