By Fabiola Rio
Adapting to life in a new city is not an easy task, as many first-year Lewis & Clark students have quickly discovered. Surprisingly, watching a few episodes of the classic American TV show “The Simpsons” can make this transition a little bit easier and more familiar. From Portland-inspired characters to a satirical reflection of social and political conditions, the show brings unique insight to life near on and far beyond campus.
While the exact location of “The Simpsons” fictional town of Springfield is ambiguous, it certainly has ties to Portland. The show’s creator, Matt Groening, grew up here and drew inspiration from the city for many elements of the show, which can still be spotted throughout the fictional world and Portland. For instance, Groening attended Lincoln High School downtown, which inspired Springfield Elementary School which Bart and Lisa attend. His legacy is even memorialized with his signature and doodle of Bart Simpson in the concrete in front of Lincoln High. Further north, another tribute can be found on a bridge across Interstate 405, named Ned Flanders Crossing after the friendly, church-loving neighbor of the Simpson family. The bridge connects NW Flanders Street, the namesake of the character.
Other names that reference locations across Portland include Montgomery Burns, the richest man in Springfield who is named after Burnside Street and Montgomery Park, a historic building in Northwest Portland. The cruel school bully, Kearny, is named after NW Kearney Street, Reverend Lovejoy’s name can be found at NW Lovejoy Street, and the corrupt Mayor Joe Quimby gets his name from Northwest Quimby Street. Closer to LC, the notoriously dangerous Terwilliger Curves inspired the name for “Sideshow” Bob Terwilliger who frequently tries to murder Bart.
The names are not the only connection to our city, though, as noted by Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies Bryan Sebok. While he focuses more on film, Sebok’s personal and academic experience with “The Simpsons” reveals its startling connections to everyday life. As one of the longest-running shows in American television history, many generations have connected with “The Simpsons” and it remains relevant today. Sebok believes this relatability is due to the detailed insight into American suburban life and the examination of broad cultural issues. He discussed how the show comments on current social issues in a unique way.
“This show has been very coherently critical of power in terms of the billionaire class, with Charles Montgomery (Burns). It’s been very critical of policing competency and abuses of power,” Sebok said.
The show has adapted over time to reflect shifts in culture, aligning with the changes viewers have experienced, perhaps part of the reason it remains relevant. This continued relevance and familiar story create a place of connection for the audience too.
“‘The Simpsons’ built this experience amongst its characters where it wasn’t just this family in isolation. It was about the neighborhood, all of the friends and all the other characters in the Simpson’s universe. And that felt like a community that we were all sort of a part of too,” Sebok said.
As many fans online have noted, the show seems almost prophetic, predicting such events as Donald Trump’s presidential win and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sebok, too, has noticed this phenomenon and has an idea for why it occurs.
“They have a weird ability to project out into what the future of American life is like. Maybe that’s because they’re satirizing the present in a way that projects into the future,” Sebok said.
Whatever the reason for its great success and accurate divinations, “The Simpsons” is a way to understand the world around us in a humorous context. Its critique of national events is a means to think more deeply about our society and the unique characters and story bring connection to the world around us. Even if you do not watch the show, Portland is full of references that make it a great connection to life here.
About the Author
