How The Simpsons Saved American Literature Class ~ Hofstra University - Essay #3

Nancy Radecker                 Eng161 DL Summer II Essay #3           July 31, 2012

“I Don’t Like You, Brain.”

          I will define The Simpsons philosophy or worldview and how it reinforces cultural myths in American society and its philosophical value on American society. Using my own analysis and interpretation based on the readings of The Doh! Of Homer, the episodes of The Simpsons I viewed, as well as other readings and movies.   

          The Simpsons are the middle class American family next door; they live down the street and live in your city. “The Simpsons shape the way Americans think, particularly the younger generation.” (Cantor 160)  Americans put themselves into their family; they see themselves in their roles.  Beer, the most important part of being in the ballpark, as Homer tells Lisa in the episode “Dancin’ Homer”, it is true but no one talks about it, but the thought comes out in the episode and you as the viewer sit and shake your head in agreement with his comment.  Homer Simpson, the guy, who just speaks his mind and gets away with it, we American’s love it.  “The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and in 2009 it surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running American primetime, scripted television series.” (Wikipedia)  American’s embrace them and accept them into their lives, together we all take on the issues of the day, stories of the week, books and movies we have read and watched.  If it becomes newsworthy in this country, chances are it will be parodied in an episode if it is socially appropriate, because certain topics and areas of gray are not used in the show and are off limits.  Because it is entertainment we as American’s would never expect to see the tragic events of 9-11 or the shootings at Columbine, and the writers I feel would never do that.  The writers choose those topics where Americans can take a step back and laugh at themselves or view perhaps in a slightly different way than we did before.  For example, in the episode entitled “Lisa’s Pony”, any of us that have children could easily put ourselves in Homer’s shoes, maybe to some extent.  When he makes a foolish error and stops for a quick beer before picking up a new reed for Lisa’s saxophone for her school performance, only to find that the store ends up closing before he gets there.  Yes, I have disappointed my children, I have not been proud of it, but you could understand why Homer wishes to give Lisa the one thing she has always wanted, a pony. Yes, again you could say but seriously a pony, it is impractical and I would never do that, but I know I have bought my children a little something extra when I have made a mistake before. The writers bring the issue up and of course to the extreme but how else we will we be able to relate to it and see it how it feels then to use some humor to cover up the uncomfortable part of it.  Perhaps to other cultures they would look at this type of behavior and not agree with giving in to your children, but Americans tend to use material items in order to show appreciation or as an apology or even to show how much we love someone, so Homer giving Lisa the pony was a way to show her he made a mistake and that he was sorry.   

          Americans love their heroes, but never the less the writers of The Simpsons persuade the audience to who we believe American’s thinks are our heroes. American’s tend to believe very strongly that our forefather’s are true heroes and are just so honest and trustworthy, because they paved the way for what we have now.  In the episode “Lisa the Ironclast” however, Lisa discovers the real truth about the town of Springfield’s founding father and the truth is not so pretty and on top of it the local historian tries to cover the truth.  Lisa realizes however that if the townspeople would find out the truth, their spirits would be broken and it could upset the harmonic balance of the town and among its people. Lisa decides not to tell them and also not to expose the historian’s lie, thus Lisa becomes the unknown hero of Springfield.  For the sake of the many Lisa decides to keep the legend of Jebediah, as the legend they have all come to know and love for generations, is was a wonderful example of how heroes don’t have to make a big statement or save a life, but just think of others before yourself. American’s tend to be this way, oh yes, there are so many news stories of big heroes and some heroes that perhaps even do it to become rich and famous, but America has always been a nation that helps others. The writers of The Simpsons and by highlighting our American story of a little hero, reminds us all but at the same time shows different cultures around the world, that we are the top super power of the world but we got that way by small acts of heroism.

