
From: Marcantel, Michael (Director). “Weekend at Burnsie’s.” Simpsons. 7 April 2002.
Notes:
Buffoon husband; semi-traditional housewife
Making fun of businesses, union carbide gassing
David Foster Wallace
“The Problem with Irony”
rejected grand narrative of modernism
post-modern: no philosophical narrative that works for everyone; reality only comes into existence
- Post Modernism Elements:
- self referentiality (Deadpool, Spaceballs, House of Cards)
- cynicism
- irreverance
- moral relativism
- fluidity of the character and people in real life
- all morals are equal-religious morals are equal to non-religious morals
- Ironic television has no redeeming qualities and nothing to be made fun of because it already criticizes itself
2006: The Office, Community, Modern Family, Parks and Rec
- redeeming characters
- earnest sentimentality: characters who are genuine to each other or to American values; common human dignity, no meta humor
Post Modern Ideals:
- nihilistic world view
- It’s all socially constructed;
- there are no absolute truths;
- nobody understands this like I do;
- only my perspective matters;
- but also, nothing matters
Television networks no longer decide what people watch; streaming allows people to dictate their own television
Culture is less curated than in the 80s, 90s, 2000s: music, tv, etc.