is the simpsons "problematic"?

well, i'm going to flip the situation over: perhaps the reason that the stereotypes it uses resonated with people so dominantly was because they accurately reflected their lived experiences, at the time.

now, these things are subject to change. i don't want to create a linear model, here, or think that trying to understand social progress through representations in prime time cartoons is very useful (i think the gender streotypes in children's programming today are far more offensive than anything i've ever seen in a simpsons episode, and that we've broadly moved very far backwards on gender since the mid-90s), but i can recognize that people have different experiences, both shared and individually. so, if you're younger, it's ok to look at a simpsons episode and say "this was created before i could walk, and i don't understand the social context around it.". i don't understand harry potter, or miley cyrus, or any of the other things that define the generation of people younger than me - nor do i understand archie bunker, or three's company, or mash, or the effects that this programming had on people older than me. i don't even understand south park, to use a somewhat worthwhile comparison. so, we're all going to have some difficulties understanding each other, and that's ok. it's when we say "i don't understand this. therefore, it's wrong." that we start turning into self-righteous, moralistic zealots that deserve to be laughed at. and, you know who was always really good at taking on self-righteous moralistic zealots, by laughing at them?

that said, as it is the case that things change, one wonders why this show is still on the air. i haven't watched it in over 15 years. you will find that the people that identify with it the strongest are also the loudest voices for cancellation, and that has been true for a long time.

so, is the show "problematic"? i guess it's all relative, isn't it?

but, it's mostly an irrelevant question.