Understanding The Simpsons
Animating the Politics and Poetics of Participatory Culture
Published on 1. October 2025
236 pages
978-1-040-77788-6 (ISBN)
Description
Accolades such as the best TV show of the twentieth century or the longest-running scripted series on American prime-time television have elevated The Simpsons to the pop culture pantheon, while also suggesting the very vintage character of the program. But the label The Simpsons refers not just to a show that seems to belong to a bygone television era, it implies a rich narrative universe, including a set of iconic figures, familiar across continents and generations. Through the lens of transmedia studies, Understanding The Simpsons traces the franchise's trajectory, exploring how one of the most popular comedy series of all time has redefined the intersections between corporate media and participatory culture, as the kernel of its cult meaning.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
File size
14,59 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-77788-6 (9781040777886)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 12/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€68.80
Not yet published
Book
10/2021
Amsterdam University Press
€149.70
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Moritz Fink is an independent media scholar. He holds a doctoral degree in American Studies from the University of Munich, and has published on The Simpsons as well as a variety of pop culture themes.
Content
Introduction, 1. Bart Talks Back: The Politics and Poetics of Participatory Culture, 2. Alternative TV: The Genesis of The Simpsons, 3. More than Just a Cartoon: Meta-Television Culture and the Age of Irony, 4. High Fives on Prime Time: Representing Popular Culture, 5. At the Edge of Convergence Culture: Engaging in the Simpsons Cult, 6. Echoes of Springfield: The Simpsons in Remix Culture, Conclusion: The Simpsons, Cultural Feedback Loops, and the Case of Apu, Bibliography, Index