          America and its love for the Mafia gangsters is what drives countless numbers of authors to write stories and create reality shows and movies about their lives, so it goes without saying that The Simpson family would have to have been impacted by their stories as well.  If you are honest with yourself, who can say they haven’t thought about how cool it would be to just walk around and be a gangster, the temptation is there but the realization that we probably will get caught as well as just knowing it really is wrong is what keeps the number of real gangsters down in America. Comparing the gangster behavior to the behavior of Robin Hood, American’s ask the question what really is so terrible about what they are doing. It becomes sort of justified in a way. Gangsters tend to steal from those who can best take the loss, the big companies, and banks and then distribute it to their own people and in turn it trickles down to the neighborhood around them.  If a gangster kills someone, it tends to be someone on the inside who probably deserved it anyway; they just don’t go out shooting people at random, so again it is somehow justified.  The writers use The Simpson family to give the audience a sense of what we are all thinking, can the average “Joe” become a gangster?  Using humor to cover up the ideas we don’t find attractive gives us the closest look at the possibilities’. For example you see Bart in the episode entitled “Bart the Murderer” drinking milk out of a shot glass.  American’s would not truly want to see children drinking alcohol but knowing if Bart were to truly get involved with the Mafia, this would be a strong possibility, so instead the writers use milk to create a humorous moment to highlight this.  Marge gets nervous about Bart’s involvement with the gangsters and sends Homer over to see what is really going on, in the movie Goodfellas, the mother is also equally nervous when Henry comes home wearing the new suit and she tells him that he looks like a gangster, but never really does anything about it. When I saw the movie I thought, I would totally freak out and go over to them and tell them to leave my kid alone, so the writers of the Simpsons realize that many of the viewers probably wanted to do that and wrote that into the story but of course she sends Homer over to speak with them.

          In closing, The Simpsons is a show that let’s American’s see what it would be like if we could truly say what lived in our minds without actually having to say it.  It shows the world some insight into American’s faults and failings, ideas and philosophy behind the world’s super power but in a humorous funny way.  It creates a buffer that allows us to show some tough ideas and get points across without insulting anyone and if we do, oh well American’s aren’t really saying it, The Simpsons are saying it and they can get away with it.  The value comes from the lessons learned by the American’s who view it and those from other countries who want to see what makes American’s tick.  Laughing at our faults and ideas releases the temptation to actually try those ideas that may not be so acceptable to society, we see what happens to The Simpsons and we think to ourselves, well that may not work out after all, so I better not do it.  The Simpsons can continue to live on because everyday American’s are faced with more and more problems and situations that call for The Simpsons to figure out, and parody so we can laugh at ourselves.

Works Cited

Cantor, Paul. "The Simpsons: Atomistic Politics and the Nuclear Family." The Doh! of Homer. Chicago and La Salle: Open Court, 2001. 303.

Wikipedia. Wikipedia The Simpsons. 31 July 2012. 31 July 2012 .

How The Simpsons Saved American Literature Class ~ Hofstra University - Midterm Exam

Nancy Radecker                English 161-DL Midterm                                  July 19, 2012

1.             

Religion, morality and religious and moral ideas and attitudes influence American literature and I will show that because it is what common thread that binds all Americans together.   Our country was founded on religious beliefs and despite the separation of church and state we still see “In God We Trust” written on our paper currency and coins.  Even if someone has no belief in any particular God or higher being and thus living as an atheist, they still talk about it and are surrounded by those that are maybe faithful. The lack of faith in something doesn’t shield you from religious views, ideas and influences in your daily life, although you choose not to participate. It surrounds you and influences those around you.  Huckleberry Finn struggles with religion through the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the author Mark Twain threads this theme throughout and he makes those that are religious to be not shown in a good light. Twain sort of mocks religion, rather choosing to have the characters use their own moral judgment instead, but none the less, acknowledges religion time and time again. The Widow tries to talk to Huck about Heaven and Huck sort of acknowledges the conversation and even tells her that he will think about while he takes a walk, only to tell her that it didn’t do anything for him and he finds no use in it at all.  Twain believes that having a good moral compass is what you need to get through life and his character of Jim is an example of that. While on the raft going down the river Jim views the story of King Solomon the way he sees it, and doesn’t believe it the way the Bible sees it.  Jim uses his common sense and good judgment instead.  It would be almost impossible for American literature not be equally influenced with religious and moral ideas as you can’t write about characters without thinking will this character be influenced by religion or the lack thereof?  If the literature is about places around the world, well how many of them are also influenced by religion for example even talking about the American Revolution, if you visit a battleground, you are standing where men fought for the freedom of religion.  American Literature writings may not be completely engulfed with the ideas of religion and good or bad moral beliefs but cannot completely disregard it because this is what America is all about. 

