The Simpsons' Beloved Springfield

First aired in 1989, *The Simpsons* has become America's most beloved animated show. It changed the world of television, bringing to the screen a cartoon for adults, a sitcom without a laugh track, an imperfect lower class family, a mixture of high and low comedy and satire for the masses. This collection of new essays explores the many ways in which *The Simpsons* reflects everyday life through its exploration of gender roles, music, death, food politics, science and religion, anxiety, friendship and more.