Homer Simpson as Outsider Artist, or How I Learned to Accept Ambivalence (Maybe) Author(s): Reva Wolf Reviewed work(s): Source: Art Journal, Vol. 65, No. 3 (Fall, 2006), pp. 100-111 Published by: College Art Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20068484 . Accessed: 23/02/2012 13:08 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. College Art Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Art Journal. http://www.jstor.org 3 Homer creates art in the "Mom and Pop Homer a barbecue with Simpson purchases build-it-yourself pit and, the help of Art" episode of The Simpsons on Fox. (The his Lisa, starts to assemble it. Not who knows Simpsons &? I999TCFFC.AII rights daughter surprisingly (for anyone reserved. ? Fox he makes a mess of Broadcasting) Homer), the project. Unsuccessful in his attempt to return the item to to now-mangled the store, he tries get rid of it in other ways, in vain. As he then drives down the street with the object tethered to the back fender of his it a car car, dislodges and crashes into behind him. When the driver of this car later shows up at his house, he is certain she is there to sue. she that she owns an art Instead, explains gallery where she Feature would like to exhibit his object. These scenes in a early spring 1999 episode of the The Simpsons,entitled "Mom and Pop Art," written by Al Jean and directed by Steven introduce the twin that reverberate Moore, questions throughout the episode: What is art? Who is an artist?' These worn-out old, seemingly questions go back to Marcel of the Reva Wolf Duchamp's readymades os but are new on 191 infused with energy and meaning The we Simpsons. The incisive wit encounter here punctures our staid Homer as about art and artists, the latent Simpson judgments thereby releasing ambivalence and confusion that we to ought welcome, confront, Outsider or and Artist, enjoy. I The ambivalence and confusion about the what and who of How Learned to art first enter the when Homer to the Accept picture responds gallery owner's enthusiastic of as art. Ambivalence labeling his failed barbecue pit "You mean this hunk a (Maybe) o' junk?" he asks. "This isn't art; it's barbecue that me over the pit pushed edge." His wife, Marge, "You? An artist?" For habitual viewers of The s agrees: Simpsons, Marge exclamation of is in disbelief rich association. We know Marge is perennially annoyed by I an version at Homer's aversion to cultural activities that be deemed presented earlier of this paper the any might "high art." We Art Association Annual Conference ses College from the "Brush with Greatness" know, too, episode of exactly eight years earlier sion "Comic Art," New York, February 20, 2003, the that as a school student had to an chaired by Benjamin Binstock and Benjamin Lapp. (to day), high Marge herself aspired be Other versions of the were at paper given the and had sent Starr a she had of him.2 artist, Ringo portrait painted Marge's por Philosophy Club lecture series of the State traits stand for conventional artistic skill, while Homer's University of New York, New Paltz (April 2003). contraption represents and at the National Graduate Seminar of the an unintended alternative to convention. Yet Homer as a character does not fit Photography Institute, Columbia University (June the alternative bill. This us, contributes 2004). Kristine Harris and Robert Polito provided incongruity, by disorienting significantly numerous beneficial comments, and to our since we are unable to fit the idea of the Eugene confusion, "Homer artist" neatly Heath me to articulate what in an earlier prodded into our existing categories and stereotypes. draft Ionly hinted at. Steve Martits and Susan initial art DeMaio generously assisted me with some Homer's disagreement with the dealer's determination that his to unusual technological needs. Thanks Alfred art sets ruined barbecue pit is the stage for a scene toward the end of the Bie and Andy Bandit for kindly offering their time in which Homer and a visit to the local art museum. and expertise in the area of reproductions and episode, Marge pay Iwill permissions. A United University Professions reveal a museum bit later what occasions this visit. For the present, Iwill zoom Professional Development Grant provided impor 3 in on Homer's at the museum, of the characters Akbar and tant support for this project. Ireceived the best discovery, comic-strip assistance with my research from aWeb site, drawn none other than the creator of The Matt Jeff, by Simpsons, Groening. Homer, Marge and Homer in the "Mom and Pop as an aficionado of