It is important that Americans present themselves to the world and each other with moral ideas and attitudes about religion or the lack of religion, because we must embrace the fact again that this country was based on the Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech and I will give examples. 

America and its dream of religious freedom is why pilgrims came here in the first place.  In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Chapter one, Huck gets bored with the Widow when she tries to teach him about Moses, but he loses interest because Moses is dead and he takes “no stock in dead people.” (Twain).  Huck’s lack of religious beliefs is important because not everyone has to feel that there is a higher power, but yet he is an American and it shows that he acknowledges how others may feel about religion but if you are American you can choose not to feel the same way as others. Huck struggles with the fact that he helps Jim escape slavery when all the time society tells him that it is right that slaves are simply property. Americans need to show that even if the majority is in agreement with something but you feel it is wrong, you must stand up for what is right and speak your mind and have a good moral compass.  In the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the author Mark Twain shows that as two friends travel down a beautiful, tranquil river they are surrounded by people in the town that are dishonest, distrustful, and use their religion to blanket and hide their sins.  This is truly what life in American is like, although the times have changed, there are good people and there are bad people but the common thread is America and the fact that you have all of these Freedoms to be able to be who you to choose to be. 

In the end, any piece of American literature whether it is a apparent and in your face, or subtle and quiet lingering in the background, has religion and morality threaded throughout the pages.  It is important because it is what America is built on and influenced by day in and day out.  Times change and religion is tested more and more and is debated and argued and yes I would say faith is declining but as American’s you have that right to choose not to have faith. Mark Twain does not seem a big fan of religion and his characters in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn show that religion is acknowledged but does not have practiced to have a good moral compass.

3.     

My literary and cultural understanding of The Simpsons and is it worthiness’ of literary and cultural study is that The Simpsons as much as I am not a fan in every true sense of the word is cultural relevant and significant due to its overall cross representation of America and our culture.  I will show examples of episodes that show that The Simpsons are worthy of study and my understanding of how The Simpsons represent American character and culture.

The Simpsons firstly, are a typical American family married three children, house, and family dog, and cat and live in a residential neighborhood. Although Marge Simpson does not work, she is a good homemaker which may be the only non typical American family dynamic, since many mothers now have to work outside the house and earn a paycheck. I believe that the writers chose Marge to be a stay at home to portray the nostalgic times back in the fifties and sixties when the father was the bread winner and the mother stayed at home.  The audience is made to feel comfy and look at a time in American history that was important.  The character of Homer as the imperfect father, who doesn’t like his job, but yet gets up and goes in day after day to earn the daily bread for the family he loves. Bart is the typical teenager who rebels against rules and authority but when pushed in a moral corner will usually end up making a good choice.  Lisa who truly is the kid everyone wishes to have, who cares about the planet, is a good student and loves her family but sometimes can get under your skin because she is a know-it-all. Lastly Maggie, the little daring who says a lot for an infant who doesn’t talk audibly, but instead talks using her actions, her pacifier as her drug of choice rather than Homer’s beer and Bart’s headphones and Lisa’s saxophone, yes they are all imperfect but none the less a family.  The fact that The Simpsons are depicted in a cartoon rather than real life actors gives the writers more freedom to parody so many films, books, news events that have influenced the viewers to help draw them into the show and thus help them relate to the characters and their many adventures.  The Simpsons are so American and yet no subject is too much to handle or taboo for the writers so they can cover topics that only people talk about in private which is much of the appeal to the audience. For example the episode entitled “Two Cars in every Garage and Three Eyes on every Fish”. The family is split down the middle when Homer’s boss Mr. Burns runs for governor to keep his nuclear power plant up and running because of a miserably failed government inspection.  Homer wants to make his boss happy and so he votes for Mr. Burns and forces his son Bart to wear a shirt that says “My dad is making me vote for Mr. Burns” and his wife Marge and Lisa don’t support Mr. Burns but rather an honest, hardworking opponent and the house divides because of it.  It reminds me of elections that I have voted in, some family members vote one way and other vote the other way. It becomes one against the other but yet they stuck it out. Homer’s boss didn’t get elected because well, he was crooked, but it shows an example of what happens in family during elections.  In the same episode the topic of nuclear pollution is brought up when Bart and Lisa are fishing and catch a fish with three eyes in a lake that run off from the nuclear plant spills into, the argument on the safety of nuclear energy is covered in a humorous but yet serious way. As the government inspector walks through the plant he checks off all of the violations as Mr. Burns tries to make up excuses and cover up blatant safety violations and then tries to bribe the inspector with lots and lots of money.  Americans are mixed on the subject of nuclear safety, so making a parody of this subject brings to the forefront how much do we really know about it and how do we not know that this really doesn’t happen? Writing this episode the writers show to the world that we too have to make sure that our agencies are doing their part to protect citizens from the dangers of nuclear energy. 

