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University offers 'Simpsons' as Philosophy Class

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-you-just-can't-make-up dept.

joestump98 writes "I ran accross a story at CNN that says a local Michigan college, Siena Heights, is offering a philosophy class on our favorite cartoon - The Simpsons. The Catholic school says the class is about religion and philosphy in popular culture." And I thought Rocks for Jocks was a hilarious concept in wasting a college education. That said, I'd take that class. Have to make sure to watch my homework tonight.

5 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Simpsons as a teaching tool by Krelboyne · · Score: 3, Informative
    The Simpsons has been used as a teaching tool for years. I took a course in mass media that included analysis of the show. Professor Renee Hobbs (one of the world's leading experts on media literacy) has taught with the Simpsons, and her article on them is widely quoted.


    What's new about this is that an entire course is being dedicated to them.

    --

    "Bloody marvelous."

  2. Waste of a class? I think not. by thesolo · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Simpsons, albeit a cartoon show, often offers social commentary and true philosophical views. A book that I recently read is The Simpsons and Philosophy, which goes into great detail about how different philosophers would interpret the characters of OFF (Our Favorite Family--abbreviation used a lot in alt.tv.simpsons).

    For example, maybe Maggie is just being silent to be silent, or maybe that silence could be interpreted as a social protest. Sartre would certainly think so, anyway.

    My point is simply that this show goes far beyond what it appears to be on the surface. Plain & Simple, anything that stimulates your mind and provokes positive thoughtstreams is not waste; to call it that shows how much you truly still have to learn.

  3. Same topic, different source. by Misch · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here's another story on it from ABCNews.com

    --

    --You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
  4. Re:Waste of a class? I think not. by AlamedaStone · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, IIRC she is known to the family as quite a chatterbox in that ep. She doesn't speak because someone (Marge?) interrupts her, saying that she is always talking. They make a point of NOT showing her talking. I love the idea of her representing some kind of protest, but it seems more likely just a longplaying gag.

    Incidentally, she also talks in the episode where the kids are adopted by the Flanderses, and I _think_ there's a third as well, though I can't put my finger on it at the moment.

    --
    "All these years believing you're the signified monkey, only to find out you're just a big hunk of nobody cares."
  5. Re:Other interesting classes (at UCSC) by ievans · · Score: 3, Informative

    And before everyone gets indignant about this, notice that every one of the classes is numbered in the 80s (e.g. Theater Arts 80N). 80-series classes are optional, only occasionally taught, and generally deal with subject matter that wouldn't be appropriate in a regular class.