Leaving Springfield

John Alberti, the editor of the work, is also the writer of the book's introduction. Alberti teaches American literature and critical studies at Northern Kentucky University, where he is an associate professor of English. Alberti notes that there is a distinction between poking fun at something and satire: "Satire involves defining a kind of moral or political point of view and using humor to show how it's not living up to this ethical standard." Alberti told CanWest News Service that rather than the Fox Network, the most valuable database for information on The Simpsons when doing research for the book was "an online archive established, maintained and vetted by unpaid Simpsons enthusiasts". Other contributors include David L. G. Arnold, who teaches English at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point; Duncan Stuart Beard, who holds a Ph.D. in English literature from The Australian National University; and Mick Broderick, Associate Director of the Centre for Millennial Studies the University of Sydney. ==Contents==

The book analyzes the impact of The Simpsons, both as a popular television program as well as its use of political satire. Leaving Springfield discusses the financial success the program has had, despite often parodying the forms of capitalism it also promotes. Commentators in the book take a look at the use of parody and satire in society to critique itself by discussing the impact of the television series on its viewership and its place within television comedy history. ==Reception==

Luke E. Saladin of Scripps Howard News Service notes that an "especially popular theme in the essays" contained in the work is the fact that The Simpsons promotes its nature as a corporate product of Fox, while simultaneously denigrating the Fox network in jabs during the program. Saladin also notes that essays in the book discuss The Simpsons' "place in television history, its treatment of social issues and capitalism, and everything else from the Cold War and nuclear arms to what Homer Simpson's narcissism tells us about our own tendencies". Jeremy G. Butler cites the book as an example in his work Television: Critical Methods and Applications, when noting that "books on The Simpsons have become a cottage industry". An essay from the book on "Cultural Conflicts" is required reading in a sociology course on The Simpsons: "The Simpsons Global Mirror", at the University of California, Berkeley. ==References==