Lisa Simpson, the punishment of being smart

The Simpsons It is perhaps the most popular animated series in recent years. Almost everyone has seen at least one episode of this series. But what are they telling us? The Simpsons beyond the jokes? Keep reading because I propose a reflection on the way in which the program, through Lisa Simpson, shows some serious social prejudices.

The Simpsons is an animated comedy created by Matt Groening for the Fox Entertainment network. It was released in 1989, and has been on the television grid since then. We are talking, without a doubt, about one of the most iconic series on American television.

The show is set around the Simpson family, a parody of Groening’s own 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 small and remote towns of the United States.

The Simpsons It is mainly a parody of American culture, its society and its customs. But the Simpsons It is also the satirical representation of the human condition. Some fans even claim that the Simpsons It is a new way of presenting philosophy, as well as ethical and moral debates.

The character of Homer, for example, represents a white working class man. Without further complications, Homer lives his life based on food and television. His wife, Marge, is a housewife, responsible for taking care of the children and the home. The oldest son, Bart, is a small replica of his father. Without academic or work aspirations, Bart is a complex character. Then there is Lisa, 9 years old, a precocious and extremely intelligent girl. Lastly, we have Maggie, a baby.

After the golden age

During 2018, The Simpsons It ended its twenty-ninth season. Despite having been on the television grid for so long, The Simpsons It’s not what it once was. Many of the program’s most die-hard fans explain that The Simpsons had a “golden era”. This consisted of the first 13 seasons, more or less. During this golden period, the humor is more absurd and the tone of the show is much lighter.

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For this group of followers, after the golden age, The Simpsons becomes a show that emphasizes linear history and character development. This means that we can understand a little more about the psychology of each of the characters: that light and “nonsense” humor is sacrificed in favor of the plot.

Lisa Simpson, the black sheep of the family

Curiously, 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 show’s creators. And these punishments are often completely unfair and unnecessary to Lisa as a character.

The other characters in the central family are generally rewarded after minor punishments.. These rewards range from personal growth, love and affection, or approval from the community. However, we constantly see how Lisa’s pain and suffering is never rewarded.

Lisa Simpson remains a forcefully solitary character. With displays of depressive behavior, Lisa rarely finds comfort. Because of her intelligence, her interest in learning, Lisa is ridiculed as a “know-it-all.”

Living in a society that punishes intelligence

Lisa Simpson is a character that is clearly different from the other members of her family. He has advanced knowledge in music and literature, as well as science. She is clever and wants to learn more about the world. She is not satisfied with the simple village life.

Lisa’s intelligence, which makes her different, seems to be the reason why she can never find happiness.. In the episodes after the golden age, in The Simpsons the idea is emphasized that Lisa will never be able to have real friends. There are few episodes where Lisa finds people she can get along with. Unfortunately, these friends always disappear one way or another.

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The Simpsonsa satire of everyday life, seems to identify and hammer home an idea: exceptional people cannot be happy. It is as if intelligence were at odds with everyday satisfactions. In this case, what is shown in The Simpsons It is only a representation of a social prejudice.

There is no real reason why a studied and intelligent person cannot be happy. There is a kind of myth that indicates that ignorance is a blessing. Not understanding or not knowing is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it is not bad to know and understand either. Being able to understand the world is a virtue that must be protected. That is where the sciences, the arts and all that genius that lasts over time come from.

The importance of resisting

Western society often ridicules those people who dedicate themselves to cultivating their minds. Despite this, it is important to remember that happiness is a decision. Resisting direct and indirect attacks on the people studied can be difficult. However, There will always be other people with the same tastes and interests.. If you identify with Lisa, you just need to keep searching until you find a group of friends with whom to share your knowledge.