Lisa Simpson, The Curse Of Being Smart
The Simpsons is perhaps the most popular animated series of decades. Almost everyone has seen at least one episode of this series. But what does The Simpsons tell us beyond the jokes? In the rest of this article, we will offer you a reflection on how the program, through Lisa Simpson, denounces serious social prejudices.
The Simpsons is an animated comedy created by Matt Groening for Fox Entertainment. The cartoon was released in 1989 and has continued to air since then. It is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic series of American television.
The series revolves around the Simpson family, a parody of the Groening family. The Simpson family is made up of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and little Maggie. They live in the fictional town of Springfield, which symbolizes the remote small towns of the United States.
The Simpsons are above all a parody of American culture, society and customs. But The Simpsons are also the satirical representation of the human condition. Some fanatics even claim that The Simpsons are a new way of presenting philosophy, as well as ethical and moral debates.
Homer’s character, for example, represents a white working-class man. Without major complications, Homer lives his life without worrying about food and perhaps having too much access to television. His wife, Marge, is a housewife who takes care of the children and the house. The eldest son, Bart, is a small replica of his father. Having no academic or professional aspirations, Bart is a straightforward character. And then there’s Lisa, 9, a precocious and extremely intelligent girl. Finally, we have Maggie, a baby.
After the golden age
In 2018, The Simpsons completed their twenty-ninth season. Despite being on the TV grid for so long, The Simpsons are not what they once were. Many fans of the series say The Simpsons have had a “golden age” long over. These were about the first 13 seasons. During this golden period, the mood is more absurd and the tone of the program is much lighter.
For this group of followers, after the Golden Age, The Simpsons has become a show that emphasizes linear story and character development. This means that we can understand the psychology of each of the characters a little better: that light and absurd humor is sacrificed in favor of the plot.
Lisa Simpson, the black sheep of the family
Interestingly, after the twelfth season, Lisa Simpson’s character changes. This change is subtle, but it only increases over time. Lisa Simpson becomes the character most punished by the creators of the program. And these punishments are often completely unfair and unnecessary for Lisa as a character.
The other characters of the central family, in general, are rewarded after small punishments. These rewards range from personal growth, love and affection to community approval. However, we constantly see how Lisa’s pain and suffering is never rewarded.
Lisa Simpson remains a lonely character. With signs of depressive behavior, Lisa rarely finds comfort. Due to her intelligence, her interest in learning, Lisa is ridiculed as “know-it-all”.
Living in a society that punishes intelligence
Lisa Simpson is a character clearly different from other members of her family. She has advanced knowledge of music and literature as well as science. She is cunning and wants to learn more about the world. She is not satisfied with the simple life offered to her by her provincial town.
Lisa’s intelligence, which makes her different, seems to be the reason she can never find happiness. In episodes following the Golden Age, The Simpsons emphasize the idea that Lisa can never have true friends. There are few episodes where Lisa finds people she can get along with. Unfortunately, these friends always disappear in one way or another.
The Simpsons , a satire of everyday life, seem to identify and promote one idea: exceptional people cannot be happy. It is as if intelligence is at odds with daily satisfactions. In this case, what is shown in The Simpsons is only a representation of social prejudice.
There is no real reason that a learned and intelligent person cannot be happy. There is a kind of myth that says ignorance is a blessing. Not understanding or not knowing is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it also doesn’t hurt to know and understand. Being able to understand the world is a virtue that must be protected. This is where the sciences, the arts and all that genius that lasts in time come from.
The importance of resistance
Western society often ridicules those who cultivate their minds. Despite this, it’s important to remember that happiness is a decision. It can be difficult to resist direct and indirect attacks against learned people. However, there will always be other people with the same tastes and interests. If you feel identified with Lisa, just keep looking until you find a group of friends to share your knowledge with.
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