Planet Simpson: How A Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation

Rating:
Summary: Longest. Alt.tv.simpsons Post. Ever.
Review: Have you ever been to a party and been cornered by someone who wants to discuss his favourite book (or cartoon, or CD, or political theory, or celebrity) in detail? Chris Turner's Planet Simpson reminded me of the many times that I have had to endure a bore talking with passion about his views on such fascinating topics as Perl vs C++. We have all had these experiences, but most of use would prefer to avoid reading a book that treats the reader this way.

Planet Simpson is a long, rambling discourse about why the author likes The Simpsons, and why the author thinks that The Simpsons defined North American pop culture during the 1990s. Unfortunately the book contains little more than a rehash of the jokes that the author found funny, and repeated comments about how
The Simpsons deconstruct pop culture. The book offered no real insight into why The Simpsons was popular, why The Simpsons nailed such a wide variety of topics over its ongoing 14-year run, or why The Simpsons started to decline. The author
appears to have made no effort to interview people involved with the show; does not discuss, or even acknowledge, other works about The Simpsons; and largely misses the connections between this tv series and other developments in pop culture over the past 14 years.

In short, this book was dull.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Concept Gone Horribly Wrong
Review: Chris Turner managed to take what I expected to be an interesting read and turn it into just another lecture from the soap box. Sure, his insights into the phenomena known as The Simpsons (and its characters, creators, etc.) hit the mark at times, but all too often I found myself reading large paragraphs of rants and raves about the things that are wrong with America -- be it politics, consumerism, infatuation with celebrity, or anything else that could possibly have flaws in our society. (See as a Canadian, Mr. Turner thinks he has the answers to all of this because he is an outside viewer)

There is no doubt Turner has an incredible command of the English language, but that also is a bit of a problem. The book comes off as WAY too academic for what should be a "fun" analysis of one of the greatest television shows of all time. He should have taken a page from The Simpsons writers and kept the material on the same plane with its audience -- not dumbed down, but also not trying to talk over its audience's heads purposefully (a la Dennis Miller or in this instance, Chris Turner).

Turner moans about The Simpsons crew not being able to do interviews or anything of the sort with him for his research, so he must resort to looking at old articles and interviews done by more qualified sources. I for one am grateful he did not get his wish, because Groening and company do not need to acknowledge this sad fan-boy's attempt to insert himself into Simpsons lore by writing what amounts to a very poor book on the subject. Avoid this book at all costs -- there has to be something better out there & if not, take a stab at it yourself. It can't come out any worse than this did.


Rating:
Summary: A Leftist's Guide to The Simpsons
Review: Chris Turner makes two things abundantly clear right from the start of this homage: he's an obsessive Simpsons fan, and he's firmly planted on the far left of the political spectrum. Both perspectives heavily color this extensive look at The Simpsons.

This is a book for people who like The Simpsons already. Only true fans are going to enjoy an examination this extensive; the casual fan is likely to find the volume far too daunting, reading more like a cultural history of the 1990s than an explanation of The Simpsons' popularity and longevity.

If you don't subscribe to the left's view of the world, that means you're probably not going to enjoy Turner's numerous jaunts into trendy political issues (global warming is a particular favorite) as he tries to tie The Simpsons to awareness of these issues. These jaunts can be somewhat annoying, but Turner is remarkably creative in his use of The Simpsons, so if you're a fan of the show you may find yourself entertained by Turner's Simpsons allusions even if you consider his political agenda silly.

For people who are fans, however, the book should offer more than enough references to classic Simpsons moments to make it worth reading. Turner is a reasonably good writer, so the book is an easy read, and Turner's choice of episodes to illustrate his points is very well done. If you're not a member of Turner's generation, you will probably disagree with him on a number of his contentions regarding The Simpsons' popularity, but the book helps you to consider why you like them, which makes it a worthwhile read in my book.

Does Turner actually speak for a generation? I doubt it; he and I are only 4-5 years apart in age, but we are worlds apart in our politics and outlook. Nonetheless, we both love The Simpsons, part of a massive fraternity that surpasses nationality, politics, or almost anything else. Turner may not have the definitive answer for that popularity, but he's done a good job of explaining many sources of its appeal.

Rating:
Summary: An Intellingent But Wandering Analysis...
Review: Chris Turner's analysis of the television juggernaut 'The Simpsons' was a mixed-bag of intelligently-authored insights meshed in wandering fanatatical trivia and dime-store philosophy. Turner's writing proficiency is undoubtably strong, and his command of both the English language and the cultural context of 'The Simpsons' produce a very smart, very readable text. Turner's meandering stream-of-consciousness associations kept me trying to find the golden thread back to the Simpsons,however, and his over-exuberant fanaticism for not only the Simpsons but for other Gen-X phenomena as RadioHead, American Beauty and Smashing Pumpkins became more of a 'look at my CD and DVD collection' and less of an honest analysis of this cultural giant.

