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

TV too saturated with postmodern influences

• Ironic television has no redeeming qualities and nothing to be made fun of because it already criticizes itself

Irony, and Sincerity
            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.

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