The family values in The Simpsons family are grossly aggregated in either direction. They love each and that does show, but in ways again that maybe are not talked about outside the family circle.  The fact that Homer and Marge go to bed every night together and the enduring way Marge says “Oh Homer” and the fact that Homer works at a job he hates just to put food on the table are just a couple of examples. The viewers can relate to those examples in their own home but the writers add in many other works in film and literature that viewers hopefully have read or watched to add to those moments.  One such example is when Marge gets the part of Blanch in the episode entitled “A streetcar named Marge” as Marge is practicing for her role she is supposed to break a bottle but can’t seem to get the anger out until in the background Homer is “being Homer” and she realizes how really annoying he is and then she gets angry.  Married couples can relate to this because we sometimes don’t realize what is bugging us about our spouse and what we tend to overlook about them. At the end of the episode Homer realizes that he needs to treat Marge nicer because he tells her that the character of Stanley reminds him of himself.  We need to take a step back sometimes and see how others treat others and make sure that we are not guilty of not being supportive or nice towards others.  The American culture wants to treat others with respect so while you view this episode you take a step back to think about your personal contacts and how you treat them.  The residents of Springfield could be our neighbors, viewers probably relate to more than one of them, making fun of them is just sort of relief valve. The characters say what we really want to say but don’t because we don’t want to offend, so we let the cartoon say for us.  The Simpsons make fun of everything even the police department.  Marge’s mom who totally doesn’t give her any compliments or love is a sensitive subject and in American culture we tend to think that the mother’s are always nurturing but for those that don’t have this type of relationship, the writers have tackled the issue in a way that you can see how painful it is but yet Marge continues to be the best she can be despite of her relationship with her mother. Marge over compensates for her lack of compassion from her mom and makes sure that she supports her children.

You can teach all these types of values, ideas and issues in a class room using books and such but seeing life’s lesson portrayed through cartoon characters and using many celebrity voices in a humorous way can be just a valuable and perhaps even better, which is why I believe that the show has been the longest running American animated program.  Since there is always another new novel or new film or new event The Simpsons will continue to tackle the tough issues and appeal to viewers and the show should be studied as a sort of history book of American culture for years to come.

Works Cited

Twain, Mark. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1884. 230.

How The Simpsons Saved American Literature Class ~ Hofstra University - Essay #2

Nancy Radecker      English 161 DL        Essay #2                    July 25, 2012

American Hero

            What is an American hero? The answer changes like the wind and can be a very personal so how does one answer the question in relation to The Simpsons and other things we have read. Yes, I agree with Professor Pioreck’s definition to extent that more often the image we think of a “hero is a lone individual who fights the good fight” and a picture of “John Wayne” pops into one’s mind as well as “Dirty Harry to Rambo.” I believe that Americans tend to view these men as heroes sometimes more than they should give them credit for they are only Hollywood characters. I also agree that although “men understand what they think is the code they don’t choose to live by it.” I also somewhat agree that the true American hero is always loyal and can always be trusted. I will defend this using various examples from The Simpsons episodes and some of the readings that we have read.

