Midterm Question

5 ways The Simpsons satirizes workers/unions:

1. Workers willingly giving up dental plan for a keg satirizes how workers can seem like they're not passionate about their well-being

2. Homer thinking he's a better negotiator then Mr. Burns but ends ump trading his danish with bart's doorstopper

3. The workers are seen as violent and aggressive during their strikes by hitting police cars and beating people up who don't agree with them

4. Homer leaving a strike to get food shows don't find their rights as that important

5. The employees putting Homer as the leader even though he has no experience, shows that they lack the knowledge of electing a good fit leader

5 ways The Simpsons satirizes management/owners:

1. Mr. Burns hired goons to intimidate Homer with power in order to have him back down

2. Burns not remembering who Homer is even though Smithers list all the time he has helped Burns and the plant

3. Burns hiring an immense amount of monkeys and overworks them giving them poor working conditions just to write his novel

4. Mr. Burns tries to run the plant himself when all the workers go on strike but it proves to be a failure

5. Mr. Burns cuts everyone's power off from his frustration with the workers on strike


The episode affirms ideology of capitalism

In this episode of The Simpsons titled "Last Exist to Springfield", the scenes and characters were able to normalize and affirm the ideologies of capitalism. The episode was focused on union workers feeling like they didn't have the rights they wanted and fighting to keep them. In the show, Mr. Burns represents the powerful and rich owners who control large amounts of people. Not only does Mr. Burns own his employees but he also controls the people of the town by providing them with electricity, an important necessity. As soon as he gets frustrated, Burns is able to use his power and wealth to cut off an important need of people, by simply clicking a button. The show also affirms capitalistic ideologies when we look at Lisa's braces situation. When Lisa is in need of braces, the dentist gives her two options. One being the fancy and nice looking braces that are expensive, and the other being old, dirty, and scary looking braces that are more affordable. Due to the lack of money in her household, Lisa has to go with the more affordable braces. This option reaffirms capitalism that by spending more money, you will only get the best, and if you don't contribute to that you will only get the worst.

The episode challenges the ideology of capitalism

This episode of The Simpsons challenges and interrogates capitalism in many ways. It's big picture message states that with perseverance and determination, workers can fight against big owners and companies just by sticking together. This is shown throughout all the strikes in this episode. Homer becomes the leader of the union and he succeeds in getting the demands the workers want. He began this challenging of capitalism by denying the consumption of free beer in order to not fight for their rights. By doing so, he immediately let Burns know that he cannot buy the workers out just to stop fighting for their rights. As the strike continues, Mr.Burns gets more and more frustrated, leading him to attempt running the plant by himself. Once Burns is put into the shoes of the workers and sees how difficult it is to work at the plant, he gives up and tries a new tactic. He decides to turn off all the electricity for the town. Instead of the strikers giving up as capitalistic society would expect them to, they continue to stand their ground. Their unwillingness to budge causes Burns to realize he was in the wrong and could use his wealth and power to influence the workers.