The UB Post

Joanne Manelli

Social satire and astute observations on current events can be found in what many would have considered the most unlikely of places—cartoons. These are not just cartoons per se; these are marketed to an adult prime time audience. It all began nearly 20 years ago when we were introduced to the Simpson family.

Initially consisting of short animations between segments of "The Tracey Ullman Show," "The Simpsons" made an impression on TV audiences in the late 80s, eventually getting their own series in 1990.

As the characters evolved, so did the subject matter. "The Simpsons" began to reflect the society in which we live by incorporating elements of trends, politics and popular culture.

One of the more controversial episodes ran recently which I felt mirrored John Kerry's dismissive comments about the military. An attack on military recruiting tactics, the episode involved Homer enlisting in the Army, with his fellow soldiers depicted as imbeciles.

Oftentimes, the cultural references are subtler. With the amount of time the Simpson family spends in front of the TV, Bart and Lisa's favorite cartoon, "Itchy and Scratchy," provides ample opportunities to depict an exaggerated view of violence along with plenty of chances to take swipes at the Fox Network. While the world around them changes drastically, the characters remain exactly the same—often an underlying theme of jokes and visual gags.

The popularity of adult animated series has extended beyond Sunday night thanks to Comedy Central. In 1997, we were introduced to Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman of "South Park." Taking place in a fictional small town in Colorado, "South Park" indiscriminately takes on issues dealing with religion, politics and popular culture. "South Park" skillfully masters the art of social satire by covering diverse issues such as the Pokémon craze, the 2000 presidential election, gay marriage and global warming. The show has sparked controversy to the point where religious groups ranging from Catholics to Scientologists threatened the network if they rebroadcast specific episodes.

Although other animated series of this nature exist, "The Simpsons" and "South Park" deserve particular attention for being leaders of the genre. After nearly two decades, "The Simpsons" continue to keep up with the world around them while "South Park" interjects a fresh "don't tread on me" libertarian world view into each episode. Despite the threats and objections of many, the creators of these shows don't back down from controversy. As a result, the genre continues to keep the viewers both enlightened and entertained.

Manelli, publications design student and copy editor for The UB Post, can be reached at joanne.manelli@ubalt.edu.

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