            An American hero, what do we mean firstly? Does it have to be only males since males were used as heroes in Professor Pioreck’s examples, can a hero be female? Is there a certain age requirement as well? I believe that an American hero does not have to necessarily be male; throughout American history many women can also be considered heroes for example Rosa Parks, Betsy Ross, Eleanor Roosevelt even Annie Oakley.  Regarding age, heroes can be children, they can and I am often humbled by their courage and insight into certain situations.  I also feel that a hero may not always be a hero twenty hours a day and may not even have lived a heroic life up until a moment when they are faced with a decision that causes them to become a hero. Heroes also may be a hero to someone, but perhaps to others they may not be hero, it can be rather personal.  As humans we tend to find different values in certain things that others may not even give the slightest care about. I believe heroes fall into this scenario as well.  

With these questions and perspectives in mind then who in the Simpsons are heroes? I think that as a whole The Simpson family is not made up of great heroes of the John Wayne type but rather instead they all make up one family that makes small heroic moments that I believe most Americans can relate to on an everyday basis, which contributes to the success of the show.  Marge Simpson has many heroic moments for the most part, she is trustworthy and has high moral values, and she is always looks out for her family as well as others. In the episode “Much Apu About Nothing” Marge realizes that it isn’t right that they should vote yes on a proposition that would kick out immigrants and they end helping Apu to earn his citizenship so that he can stay here in the country.  Marge has much patience with her family and is very level headed; she is the rock and keeps the family together.  As much as Homer calls her a wet blanket, she does not like to take risks. To her family Marge is a hero, she is the glue that keeps the family together.  Marge takes her marriage seriously and motherhood as well. Although in the episode “Secrets of a Successful Marriage” she does get upset when Homer begins to expose secrets to his class about his marriage. Marge is justified with that and she actually is defending the rite of marriage as she gets mad at Homer and kicks him out.  I believe that your average American woman can relate to Marge and consider her a hero, a hero because she gets up in the morning and tries to be the best she can be, sure she makes her mistakes and misjudges others at times but she always looks for the good in people.

            Homer has “hero” like qualities about him and his role as a provider to his family does give him a hero status in their eyes, and he truly loves his children.  In the episode “Mayored to the Mob” Homer does have a hero moment when he realizes that the mob is serving rat milk to the school children rather than cow milk and goes up against them.  Homer as a hero is interesting because many of the times it is because he doesn’t even realize what he is doing is wrong only to somehow twist it around and come out shiny in the end. Such is the case in the episode when Apu will be deported if the proposition is voted in. Homer at first doesn’t even realize that Apu is a immigrant, which is funny because it is very clear but you could say that Homer didn’t look at him in a special way so he never recognized him for being different which is very honorable.  Then when he realizes that he will be deported he realizes what a good friend he will lose and decides to vote no on the proposition.  Homer then helps him pass the citizenship test so that Apu can stay in America.  To Apu, Homer was his hero for the moment, and stood up for him and what he believed to be the right thing to do.   Homer becomes Lisa’s hero in the episode “Lisa’s Pony”.  Although again he didn’t start off being a hero because he makes a mistake and doesn’t get Lisa’s reed for her saxophone in time to the school musical performance and to make it up to her, Homer buys her a pony.  Although the cost of keeping the pony becomes way too much for the family’s finances, Homer takes on a second job to make money to keep the pony as to not have to disappoint Lisa again. Is this a great way to become a hero, not really, but to Lisa it was everything. Homer helping Bart put back the head of Jebediah in the episode of “The Telltale Head” after Bart steals it was an example of Homer as a hero to Bart. It could be said that Homer would have be more of hero if he just turned him in, but he wanted to teach Bart a lesson and by helping him, it taught Bart that although he too has made mistakes in the past you should be accountable and correct them if you can. Homer brings home the dog and names him “Santa’s little helper” when he realizes that the dog has no place to go in the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". In the same episode Homer takes on a job as a Santa in the mall when he realizes that he won’t be getting his Christmas bonus and rather than disappoint his family with no presents.  Homer is not the most amazing hero, but to his family he is a hero and American men can relate to Homer, he loves watching sports, drinking beer and taking naps, and because he gets away with it, to the male viewers he is a hero, not the greatest, but at the end of the day again, he loves his family and goes to sleep with his wife every night.

