University offers 'Simpsons' as Philosophy Class

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.

Comments

save me jebus...

[lyapunov]

That episode, in my opinion was one of the best episodes ever. Lots o' religous commentary. I have always been really pleased with their social commentary as well. Little bits like "most people marry out of fear of growing old alone" is a resounding one.

This sound like it could be a great class and it would be a hoot to sit in on. One can always hope that the one of the questions on the final would be...

In 500 words or less describe the moral, ethical, and religous foundations in Homer's refrain of "Mmmmmmm donuts."

Simpsons as Literature

[Marillion]

I know a local educator who I hold in very high regard. He is also a director of local theatre and occational on-screen movie critic. A rather senior fellow, he tends have very high standards for excellence. I was sitting in "Green Room" (where actors wait for the show to start) shooting the breeze. For years I dismissed the Simpsons as "pop trash." You could have picked me up off the floor when I heard him declare that the Simpsons was one of the finest works on television.

Other interesting classes (at UCSC)

[Exantrius]

Just so everyone knows why we're the fastest growing University of California:
Here's a list of some of the interesting classes that are availabe from time to time
Understanding Drugs (Bioc 80) -- Yes, you talk about doing various drugs...

Lesbian and Gay World (CMMU 80F) -- I'm still trying to figure out why it's bad to think people have nothing wrong with them until they tell me their gay... Nevermind, can't remember the group that was spouting that off...

Hope/Crisis Capitalism (Econ 80A) -- I don't know, haven't taken it and don't know anyone who has...

Technothrillers (Film 80A) -- Watching, you guessed it, technothrillers

Intro to Horror Films (Lit 80T) -- Horror movies are your friends... From what I hear you watch a couple dozen horror films (as far back as like the 1890s IIRC)

Beatles Music (MUSC 80V)

Saturday Night Live (Theater 80O)

80's: Film And TV (Film 80) -- 80's: The decade that only one good thing came out of: mst3k
Psychophysic Music (Phys 80a) -- I don't know about this one

Muppet Magic (Thea 80L) -- 10 weeks of Jim Henson's Muppets, and why we should all bow down to him... Or something

Queer Theater (Thea 80T) -- It just struck me as funny... I guess it shouldn't seeing as how we have a high proportion of homosexuals here...

Disney (Thea 80N) -- The class I took. The only thing I remember from it is that they used a really neat looking camera setup to do framed shots for their early movies-- Hence why they were better than other stuff from the same era.. Oh, yeah, and my TA (with a speech impediment) saying "nubile" in regards to the Little Mermaid, I think...

And to think, you have to take 2 topical (80) courses to get out of here...
Hasta luego,
ex

Re:Other interesting classes (at UCSC)

[frekio]

The other UCs also have similar things... the only place that UCSC is different is the focus on Homosexual topics which is still bit taboo for the more conservative religious minded UCs i.e. UCSD.

Modern Classic

[mizhi]

I know it's a trite and overused term, but you got to concede that the Simpson, aside from being one of the best shows on tv, has influenced almost an entire generation of 20-something adults. I remember when it first came out when I was in 4th grade and people were up in arms about the content of the show. The language was too raw, the themes were risque, etc, etc. My own dad said that he would not let his children watch the show because it was horrible. These days, it's considered family entertainment and even my dad enjoys it. It might not be particularly wholesome, but it offers some real insights into American society. I think the religious theme of the class is interesting though. I had never really considered the importance that religion plays in the series, but thinking back, they have a point.

Besides that, the simpsons is funny as hell offers quotes for every occasion from "D'oh!" to "Ahhh the Navy, see the world and all the free gay sex you can handle." :-)

The simpsons first season is now on DVD.. I'm getting them all when they come out.

Wasting a college education?

[DefConOne]

I'm not a philosopher, and I don't play one on TV, but my recollection is that many of the Greek philosophers used works of poetry as the starting point for their philosophical discussions. Since the poetry of that day was primarily entertainment, there is significant precendent for using something like The Simpsons as the basis for educational purposes.

Football Scholars!

[The Great Wakka]

This sounds like the sort of course that would be offered to people who are just there for the sports.

history

[Fillup]

I don't know what to think of these more "unconventional" classes. I took a "history" class in college on the Beatles. A whole semester!!!

We read books, studied the music, and looked at their impact on popular culture and the path of music development.

