I believe in reconciliation.
My family loves The Simpsons. My dad owns the first twenty-odd seasons of the show on DVD, and accompanied by shows like Friends and Brooklyn 99, The Simpsons make up a large part of the TV we sit down to watch together. I’ve always thought very highly of the show—it’s simultaneously hilarious and, oftentimes, insightful and socially progressive. So when we settled in last weekend in front of 2005’s “There’s Something About Marrying”, I didn’t expect anything different. 22 minutes later, I was faced with one of the most thought-provoking episodes I had ever watched—and not in a good way.
The episode focused on same-sex marriage being legalized in Springfield, and a little ways into the main plot, I was still looking for the artful handling of controversy I’ve come to expect from the show. Sure, it skewered homophobic and anti-equality sentiments effectively, and some reviews of the episode from 2005 even called it an advanced portrayal of same-sex marriage that was rare in the early-to-mid 2000s. But especially by the standards I hold today, the subtle homophobia and suggestions about wedding sanctity kept me uneasy about the direction of the episode. My discomfort was eventually proved correct, with a transphobic twist at the end of the episode poisoning whatever pro-gay rights sentiment the writers may have intended. And as my several family members disagreed on what to take away from the episode, I was crushed. The moment the male character in question was revealed to be a deceptive cross-dresser just trying to gain the benefits of passing as a woman, I felt physically ill. Before my head even got there, my heart and my gut knew something was terribly wrong. It wasn’t just the deeply problematic idea being presented to me, it was my love for the source material that felt so fractured. I felt betrayed.
I am a fan of somewhat outdated culture in general. Rarely do I watch a TV show in real time, and the majority of my favorite music comes from the 1970s. Basically, I am not your average eighteen year old when it comes to the entertainment I consume. But I also consider myself to be quite socially progressive. While timestamp can be a consideration, I actively try to stop the trope of, “it happened a while ago so it’s fine” from entering my discussions. LGBT+ issues are especially personal for me, as while I may be an ally of the community myself, my significant other, younger sibling, and many of my friends are personally affected each time debates around their rights and portrayals resurface in daily life. I’m extremely conscious of the fact that culture produced by human society often reflects every aspect of that society—including some harmful stereotypes and oppressive ideas. So how do I grapple with those parts of me? How do I reconcile my love of human culture with my passion for social advancement?
There is no one answer. But difficult conversations are where it starts. I’ve spoken to each member of my family about this episode, I’ve processed each of their perspectives, and I’ve tried to help them understand my own. The result? We’ve still got a long way to go. But we’re not done watching the Simpsons. We haven’t cancelled it, or censored it, or thrown away years of insightful comedy. We’ve simply given it a more thorough look. And as much as that wasn’t what I expected when I settled down in front of the TV with a bowl of ice cream on a Sunday night, I’m glad it happened.
1.The internal and external conflicts of perspectives are clearly identified.
2. The arrangement was perfect and the story was incredibly moving. I also appreciated the ending, working through your own internal struggles, and bringing your perspectives to your family members that may not understand. Leaving the ending that “we’ve still got a long way to go”.
3. I think the way you described each character was different. You don’t have to go in-depth with each one and honestly I’d prefer you didn’t. the open-ended aspect of them having simply a “different perspective” is enough to understand the piece. And when you mention people close to you are “directly affected” by the issue that speaks for itself as well.
4. Reconciliation fits well with your piece,.
5 &6- None! It was extremely well written
1.Identify the conflict of this piece. If you think the conflict needs work, offer suggestions.
The conflict of this piece is the internal and external struggle faced when shows ( such as the Simpsons), mass media, and people are very disrespectful to the feelings of the LGBT+ community.
2. Comment on the arrangement of the piece. Could the piece be more sensory or engaging if told another way? Think about the beginning, middle, and ending. Comment on how they could be strengthened.
The arrangement of this piece was wonderful, and followed a chronological order when necessary. I think the entirety of this piece of powerful.
3. Name some possibilities for deeper characterization. How could the “I” be developed further? Is there more you would like to know about the relationships between “characters”? Were some details “author oriented” instead of “audience oriented”?
You could talk more about your personal feelings towards the inconsideration that media in general has towards the LGBT+ community. otherwise, i love the way you conveyed your feelings. For example, i could sense and understand you feeling physically ill.
4. Did the belief match up with the story? Offer some advice if you felt the piece moved toward a different conclusion.
The belief did match the story. and i feel as though the piece moved in a perfect direction.
5. Suggest ways that the piece could engage the senses more.
I think the piece engages in the senses more, maybe talk about the ice cream? or how the ice cream and Simpsons brings a sense of comfort, and how that became discomfort throughout watching the episode.
6. Make a suggestion or two for something the author could move, change, add, or delete.
I think this was well done, and i don’t think many major changes need to be done. This was so well written and i enjoyed it very much!