CONTEMPORARY ANIMATION: THE SIMPSONS TO SOUTH PARK-FILM 4165 (4 Credits) SPRING 2015 Tuesdays 6:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. Social Work 134
Instructor: Steven Pecchia-Bekkum Office Phone: 801-935-9143 E-Mail: [email protected] Office Hours: M-W 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. (FMAB 107C)
Course Description:
Since it first appeared as a series of short animations on the Tracy Ullman Show (1987), The Simpsons has served as a running commentary on the lives and attitudes of the American people. Its subject matter has touched upon the fabric of American society regarding politics, religion, ethnic identity, disability, sexuality and gender-based issues. Also, this innovative program has delved into the realm of the personal; issues of family, employment, addiction, and death are familiar material found in the program’s narrative. Additionally, The Simpsons has spawned a series of animated programs (South Park, Futurama, Family Guy, Rick and Morty etc.) that have also been instrumental in this reflective look on the world in which we live. The abstraction of animation provides a safe emotional distance from these difficult topics and affords these programs a venue to reflect the true nature of modern American society.
Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to provide the intellectual basis for a deeper understanding of The Simpsons, South Park, Futurama, Family Guy, and Rick and Morty within the context of the culture that nurtured these animations. The student will, upon successful completion of this course:
(1) recognize cultural references within these animations. (2) correlate narratives to the issues about society that are raised. (3) examine the serious nature of the issues behind each narrative and correlate these to how these programs transform difficult issues into comedic material. (4) be able to communicate these ideas effectively in written forms. Assignments and Requirements:
Two 3-5 page papers each discussing a different topic from the class, and providing examples from the animated programs to support the papers theses (Each essay is worth 25% of the final grade). The first paper is due on September 19th. The second paper is due on November 7th.
One 5-7 page paper chosen from a list of topics provided by the instructor (this essay is worth 40% of the final grade). This paper is due on December 12th.
A journal of written impressions of each episode shown (the journal is worth 10% of the final grade). These journals entries can be emailed to the instructor at [email protected].
Note: each of the first two written papers will be returned with lists of corrections and suggestion for improvement. Each paper can be resubmitted with the possibility of a better grade.
Readings:
Brown, Alan with Chris Logan (ed.). The Psychology of the Simpsons. Dallas: Benbella Books, 2006.
Weinstock, Jeffrey Andrew (ed.). Taking South Park Seriously. New York: State University of New York press, 2008.
Schedule:
August 22 Week One: Origins
Viewing: The Simpsons-Tracy Ullman Shorts and “There's No Disgrace Like Home” Futurama-“Space Pilot 3000” South Park-The Original South Park Christmas Cards (The Spirit of Christmas) and “Volcano” Family Guy-“Death Has a Shadow” Rick and Morty-"Pilot" Reading: Brown, Chapter 1 "The Family Simpson". Weinstock, Chapters 1 & 2 "Taking South Park Seriously" and "The Pleasures of South Park".
August 29 Week Two: Family
Viewing: The Simpsons-“And Maggie Makes Three” Futurama-“The Luck of the Fryrish” Family Guy-“Emission Impossible” Rick and Morty-"Pickle Rick"
Reading: Brown, Chapter 12 "Hope Springs Parental".
September 5 Week Three: Relationships and Marriage
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Secrets of a Successful Marriage” Futurama-“The Late Phillip J. Fry” Family Guy-“Bill & Peter’s Bogus Journey” Rick and Morty-"Big Trouble in Little Sanchez"
Reading: Brown, Chapters 2 and 8 "For Better, or Worse" and "Righteousness and Relationships".
September 12 Week Four: Religion
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Homer the Heretic Family Guy-“The Father, the Son and the Holy Fonz” South Park-“The Passion of the Jew” Rick and Morty-"Get Schwifty"
Reading: Brown, Chapter 5 "Homer's Soul". Weinstock, Chapters 9 & 10 "South Park Heretics" and "Prophetic Profanity".
FIRST PAPER IS ASSIGNED (3-5 pages).
