“Look Dad, I made a modest studio apartment for my Malibu Stacy doll. This is the kitchen, this is where she prints her weekly feminist newsletter . . . Dad! You’re not listening to me!” – Lisa Simpson
Few things drain the joy out of entertainment more than social or political patronization. Even if you agree with a particular cause or sentiment, it isn’t fun to have righteousness clumsily thumped into your skull, especially by rich, do-gooder celebrities. Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney are two musicians of indescribable talent, but “Ebony & Ivory” is agitprop of such brazen low quality that even Pravda would have trouble defending it as anything other than pandering.
Before Zombie Simpsons obliterated every trace of humanity from its characters, Lisa was immune from those kind of blandishments. She believed in radical ideas like women being people too, but she came at it from the ideologically compromised perspective of an ordinary little girl. She couldn’t pretend that a song or a statement could make equality all right for ever and ever because she still had to get up in the morning and live life in a world where that was plainly untrue.
That’s all over “Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy”, of course, but the same daily feminism is baked into everything from “The Call of The Simpsons” and “Moaning Lisa” to “Homer Badman” and “Summer of 4 Ft. 2”. Lisa isn’t a great character because she can be deployed to advocate for whatever trendy liberal idea happens to be de rigueur in Los Angeles. She’s a great character because her life sucks, but she kicks the hell out of it anyway.
With that in mind, allow me to steer you to this Tumblr post:
The details:
I’m making a zine dedicated to Lisa Simpson & Feminism because I think she is such a great role model ♥
So I’m looking for contributors who’d like to share their memories and experiences of Lisa’s time on our screens. I’m mainly looking for writing, but art is totally fine too!
Send your submissions to bsiveyer@gmail.com – DEADLINE 6th November
It’s Saturday morning (well, here in the States, anyway). The entire weekend is yawning before you, and I know how much so many of you, chicks and dudes, love Lisa Simpson.
charliesweatpants.com
(The crotch really does wear out too fast.)
Well, at least somebody agrees with me on the fact that the song “Ebony and Ivory” is total crap.