After 20 years inhabiting a prominent place in popular American culture, The Simpsons is a franchise that has become more than just a television show. These days, it's best to look at it like a proper storytelling tradition. Without sounding too pretentious, The Simpsons is to the Computer Age what Commedia dell'Arte was to the Renaissance. Basically, it's reliable entertainment aimed at the middle class, full of familiar characters and stock plots, with a sprinkling of modern commentary. Read more
