Response#2

Summary of “Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons”

            The main topic of “Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons” written by Jessamyn Neuhaus is that The Simpsons satirizes the traditional family sitcoms like Father Knows Best in which the images of father and mother are idealized, and being a TV homemaker without frustration and exhaustion is unrealistic, but the core value of the show is that man and woman should take their social roles traditionally. There are three key terms in the essay: The Simpsons is “a direct challenge to the authoritative and attentive fathers” and a various satire of “ideal American family and work life on 1950s sitcoms” as well as the American dream, arousing viewers to notice what they ignore in daily life; the endings of the show are always sentimental, still affirming the core value of a “nuclear family”; Marge’s role of being an “unconventional” homemaker, but she is still a fundamentally domestic role embodying the core value of a “nuclear family.”

            The first term Neuhas indicates that in The Simpsons, the character of the father and husband – Homer overthrows the impression of knowledgeable and authoritative fathers made in 1950s sitcoms. Additionally, the show satirizes the ideal American family and work life that idealized in 1950s as well as the American dream from many aspects. For example, Neuhas lists detail examples from education – “The teachers in Springfield are bored and quick to stifle any creativity or curiosity in their pupils,” as well as religion – “The town’s leading Christiana are annoying…” The show also aims to invite viewers to notice what they ignore in the daily life. Neuhas quotes from Philip Roth, “Satire is mortal outrage transformed into comic art.”

            In the second term, Neuhas concludes that although the show satirizes many American social stereotypes, the endings of the show are always sentimental and touching, which affirms the core values of “a solid nuclear family,” such as loyalty, love, affection and Christianity. Neuhas explains that “despite their (the Simpsons) arguments, conflicts, and even physical violence toward one another,” the children often “express their affection for and loyalty to their parents” and “the Simpsons family is the only sitcom family to regularly attend church and to frequently dis cuss God and faith.”

            As for the third term, the discussion of Marge’s role in the family and the small society of the Springfield is the most important part of the essay. Firstly, Neuhas asserts that Marge’s role satirizes the myth of the ideal TV housewife by not easily resolving the frustration and exhaustion from bunches of housework. She lists three ways that Marge used to use to “dislocate herself from her domestic role fail” but they all didn’t work well. The first is to have a “two-star” spa, but the relief is temporary. The second one is to be employed and doing volunteer work outside home, but it is not a lasting solution. The third one is to procure her self-fulfillment via her strength, - a bake-off outside home, but she failed either. Therefore, finding values besides domestic roles is hard for homemakers, and Marge’s experiences question and refute the stereotype of being an ideal homemaker is always content. The second term that Neuhas points out is that as a homemaker, Marge’s participation in politics not only emphasizes the political stances of its authors, but also “demonstrates the way women have expanded their domestic sphere to include a public, political role.” Neuhas takes the letters between Ms. Bush and Marge as an example, indicating Marge’s good ability in participating and holding various political events, and she also represents the homemakers who also attended in public and political events. The third term is that “Marge is still a fundamentally domestic character” and the show still expresses the idea of the traditional social gender roles that “women’s place is in the home.” Neuhas lists the examples from different episodes that whenever Marge leaves the family, the family would be in a mess. On the other hand, Marge likes being a homemaker herself, because however Homer becomes, she still think he is a “perfect” man. Therefore, from the “sporadic satire of ‘housewife’ character, and only partial critiques of domestic gender roles; conflicts that are always resolved when Marge returns to homemaking.”

             In conclusion, Neuhas mainly argues that The Simpsons satirizes the traditional family sitcoms like Father Knows Best in which the images of father and mother are idealized, the endings of the show still expresses what the sitcoms in 1950s want to express, and being a TV homemaker without frustration and exhaustion is unrealistic, but the core value of the show is that man and woman should take their social roles as in “nuclear families.”