Changes [Apr 01, 2008]
Ten Things 2007: Pe...
In terms of media representation, gambling has occupied polar realms: it has either been the subject of comedy or the subject of collective ridicule. An episode of The Simpsons from season five, titled “$pringfield,” provides a unique platform for the discussion of both. Holistically, the show is a comedy, but when we examine this particular episode through a more detailed lens, it reveals some of the contemptible aspects of gambling, most noticeably family neglect that results from problem gambling.
The show starts with setting up Marge as a “moral compass” for the town of Springfield, who is not enthusiastic about the social impact of the gambling business, but agrees to bringing the casino industry to the town only to provide economic support for the town’s other facilities and infrastructures. Considering that Marge is arguably the most “morally sensible” character of the entire show, her demise into slot machine addiction later in this episode comes as an even bigger surprise.
The process through which Marge becomes addicted is also worth analyzing. Marge finds a single quarter on the floor that gets her drawn to the slot machines. Initially, she wins a few more quarters immediately, which gets her started on a long night of gambling. It seems obvious that the writers are making some social commentary on the ease with which common people can fall into gambling. The strong contrast between Marge as the moral role model and Marge as a problem gambling obsessively pulling on the lever of the slot machine, as well as her innocent first encounter with the slot machine suggest that the blame for her addiction is not entirely on her; instead, the episode’s portrayal of Marge suggests that some external factor—whether it be the slot machine itself, the casino, or the society—was at least partially responsible.
What follows next in the episode, although presented as a comedy, exposes a significant problem that has had and continues to have real impact on problem gamblers—particularly the issue of family neglect. Marge not only neglects her daughter Lisa’s request to help her with a school show, but also spends her day and night at the casino. The resulting impact of her absence is portrayed with much humor, but their counterparts in reality are not so humorous. For instance, Lisa is ridiculed in front of her school because of her poorly put together costume; the rest of the family resorts to eating food prepared by Homer, as Marge is not home to prepare meals for the family; Maggie the baby is abandoned on the casino floor and is almost killed. Considering that family neglect by problem gamblers—especially the housewives that get sucked into the system without much previous exposure—is a real and growing issue in modern society, the episode’s not-so-subtle social commentaries definitely deserve another look.
In line with the slot machines’ social implications that we explored in the previous section, the episode then gives us an example of the media’s portrayal of slot machines.
Navigation
Tracing Technology and its Effects on Slot Machines
The Psychology of the Slot Machine
Current page: $pringfield: Gambling and Slot Machines in Popular Culture
Our Experience with an Online Slot Machine Simulator
The Slot Machine: Concluding Remarks
Back main page: The Slot Machine