popular culture, immediately recognizes the author of this Art" episode of The Simpsons on Fox. (The and is stunned. "Matt he "What's he in a Simpsons &? I999TCFFC.AII rights drawing Groening!" shouts, doing reserved. ? Fox Broadcasting) museum? He can barely draw!"This judgment parallels Homer's own gut when the art dealer on a response declares, his doorstep, that Homer has made art. An work of implication of this parallel is that neither Homer's nor Groening's productions qualify as art. (It isworth pointing out, at this juncture, that the M formed by Homer's hair, when viewed from the side, and the one formed by his "The Simpsons Archive" (www.snpp.com)?a site open shirt collar are very likely synecdoches for "Matt"; himself has that still makes me puzzle over whether a line Groening really separates the scholar from the fan.Without said that he identifies with Homer.)3 the enthusiasm of a particular Simpsons fan, my Homer's of is not an judgment Groening's work, however, merely indirect nephew Marc Hartzman, this essay would not reference to the cartoonist's exist; Idedicate the essay to Marc. identification with his character. This judgment also to the that operates convey opinion comic-strip drawings (and, by extension, 1. "Mom and Pop Art," The Simpsons, originally are not art to be own Homer's aired on Fox Network, April 11, 1999. cartoons) (which happens Groening's viewpoint).4 2. Brian K. Roberts and Reardon is also consistent with his For in (writer) Jim judgment character. example, the 1991 episode (director), "Brush with Greatness," The Simpsons, "Mr. Lisa Goes to he tells that "cartoons don't have originally aired on Fox Network, April II, 1991. Washington," Marge any 3. Annemarie Wyley, "The Simpsons' Creator deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh."5 As the Groening Grows Up" (interview with Matt poet Robert Pinsky and other Simpsonsfans have observed, the program Groening), Reuters, September 3, 1999, available regularly makes fun own online at www.snpp.com/other/interviews/ of, while simultaneously praising, its genre.6 It does this with The schematic M of Homer's groening99b.html. a of a sentence or a striking economy means?through single simple drawing. collar and hair (as well as Bart's hairdo) resem The economical of Akbar and intimates that bles, in addition, the zig-zag pattern on the shirt drawing Jeff the label "art" of Charles Schulz's Peanuts character a comic-strip constitutes form of acceptance. Look carefully at the text in this drawing: Charlie Brown, and Groening has acknowledged "Wow. You Do Love Me." While we can take the of these words to be the influence of Peanuts on his work; see Doug recipient Sadownick, "Groening against the Grain: Maverick either Akbar or Jeff?the two are identical?the recipient also may be you or Cartoonist Matt Draws inReaders with Groening me, inwhich case these words that the comic is loved suffi Gay Characters Akbar and Jeff" (interview with might signify strip Matt Advocate to on Groening), 571 (February 26, ciendy hang the museum's walls. This association of art with love and 1991 ): 30-35, also available online at www.snpp. acceptance is an important theme in the "Mom and Pop Art" episode of The com/other/interviews/groening91 .html. Else Homer will to as where, Groening has commented that the charac Simpsons. go great lengths, the narrative progresses, to gain the ters in Peanuts are on based primarily "variations and on love acceptance that society lavishes the successful artist. His actions pro on hairdos"; quoted in Erik H. Bergman, "Prime voke our dormant as we the Time IsHeaven for 'Life inHell' Artist," TVHost, ambivalence, ponder implications of construing December 16, 1989, as transcribed by Bruce love and as criteria for art. We are to acceptance defining able experience this Gomes and available online at www.snpp. com/ ambivalence because the itself refrains from clear other/interviews/groening89.html. episode presenting any judg 4. has stated, for "I ment or about these criteria. This Groening example, always argument generously nondogmatic approach think it's a mistake for cartoonists to demand car room for our ambivalence and confusion to roam toons be treated as art. Cartoons are cartoons"; provides ample freely. Brian Doherty, "The Mother Jones Interview: It is the art dealer who first gives Homer a glimpse of how good it feels to Matt Mother 1999, Groening," Jones, March-April have the love and acceptance of the "artworld"?and how bad it feels to lose available online at www.motherjones.com/arts/ art 9a/1999/03/groening.html.