September 19 Week Five: Death
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Homer’s Triple Bypass" Futurama-Jurassic Bark” Family Guy-“Death is a Bitch” South Park-“Pink Eye” Rick and Morty-"Mortynight Run"
FIRST PAPER IS DUE (3-5 pages).
September 26 Week Six: Philosophy and Spirituality
Viewing: The Simpsons-“El Viaje Misterioso De Nuestro Jomer” Futurama-“Godfellas” Family Guy-“Death Lives” South Park-“Super Best Friends”
October 3 Week Seven: Identity: Disability and Gender
Viewing: The Simpsons-“King-Sized Homer” Family Guy-"Petarded" Futurama-“Neutopia” Rick and Morty-"Raising Gazorpazorp"
Reading: Brown, Chapter 11 "Sex and Gender". Weinstock, Chapter 7 "Shopping at J-Mart with the Williams". October 10 NO CLASS-FALL BREAK
October 17 Week Eight: Identity: Sexual Identity/Ethnic Identity
Viewing: Simpsons-"Mypods and Broomsticks" Futurama-“Bend Her” Family Guy-“Family Gay” South Park-“Chef Goes Nanners” Rick and Morty-"Auto Erotic Assimilation"
October 24 Week Eight: Employment
Viewing: The Simpsons-“You Only Move Twice” Family Guy-“Mr. Saturday Knight” South Park-“Goobacks” Futurama-“Brannigan, Begin Again” Rock and Morty-"Something Ricked This Way Comes"
October 31 Week Nine: Addiction
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Duffless” Futurama-“Fry and the Slurm Factory” South Park-“Major Boobage” Family Guy-“Let’s Go to the Hop” Rick and Morty-" Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender"
Reading: Brown, Chapter 6 "Alcohol-The Cause of, and Solution to, All Life's Problems".
SECOND PAPER IS ASSIGNED (3-5 pages).
November 7 Week Ten: Politics
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Sideshow Bob Roberts” Futurama-“A Head in the Polls” Family Guy-“It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One” South Park-“The Damned"
SECOND PAPER IS DUE (3-5 pages). November 14 Week Eleven: Crossovers
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Simpsorama” and part of “Treehouse of Horror XXV” South Park-“The Simpsons Already Did It” Family Guy-“The Simpsons Guy”
November 21 Week Twelve: Reflexivity
Viewing: The Simpsons- “The Front” Futurama "Sunday Morning Fun Pit" Family Guy-“Road to the Multiverse” South Park-“Make Love, Not Warcraft” Rick and Morty-" Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate"
Reading: Weinstock, Chapter 4 "Stupid Brain!".
November 28 Week Thirteen: Parody
Viewing: The Simpsons-“Rosebud" Futurama-“A Flight to Remember” South Park-“The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers” Family Guy-“North by North Quahog” Rick and Morty-"Rickmancing the Stone"
Reading: Weinstock, Chapters 5 and 6 "Freud Goes to South Park" and "Cynicism and Other Post Ideological Half Measures".
FINAL PAPER IS ASSIGNED (5-7 pages).
December 5 Week Fourteen: Linked Narratives
Viewing: Futurama-“The Day the Earth Stood Stupid”, “Roswell’s That Ends Well” “The Why of Fry” "Bender's Big Score" and “Meanwhile”
December 12 Week Fifteen: On the Big Screen
Viewing: The Simpsons-“The Simpsons Movie” South Park-“South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut”
Reading: Weinstock, Chapter 1.
FINAL PAPER IS DUE (5-7 pages).
This syllabus is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class.
*Some of the films, presentations, or lectures in this course may include material that conflicts with the core beliefs of some students (we are, after all, watching South Park). Since many of the films seen this semester will be new to the audience and the instructor, there will be no practical way to predict which films (and which discussions following the films) might conflict with the individual values of each student. This is a workshop course involving the production of art and the feedback given to each student producer is essentially the text for this course and the reason most, if not all, of the student producers are taking the course. Discussions may include topics that may make some uncomfortable.
Consider carefully the nature of this course before committing to taking it. Bear in mind that your fellow students and the instructor have no way to make an informed decision about which films or comments might be a problem for you.
**The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.