            Lisa becomes a hero when she discovers the town’s founding father is not what the town believes him to be in the episode “Lisa the Ironclast”, but rather than tell the townspeople the truth she keeps it a secret. Lisa is the quiet hero keeps the townspeople spirit alive by not letting them know that the town was founded on a lie. Lisa realizes the importance of the townspeople feeling good about themselves and proud of their heritage and so Lisa doesn’t want to break the spirit and ruin it for the town of Springfield and thus doesn’t tell them. 

            Maggie even though she doesn’t talk and is a toddler becomes the hero of the daycare center when she devises a plan to steal back the pacifiers from the caretaker in the episode entitled “Streetcar named Marge”.  Maggie as a hero, Yes, because she could have just taken her own pacifier back but yet at the end of the episode as Homer comes to pick her up from the daycare center, all of the children are sitting on the floor with their pacifiers, Maggie chooses to give them all back thus becoming a toddler hero that doesn’t speak.  Yes again like the other members of the Simpsons, at first it was a selfish act, she wanted her pacifier back and thus created the plot to get it back but as a result she ended up with the whole bag and rather than be selfish at that moment she choose to put others feelings first as well, thus creating her hero role.

            The  novel Wiseguy and its movie counterpart Goodfellas the protagonist Henry Hill becomes a sort of American hero in different ways and attracts different audiences in the endings of each of the stories.  In the book which is a life story of Henry Hill and his life as a member of the Mafia, you tend to end up liking him throughout the book, you sort of feel sorry for him and end up actually justifying all of his crime activities, for one reason, he is only hurting other bad people that would have hurt other people.  Henry Hill becomes sort of the Robin Hood type character, but instead of giving to the poor they sort of keep it for themselves but do actually keep the neighborhood free of crime so it does benefit those around him.  It is sort of Henry Hill taking the fall on the hand grenade for the common people in a strange sort of twist. As much as we want to root for the police we end up liking that fact that Henry Hill gets over on them, especially when we see that the police which are supposed to be the real heroes end up taking bribes and thus are not the heroes we want and so Henry Hill steps in and we began to cheer him on.  However the ending of the movie Goodfellas is different than what ends up happening in the book and I believe it was changed for the simple reason of creating Hollywood drama.  In the book Henry ends up getting enlisted into the witness protection program but untimely ends up working for the government as an informant and ends up catching many other members of the Mafia. In the movie however you only see that Henry and his family end up in the witness protection program and you believe that they live the rest of their lives as average people. I think that Martin Scorese the director of the film did this because he felt that the American audience would be happier if Henry didn’t end up helping the police to capture more Mafia members.  Americans tend to love their gangsters, sort of like loving the “bad boy” image.  American’s as much as they love their country, tend to like to root for those that that goes against the establishment, for example the police. Another example of the love of the gangsters is America’s love relationship with Bonnie and Clyde or John Dillinger; we can’t get enough of it.  Hollywood and the media also tends to glamorize it as well so I think that has something to do with it, I suppose if we spun the stories of their adventures in a different light, we may not wish to root for them to succeed. So Henry Hill becomes a hero in the same way, he is an honest crook, he respects the family, thus becomes a sort of American hero.