I will admit that, as one of millions of Simpsons fans, I had very high hopes for this title. What I wanted was a somewhat objective analysis of a TV show that has changed television (and our collective sense of humor) forever...what I feel like I got was a very smart Simpsons nut who felt obligated to use his very strong writing skills to tie together everything he loves: Gen-X music, Gen-X movies, and a bit of Philosophy 101. In addition to these setbacks, Turner seems dead-set on both extoling the genius of The Simpsons and deriding the culture in which it was created. The book is peppered generously with unabashed anti-American sentiment...and it doesn't seem to bother the author that 95% of the cultural icons he values were produced in America. I have always tended to enjoy books and essays that honestly question America and its products...but it seems to me that Mr. Turner has a big, sharp chip on his shoulder in the shape of Texas...and he wants us to know that.

This book could have been about 100 pages shorter, and all the better for it. I would recommend reading this title if you are a Simpsons fanatic who wants to be reminded of a number of wonderful Simpsons moments, and to hear one man's opinion on their genesis and their meaning. But you better bring a map, and you better give yourself a four-day weekend to get through it.

Rating:
Summary: Dishonest and Offensive
Review: Everyone loves the Simpsons. How could a book about them be anything but a fun lighthearted read? Well, Chris Turner managed to take one of America's most beloved and entertaining families and not only make them more boring than watching glaciers form, but exploit them as a means to dish out his world views on unsuspecting readers. The author uses the Simpsons as a vehicle to dispense his views on life in America over the past 15 or so years. Did I mention he is Canadian? Through his thinly veiled guise of "The Simpsons defined a generation" Mr. Turner manages to: call American television unimaginative and dull, compare every SUV driver to one psycho who had a bad case of road rage, and even to insult Americans in the days after September 11th. There are too many instances of his musings gone horrible wrong to list here suffice to say that he misses the mark entirely. His knowledge of the Simpsons is impeccable, and I don't doubt in the least the the Simpson takes it's own digs at society, but let the Simpsons do it. Please don't tell me what I should be taking away from my ritual Sunday night viewings. "My dear man," I say to Mr. Turner, "take your abhorrent, half-witted, slanted views and go make your own cartoon. Then get millions of people to watch and proclaim how witty and relevant it is. Then keep it on the air for over a decade. Then come back and tell me what life is all about."

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating and enjoyable read
Review: I've been watching "The Simpsons" since about the age of 4, thanks to my two older sisters who were born and bred Generation Xers. I spent most of my childhood frantically trying to keep up with their unattainable level of "cool" as I changed my CD collection, my opinions, and my taste in television with their every mocking barb. I finally started listening to alternative rock around 1998 - a few years after the genre had started going downhill. Middle school bullies helped tip me over into the cynical, sardonic 90's mindset around 2000 - just when the 90's had ended. But one part of the decade that was always with me was "The Simpsons." I would watch that show with my sisters every week - and the reruns twice a day - not quite understanding all the jokes but able to appreciate it nonetheless.

Chris Turner remembers the 90's through the eyes of a Gen-Xer. I remember it through the eyes of a child. I absorbed sarcasm and satire through every medium: through daily comic strips like Calvin & Hobbes, newspaper columns and books by Dave Barry, music parodies by "Weird Al" Yankovic, and even cartoons written expressly for children like "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs." To me, this wasn't a cultural movement. It wasn't a reaction to anything. It was just the way things were.

That is, in part, why I appreciated "Planet Simpson" as much as I did. It explained everything that baffled me about the decade of my childhood, through the lens of the one thing that didn't - "The Simpsons." It put 90's culture in context with other decades, other movements, other eras - something my obsessively PC high school textbooks attempted (and failed spectacularly) to do. But I think I gained the most from the very last part of the very last chapter. After spending hundreds of pages going over the numerous ways in which "The Simpsons" reflected 90's society and culture with sarcasm and satire, Turner finally asks the question: what's the point? Does cynicism accomplish anything?

That question should resonate with anyone who has ever tried to be cool by modeling themselves after some jaded rock star. Haven't we all, at one point, idolized some brand of too-cool-for-everything hipster and attempted to become that person, only to find that our beloved idol was too cool for us? Haven't we all expressed our fondest wishes, our deepest desires, our most cherished hopes, only to feel the sting of hearing that our emotions were felt - and better expressed - by other, brighter people?

I've read the few reviews of this book that are on here. Most of the negative reviews stem from an attitude of "been there, done that." I've heard all the jokes, I've heard all the opinions, this book gives me nothing new. One review, if you'll notice, actually compares "Planet Simpson" to a long alt.tv.simpsons post. Tucker suggests - and I agree - that the few, scattered instances of sincerity in "The Simpsons" belied the writers' idealism. That cynicism is simply a way to respond to - and take down - the problems in the world. It's not an end in and of itself.

Though the subject is really only addressed once, at the very end of "Planet Simpson," the entire book resonates with the attitude. Before buying the book, I read the introduction and the beginning of the first chapter. While several people have called his nostalgic autobiographical stories self-serving and boring, I don't see what's so wrong with them. They're illustrative and fun. What, were you expecting an unbiased scholarly treatise on "The Simpsons"? Books are always more fun and more interesting when the author shows palpable enthusiasm for his or her subject. And "Planet Simpson" explodes with fan-borne exhuberance. (It's very addictive! I found myself driven to start watching the reruns again.)

