How the Test Was Won

Blogging and watching The Simpson’s as a first timer was fun! “How the Test Was Won” challenged boundaries with animation that I found interesting. What could be said, I suppose is that animation does not necessarily have plot boundaries—which is potentially fascinating when put inside a semi-non-fictional community.

This ability enabled the writer to emphasize all of his points with visuals if necessary. One thing that was both entertaining and thought invoking was the montage of Homer facing a series of horrific injury that, luckily, was paid for! The montage ranged from every day injury to getting eaten alive by beavers. However because of the animated montage, at the time, I thought very little difference between the two giving “The Simpson’s” an entirely new element… for me.

Popular culture became more accessible through animation as well. The opening moments from “The Simpson’s” included a comical family reference to famous television families throughout history. This directly included pop culture in a way that would otherwise seem like poor directing or a lame attempt at including other television. “The Simpson’s” strong resemblance and humor was because of animation. I don’t feel I’d normally laugh at an orphanage being bombed with pianos but “The Simpson’s” made it possible.

Mr. Flanders is my character, but unfortunately did not appear in this episode for an analysis. That is why I focused on something else like animation, that I feel could heavily affect Springfield as a community. This week the abduction of Springfield’s least competent students seemed to prove a similar point.

I hope I did this right.