Rushkoff's Difficult Viewpoint

This might be how you are feeling when reading Rushkoff's essay


Douglas Rushkoff writes in his essay Bart Simpson: Prince of Irreverence, "The Simpsons is the closest thing in America to a national media literacy program." In this sentence Rushkoff is stating his view point, that the Simpsons is a good show because it teaches us to read the rest of media culture in America. The "they say" in this argument would be those who oppose the satire and somewhat offensive jokes in the show. The first time I read this essay, I was under the impression that Rushkoff was "bashing" the Simpsons. The reason that this might occur when other peers read it, is because although the Simpsons is directed towards young people, Rushkoff directs his essay towards a more intellectual individual. Rushkoff's essay is more on a high academic level, because of the complex ideas and vocabulary he uses. He is trying to show highly intelligent people that the Simpsons is not a "dumb" and offensive cartoon.





However, if Rushkoff were to write his essay geared toward the audience of the viewers of show he would have to change his tone, language, and arguments. He could first start of by using less complex of a vocabulary. In his essay, as it is now, requires a dictionary at hand for me to read. The tone of his essay would have to be more casual and attention catching to appeal to the teens of today. He might argue in his new essay for the reasons why we should be watching the Simpsons. Rushkoff could explain the deeper meanings behind the show, and how they are getting us to read the rest of media culture. Example's of this would have to be used in the essay. Overall his goal would be to write this essay and make it to where a younger individual would want to sit down, read it, and be interested in what he's saying.