I did disagree with a few of the things he said, but that's hardly important. (Why judge a book based on how much it agrees with you?) There were also some typos and/or misspellings here and there that should be corrected in future printings. And on occasion, the book become repetitive as he uses the same quotes and references the same episodes over and over again. But overall, the book was a lot of fun. I rarely get to meet another obsessive Simpsoniac (my boyfriend thinks I'm nuts), so hearing (or reading) another person express such love for ths show was a nice change of pace for me. And, as I said before, Turner's thoughts on the 90's were illuminating. If you've spent the last decade on "Simpsons" websites and message boards, you probably consider yourself too leet for "Planet Simpson." But we pedestrian fools appreciate it very much.

Rating:
Summary: Deconstructed to death
Review: Quite simply, if you are a fan of The Simpsons, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. This book is poorly written and rambling analysis of an American icon. The author writes like a freshman English major who has suddenly deiscovered what he believes are profoundly deep insights (many with absolutely nothing to do with the Simpsons). The author offers little in the way of factual information for those fans who may be interested in such things - and freely admits that he could gain no first-hand knowledge/interviews from the writers and performers themselves as he was prevented from doing so. Instead, he provides annecdotes of his own experiences with watching the show and second hand quotes from various interviews the cast and producers have given to other reporters. I was wondering just what this book was going to be about when the (rehashed and well-known) history of how the Simpsons came about was summed up in some 20 pages of the 450-odd page paperweight. Well, not to give away too much of the plot, but it is filled with the drivel that Turner spews forth in trying to deconstruct the success of The Simpsons. For example, Turner goes into excrutiating detail at times to explain why certain jokes are funny, to the extent that all humor is finally removed. Throughout the text is an endless littany of exerpts from various episodes which start to have the net effect similar to saying "And there was this one time, at Band Camp...". The immaturity is compounded with a list of Turner's "Best 5 Episodes of All Time".
I would also like to take the editor to task for doing an attrocious job with this book. For example, when every second page has a footnote (some an entire page long!), then the writer is obviously unable to put words in a coherent and flowing manner.
In summary, spend your money on the DVDs. Enjoy it, don't analyze it.

Rating:
Summary: For the fans who like Lisa.
Review: The Simpson's has a very wide appeal. It seems **EVERYONE** likes it, although I know a few people who don't like the Simpsons. They are personal friends and who cares what their tastes are? For the most part its a very popular TV show. It's full of smart jokes and dumb jokes.
Reading other reviews of 'Planet Simpson' I noticed they took the typical black or white/ with us or against us kind of stance. I'm going to take the middle road. Not as a 'cop out' which many people think the middle road is - I take the middle road because it's what I believe in! Damnit!
First off, I really, really, really loved this book. It's academic drivel about The Simpsons. I like The Simpsons. I like academic drivel. It's literary masturbation, the author is merely writing about his favorite TV show. I'd love to do that. If you don't go in for literary masturbation, criticisms of tv shows or society or even academic drivel your not going to enjoy this book. It is what it is. A quick flip through the book at the book store and you'll come to this conclusion very quickly. There are no color pictures and its mostly text. Lisa would love this book. It is biased, yes, one mans view and opinion but then again EVERYTHING is. A grain of salt is MANDATORY when reading, watching, listening to anything or anyone. It's a good book. Candy if your an academic. A textbook if they taught The Simpsons at university (which would be very sweet)! But not for everyone.

-t.d hurst-

Rating:
Summary: Badly edited but worth a look
Review: Underneath the unnecessary self promotion and personal references there is a lot in Planet Simpson for the Simpsons fan who wants a thought provoking look at their heroes place in Western Culture. Not to everyone`s taste (and definitely best avoided if you have a "Bush 04" sticker on your SUV) but significantly more than just one guy`s ranting about his favourite show. A good editor could have trimmed the self indulgence and left a slimmer and better volume for us to enjoy but Turner`s engaging writing style makes even the endless comparisons ("funnier than..." "Better than...") easy to overlook.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste your Time.
Review: Well, if you want to read an undergraduate Media Studies essay bracketed by verbatim descriptions of Simpsons' episodes, this is the book for you. Turner wasn't able to talk to anybody involved in making the show, so he just deconstructs the show to death from his couch for hundreds of rambling pages.

One ridiculous theme of the book is his constant shots at Bill Cosby's 'hypocritical and un-real American Dad', while he takes Homer Simpson as somehow completely representative of the state of American parenting, consumer liferstyle, imperialist foreign policy, etc.. Even if you don't buy the Homer Simpson as every-day American drivel, there's a lot more tiresome and unoriginal anti-American rhetoric, including repeated shots at William Bennett (?!), George Bush(es), big corporations, nuclear power, etc..

I did laugh a lot at some of his descriptions of the good jokes in the show, but that was just because the original jokes themselves are funny, and it's common in my part of Canada to have complete conversations full of Simposons' references, which this book reminded me of.