 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| The Entertainment Review |
| By: Chris Turner Publisher: Da Capo Press |
For 16 seasons “The Simpsons” has been on of the sharpest satirical shows ever to be unleashed outside the
underground and made its way onto the global mainstream, has managed to affect the cultural landscape while
ripping its fabric to hilarious shreds. It is the most revolutionary kind of art, brought about from the very medium it
attacks, gaining the popularity and relevance of an international icon, while also being its most uncompromising
critic. For a mere TV show, a cartoon at that, it is unique in its construct, distribution, and finally its vast and varied
audience, which include poets to rock stars, and many professors from the top of academia. Finally readers have a
study of its brilliance and influence worthy of the subject. It is a 400-plus page tribute, dissection, and investigation
entitled "Planet Simpson - How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation" by Canadian journalist and pop culture
essayist, Chris Turner.
"Planet Simpson" begins by laying out the groundwork for what Turner calls "The Simpsonian Humor Principle", which
is somewhat based on the false assumption that it's human nature to base our judgments of the world at large on
"what should be" like God, country, principle, morality, and open, selfless dedication to each other and our
environment. The "What is..." is the actual maddening complexity of human nature filled with greed, insolence, power-
struggle, jealousy and pettiness. By ignoring the imperfections and fears of our world and replacing them with rose-
colored fallacies everyone creates the framework for disappointment and disillusionment.
From here "Planet Simpson" takes off in several provocative directions, highlighted by Turner's strong grasp of the
socio-political landscape of the world that “The Simpsons” draw material from weekly. Whether it is a study of the
consumerism lunacy of 1990s' America, the power of corporate tentacles throughout the civilized world, or our silly
obsession with celebrity, Turner tells us where and how and why “The Simpsons” seem to have it nailed and
consistently get away with pushing an envelope other art forms can’t.
The book cleverly breaks down the show’s family members into defining chapters, encapsulating their individual and
collective luster and why they have resonated under the satirical umbrella of "what is" so effectively for so long.
Homer is the goofy, lovable father or gluttonous, consumer-addled hedonist. Bart is the misguided imp or rebellious
punk icon. Lisa is the smart, compassionate voice of reason or pompous intellectual finger-pointer. Marge is the
show's patient moral center or enabling nag-victim. Each character is studied for its reflection of human nature and
how their image has represented readers hilariously and so vividly without apology for the show's incredible run.
Then there is Springfield, U.S.A. and its inhabitants, which run the gamut of society's ills and thrills from politics in the
overtly slimy Mayor Quimby; "I propose that I use what's, uh, left of the town treasury to move to a more prosperous
town and run for mayor. And, uh, once elected, I will send for the rest of you" to organized religion in the blatantly
judgmental Reverend Lovejoy; "And as we pass the collection plate, please give as if the person next to you was
watching" to corrupt attorneys in the dangerously inept Lionel Hutz; "Mr. Simpson, this is the most blatant case of
fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, 'The Never-Ending Story'" to our mediocre crop of educators in
the overwhelmed Principle Skinner, "God bless the man who invented permission slips.”
underground and made its way onto the global mainstream, has managed to affect the cultural landscape while
ripping its fabric to hilarious shreds. It is the most revolutionary kind of art, brought about from the very medium it
attacks, gaining the popularity and relevance of an international icon, while also being its most uncompromising
critic. For a mere TV show, a cartoon at that, it is unique in its construct, distribution, and finally its vast and varied
audience, which include poets to rock stars, and many professors from the top of academia. Finally readers have a
study of its brilliance and influence worthy of the subject. It is a 400-plus page tribute, dissection, and investigation
entitled "Planet Simpson - How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation" by Canadian journalist and pop culture
essayist, Chris Turner.
"Planet Simpson" begins by laying out the groundwork for what Turner calls "The Simpsonian Humor Principle", which
is somewhat based on the false assumption that it's human nature to base our judgments of the world at large on
"what should be" like God, country, principle, morality, and open, selfless dedication to each other and our
environment. The "What is..." is the actual maddening complexity of human nature filled with greed, insolence, power-
struggle, jealousy and pettiness. By ignoring the imperfections and fears of our world and replacing them with rose-
colored fallacies everyone creates the framework for disappointment and disillusionment.
From here "Planet Simpson" takes off in several provocative directions, highlighted by Turner's strong grasp of the
socio-political landscape of the world that “The Simpsons” draw material from weekly. Whether it is a study of the
consumerism lunacy of 1990s' America, the power of corporate tentacles throughout the civilized world, or our silly
obsession with celebrity, Turner tells us where and how and why “The Simpsons” seem to have it nailed and
consistently get away with pushing an envelope other art forms can’t.
The book cleverly breaks down the show’s family members into defining chapters, encapsulating their individual and
collective luster and why they have resonated under the satirical umbrella of "what is" so effectively for so long.
Homer is the goofy, lovable father or gluttonous, consumer-addled hedonist. Bart is the misguided imp or rebellious
punk icon. Lisa is the smart, compassionate voice of reason or pompous intellectual finger-pointer. Marge is the
show's patient moral center or enabling nag-victim. Each character is studied for its reflection of human nature and
how their image has represented readers hilariously and so vividly without apology for the show's incredible run.
Then there is Springfield, U.S.A. and its inhabitants, which run the gamut of society's ills and thrills from politics in the
overtly slimy Mayor Quimby; "I propose that I use what's, uh, left of the town treasury to move to a more prosperous
town and run for mayor. And, uh, once elected, I will send for the rest of you" to organized religion in the blatantly
judgmental Reverend Lovejoy; "And as we pass the collection plate, please give as if the person next to you was
watching" to corrupt attorneys in the dangerously inept Lionel Hutz; "Mr. Simpson, this is the most blatant case of
fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, 'The Never-Ending Story'" to our mediocre crop of educators in
the overwhelmed Principle Skinner, "God bless the man who invented permission slips.”