            Roy Hobbs in the novel the Natural is a hero that fails, and when it comes baseball for this example, I am always so surprised when someone who just hits a ball over a fence becomes a hero one minute, but then strikes out the next minute immediately is sort of dethroned. I can see no other example of the quick hero turnaround than in sports.  America’s obsession with its athletes as hero figures is an interesting one. Firstly, the salaries they are paid for what they do are just off the charts to begin with. True American heroes never get paid what they should get paid, such as Abraham Lincoln, he got paid a bullet in the back of his head, and heroes don’t look for repayment really it comes from the heart.  I also don’t get why they can even fall off the wagon big time in life, but still be as idolized as an American hero.  I would use the term role model for athletes personally, I don’t believe that someone who throws a football twenty feet and makes a touchdown is a hero; it is just a good role model for those wishing to achieve that pinnacle or doing the job he is supposed to do.  Roy Hobbs uses his bat Wonderboy as his crutch to achieving to the high hero level he is achieves, until he misuses it and it loses its power over him. Roy Hobbs who has a natural talent, an American hero but falls from grace, has all this great stuff in front of him and then throws it all away. Roy thinks he is heroic but then makes bad choices.  It is like today’s athletes who are achieving so much only to get caught doing drugs and throwing it all away, but somehow they still end up being heroes to some people.

            All of the examples I have shown have described instances where someone who for the most part isn’t a great hero but yet does small heroic gestures and thus becomes a hero even for just a moment in time. An American hero is comprised of mistakes and errors but at the moment makes the right call and steps up to bat, and thinks of others. I don’t think that someone can be a hero twenty four hours a day, even the most amazing heroes you can think of, have had their moments of despair and poor judgment, but it is how you get up the next day and handle yourself that makes you a hero to someone. In the recent tragic event of the shooting spree at the movie theater, there were heroes that came forth from that terrible event. The many stories of boyfriends throwing themselves in front of their girlfriends, thus catching a bullet for them are amazing. Yes, heroes they truly were for that moment, but how do we know whether or not ten minutes before the event the same young man, perhaps was not being nice to someone, maybe not being so honest and trustworthy.   People can be heroes when they are pushed into something or maybe it doesn’t have to be that serious, maybe it is just holding the door open for an elderly person at the post office. People choose to be heroes and I believe you can be one everyday if you just look for the opportunity’s, I also believe that it takes no more energy to be a hero than it is to be not to be a hero.  Why aren’t there more heroes in America or maybe there are too many that are called heroes that should not be considered heroes, because man knows the code, they have free will and choose to live by it, or not live by it and in America the land of the free, home of the brave, they are entitled to choose between the two.

How The Simpsons Saved American Literature Class ~ Hofstra University - Essay #1

Nancy Radecker      English 161 DL        Essay #1                    July 12, 2012

“Hey! What’s the Big Deal?”

In both the film Citizen Kane, and It’s a Wonderful Life as well as the television show The Simpson’s, the subject of what is of value in a man’s life in American culture and its influence on American’s way of life is depicted in rather different styles and yet the message is basically the same. In this essay I will provide examples from each of these to provide evidence to prove how they each contribute to the subject of a what is of value in a man’s life in American culture and its influence.

In the film Citizen Kane the entire movie is based on a man’s life from childhood up until his death.  Orson Wells the director and screenwriter of the film was quoted saying “This field of inanimate theatrical properties I wished to represent the very dust heap of a man’s life. I wished the camera to show beautiful things, ugly things and useless things, too—indeed everything, which could stand for a public career and a private life.” (The Orsen Welles Web Rosources Various Authors)  The film depicts a sort of man that Orsen Welles very specifically choose firstly as a American man which supports the argument of what is of value in a man’s life in American cultural but also not about the traditional “success story” but rather a story of “failure” which I believe is probably more recognizable to the audience and American culture. True we all want to believe that we all live happily ever after in American but the truth is that more do not then actually do. The value is in how we handle it, the ups and downs of life’s journey; the story was about not getting the money eventually though man’s lifetime but what he does with it if he already has it from the beginning. Many people relate what is of value in a man’s life to how much is in his bank account but that is not really what is valuable. I would agree that the American cultural tends to portray it that way, but when you get down to it, many more believe it is in the way you walk through life that is more valuable at the end of the day.  In the film Citizen’s Kane the scene where Mr. Kane sits at the table and eats with his first wife, all seems wonderful and they are so both very much in love, they need of nothing but each other’s company, however during the scenes that follow it, you see that they talk less, dress differently, and seem not to find joy with each other as time passes. The value in a man’s life is to be worked on, on a daily basis; simply having the money will not bring happiness, finding joy in the everyday things is the value.  The value in man (Kane) as seen through various other characters and from their own point of view was an interesting way to show that there is value in how others see you.