I even wrote a term paper on George Harrison's exposure and conversion to eastern philosophy and religion.

I guess the fundamental question on these kinds of classes is: are they just puff puff classes for an "easy A"? Or are they an interesting way to get young people to think about larger philosophical and societal question through subject matter they can really relate to?

I would be interested to see the philosophical context into which the professor inserts the simpsons. what would the reading list be like for this class?

UC Berkeley has taught Simpsons before...

[My Third Account]

UC Berkeley offers classes called "DeCals" where students teach a class with a faculty advisor. Last Spring, and many earlier semesters, a Simpsons class has been available, called THE SIMPSONS: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SATIRE.

Also available is SOUTH PARK: A SATIRE OF SOCIETY and SEINFELD AND OTHER COMEDIC EXPRESSIONS.

Re:Yer forced to admit...

[J23SE]

A large part of the problem is caused by the 'beautiful snowflake' mentality. Students have twisted the "You can do anything" mentality to "You can do anything, like attend college, even if you've been smoking piles of pot every day for the past 4 years." Over 80% of my graduating class is predicted to go to college. As I know my school, 80% of the students here do not deserve to go to college. Hell, I don't think 30% of the students here deserve to go to college.

Keep in mind that the educational institutions that accept this batch of unprepared students are also businesses. They have to cater to the needs of the students and thus offer inane courses that let them cast off the responsibility of attending college. Enter "Philosophy of the Simpsons"

Simpsons as relevant as ever

[LM741N]

The past few months have been so bizarre on a National level, that they could have come right out of a Simpson's episode. And I love the Simpsons deconstruction of TV news. I remember seeing one day the Simpsons watching TV news and the headline was "wild packs of dogs terrorizing neighborhood." Sure enough, we've had several "real" news stories here about the same exact thing. I live in Portland, OR, where the Simpson characters are named after streets in the NW neighborhood. Too surreal sometimes! Rob.

Re:(Sighs)

[m3000]

Well there actually is a Star Trek class. Honors students at the University of Florida can take a course titled "The Tao of Star Trek". It deals some of the philosophy ideas that Star Trek introduces. A few people I know took it last semester, and they loved it. Here's a description of the course from the course list:

Credits: 3
Gen Ed: H I
Gordon Rule: Comm (6000)
Instructor: Gayle Brown
Meeting Time: T 11-E2
Meeting Location: LIT 119
Section Number: 4951

This is an introductory course in philosophy suitable for students with little or no prior exposure to the subject. Used shall be episodes from Star Trek: The Next Generation (and perhaps other science fiction sources as well) as a foil for introducing some of the questions that have puzzled philosophers for centuries--questions including, but not limited to the following.

[1] Is time travel possible? Could I go back in time and kill my own grandfather?

[2] Is artificial intelligence possible? Will computers ever attain consciousness?

[3] Am I one and the same person that I was ten years ago?

[4] If I were cloned, would the clone be me?

[5] Could we be trapped in virtual reality at this very moment and not know it?

Students interested in signing up for the course are encouraged to email the instructor at gbrown@phil.ufl.edu and suggest other topics.

The course will most likely be divided into five or six sections. Each section will correspond to one of the above kinds of questions. We will actually watch the episode relevant to the issue at hand in class, and then spent two or so weeks examining the traditional literature on the subject.

The class will be informal and discussion-oriented. The instructor will do some lecturing, but only enough to enable students to grasp the philosophical problem at hand. Students are expected to attend class regularly, participate in discussions and write three five- to seven-page papers.

Pop corn and soda optional. There will be no mid-term or final exam.

Gayle Brown received her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from George Mason University in Virginia. She received both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Florida. She was awarded a Graduate Student Teaching Award in 1999.

Re:Waste of a class? I think not.

[Omerna]

Something like this (social commentary) got done by my local paper (I think). They had an interview (quote?) of a woman asking about the debates between Gore/Bush. She said she had no clue who won, but watched SNL (Saturday Night Live) to figure it out. The candidate that got laughed at more was the loser.

So yeah, TV can influence real life, and as we all know the material is what you make of it. Reminds me of Finding Forrester when he says something like, "I hate it when critics talk about 'What did he really mean when he wrote this?'" You can read anything you want into the Simpsons. (And you can, you can always say "That reminds me of that Simpsons when...")