This week, my Simpsons class is tackling politics. Last night, the boy and I sat down to rewatch “Much Apu About Nothing.” While other political episodes rotate on and off the syllabus, “Much Apu” is always there, for the way it captures corruption, mob mentality, red herring issues, and more.
Since the episode starts with a bear, the boy said it was perfect for this week (there’s a lost baby bear in Davis, causing a stir).
But the more we kept watching, the more we realized this episode fits amazingly well with the current covid zeitgeist.
Right after being advised to stay in his home, Homer breaks quarantine.
The next thing you know, there’s an angry mob marching to their city hall in protest.
When confronted with a problem, the town turns immediately to xenophobia.
Rather than follow any logical advice, the townspeople rely on weird fixes for their problems, using specious reasoning.
At least they’re not injecting themselves with bleach.
