By comparing the infamous 1970’s sitcom, “All in the Family” with today’s “The Simpsons,” one can see how family-based television has evolved. The shows are similar in that they both have the same reoccurring characters, and they both attempt to confront their time’s pressing social issues. The main characters of both shows are there every week, and their family dynamic never changes, even through years and years of broadcasting. The issues they talk about are more or less similar, but The Simpsons talks bout them in more of a contemporary nature.
The most obvious differentiating factor between the two shows is technology. Modern day technology allows for The Simpsons to be animated, providing it with many options in terms of plot that weren’t available to the creators of All in the Family. In fact, most episodes of All in the Family take place completely within the family’s living room set, while in The Simpsons, the characters go on vacations to Japan, London, India, and several other locations that the characters in All in the Family could not due to obvious financial reasons.
Touching on what I talked about earlier, The Simpsons discusses similar issues to All in the Family, but in a present-day context. In the episode we watched of All in the Family, “Judging Books by Covers,” the show talks about homosexuality. It challenges the father figure, Archie’s views on “fags” by making one of his best friends a gay man. The same issues are discussed on The Simpsons, but in a more contemporary manor. Instead of talking about gay people in general, it pokes fun at anti-gay marriage proponents—an issue not generally being considered during the seventies.
Here's a poor quality clip from the gay marriage Simpsons episode. It also highlights some of the advantages of animation I talked about. I.e. holding a belt sander next to someone's face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TneHU7Sf8g
Here's a great NYTimes article on the episode:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/arts/television/21simpsons.html
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