Similar to my last blog (about Brode’s misguided portrayal of Disney), I have to disagree with the ideas posed by Joel Gwynne in “‘Might as Well be Dead’: Domesticity, Irony and Feminist Politics in Contemporary Animation Comedy.”
Gwynne’s article suggests that while animated sitcoms such as The Simpsons and King of the Hill present old fashioned stereotypes about femininity, they use them as critique. He claims that “[“Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish”] illustrates the ways in which the domestic space can be modified as a location of empowerment” (62). In the episode, Bart finds a mutated fish with three eyes that he brings home. The mutated fish was a result of the toxic waste from Mr. Burns’ plant. Mr. Burns, while running for political office, has dinner at the Simpsons’ house, but before doing so, Marge is given rules to follow while Mr. Burns is there. These rules include things such as what she’s allowed to say and how she’s supposed to act. Basically, she is supposed to stick with easy, non-political small talk and she is supposed to just serve food. Gwynne claims that Marge subverts this seemingly oppressive situation by feeding Mr. Burns the three eyed fish, the mutant he is responsible for. When he can’t eat it, he assumes responsibility for environmental contamination and thus, does not win the election. Gwynne says she assumes agency in this episode by rebelling against her expected role.
However, like my problem with the analysis of the “feminist princesses” (Snow White and Cinderella), I have to also take issue with this analysis of Marge. This is not agency or empowerment, this is simply resistance. And the person resisting is the person who is not in power, thus the person without agency. She is still serving food. She is still providing houseWORK in the episode. It is not empowering agency, it is repackaged oppression.
Similarly, in the episode “The Marge-ian Chronicles,” Lisa signs up to be a part of a group selected to colonize Mars. Her interest in this project intrigues her family and everyone signs up to go as well. However, during training, Marge is fascinated by the technical manual that describes housework in the station.
http://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/666047043577
“Nutrition zone sterilization sequence,” Marge reads. “Oh! That’s just kitchen clean up! Fun!” She adds excitedly. Lisa tries to tell her that this is not fun but Marge says, “if you think of them as chores, they can be a blast.” Thus, in this episode, Marge is still assuming the role of caretaker and cleaner, even as she’s training for a space mission.