In the film It’s a Wonderful Life The main character like Kane is depicted from not as young as childhood but basically throughout his life although you also don’t see the character die at the end but still a lifetime and George Bailey’s journey of finding out what is really important in life when looking at his life from the outside.  As man gets caught up in the realities of life George is no different and doesn’t see the value but he constantly searches for ways of getting out and finding it, only to find out it was there the whole time. ZuZu practicing the piano while he desperately tries to figure out a plan to get the money back that is misplaced was a great example of man when at the brink of chaos snaps back at the very thing that brings joy. George snapping at ZuZu and then later realizing how that she is the whole reason for owning the bank, could honestly happen to anyone and I myself have been guilty of doing that myself. When you watched that scene you could really relate to George and it influences you to think the next time or perhaps even remember a time and go back and apologize to someone you snapped at. It’s a Wonderful Life, again based on American cultural like Citizen Kane but yet unlike Citizen Kane a success story.

The Simpson’s is also again a story of a man and his family typical American family with ups and downs. Homer similar to the character of Kane in Citizens Kane but more closely related to George in It’s a Wonderful Life.  Homer struggles with making the right choices but unlike Kane he loves his family and sees the value in them, usually by the end of each episode and like George Bailey does at the end of the film.  Of course Homer has his funny ways of realizing it and often he does put value in material items such a beer and football. However like George Bailey he has his parental bad moments and often Homer chokes his son Bart in a desperate attempt to gain control but yet Homer and the audience see the value in his children despite their mistakes.  In the episode where Homer buys a pony for Lisa because he failed to obtain a reed for her instrument thus causing her great pain and embarrassment, Homer sees the value of pleasing his daughter and goes to great length to make it up to her even taking on a second job to afford the cost.  The value of Lisa’s love was so great that he put himself aside and the opinions of others to satisfy the hurt he caused.  George Bailey did a similar thing when he sacrificed not traveling the world waiting for his brother to come home and take over the business to help the townspeople with keeping their homes and farms and not giving into the greedy Mr. Potter’s bank. George found the value in the needs and love of the townspeople and put himself second.  Homer also finds the value in life when he brings home the family dog named “Santa’s Little Helper” when the dog finds himself out on the street without a home. Homer realizes that he couldn’t just leave the dog and found that he too, was down and out that love costs nothing and that the presents he wanted to so desperately buy for his family would not have come close to level of the love he has for them.  Viewers feel for Homer and understand his situation because many of us have been in the same situation and can really relate.  The Simpsons in their own unique way depict what is valuable in life and a nice example is the tone in which Marge says “Oh Homer” in certain episodes. If Homer is not behaving well, Marge will in a scolding tone say “Oh Homer” and shake her head, but at times in a sweet enduring way when Homer makes things right in the end Marge will say “Oh Homer” in a cute sweet way. There is value in Homer’s actions and Marge recognizes it and values him and the love they share.

In conclusion the question of what is of value in a man’s life is a constantly changing question throughout time but still somewhat remains the same throughout American culture and is depicted in various ways through Citizen Kane, It’s a Wonderful Life and even through The Simpsons cartoon. All of the characters in each of these examples need to find the value and recognize it in the end, just like the cultural of America, but the basic valuable item is family and is a thread throughout all the examples provided.

Works Cited

The Orsen Welles Web Rosources Various Authors. Wellesnet: The Orson Welles Web Resource. 5th August 2007. 11 July 2012 .