Book description
The modern landscape of American entertainment is filled with
commentary on the state of the union. Many people now get their news
from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report instead of Fox or CNN, and
satirical political films such as Bulworth and Wag the Dog resonate
with audiences and reviewers alike. The cartoon sitcom The Simpsons
has used American politics to shape its plotlines since its debut in
1989, and many Americans view the current war on terror through the
eyes of Jack Bauer, the fictional hero of the controversial action
show 24. Politics has always influenced entertainment, and Americans
increasingly use popular culture to make sense of the U. S. political
system and current debates. There is, however, another facet to the
relationship between politics and popular culture: education. Exposure
to political ideas through television, film, and music generates
interest and increases knowledge among viewers and listeners. The
presentation of political ideas in popular media often begins a
dialogue through which citizens develop opinions about and interest in
political ideas. The resulting discussions of politics and civic life
have a significant value as a means to educate Americans about their
government. In Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: American Politics
through Popular Culture, Joseph J. Foy and other contributing scholars
offer a variety of perspectives on politics through the framework of
popular culture. From the classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to
the cutting-edge television program Chappelle's Show, the authors use
a wide spectrum of entertainment media to explain the complexities of
U. S. politics and how audiences engage them. The authors not only
explain fundamental concepts such as civil rights, democracy, and
ethics but also examine common assumptions about government and
explore the use of controversial ideas in entertainment. Jennifer J.
Hora uses The West Wing to introduce the heroic-president model of
executive leadership, and Dean A. Kowalski presents V for Vendetta as
a vehicle for understanding American political thought. Other essays
test the impact of entertainment news on political knowledge and
investigate the presentation of broadcast news in film to determine
how well the media serves the people. The book also looks at folk
music's ability to popularize protest and offers an insightful
commentary on social movements in U. S. history. Popular culture and
politics have never been so intertwined in the American consciousness
as they are today, with films, television shows, and songs
contributing to the debate over the promises versus the realities of
democracy. As political knowledge becomes increasingly valuable, Homer
Simpson Goes to Washington explains how popular culture can actually
help connect people to their government.
""Homer Simpson Goes to Washington accentuates the
positives of what used to be called "low culture."-- Thomas
Allen Heald, The Rapid City Weekly News" --
Joseph J. Foy is assistant professor of political science at the
University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. He is contributing author to The
Philosophy of The X-Files and The Executive Branch of State
Government: People, Process, and Politics.
