In yet another instance of The Simpsons’ uncanny ability to predict real-world events, it appears that the show’s writers may have foreseen the outrage that erupted in Florida over an art teacher showing a picture of Michelangelo’s David to sixth graders.
The incident bears a striking resemblance to a scene from the show’s second season episode, ‘Itchy & Scratchy & Marge’.
The episode revolves around Marge’s crusade to get the violent and crude cartoon series, ‘The Itchy & Scratchy Show’, taken off the air.
In one scene, she attends a PTA meeting where she expresses her concerns about the show’s negative impact on children.
One parent in attendance, Ruth Powers, argues that parents should have the right to decide what their children are exposed to.
She then holds up a picture of Michelangelo’s David, declaring, “This is filth! That’s what this is!”
Fast forward to 1995, when a similar incident occurred in Florida.
An art teacher at a public school showed sixth graders a picture of Michelangelo’s David as part of a lesson on Renaissance art.
Several parents were outraged, with one calling the image “p**nographic”. The school’s principal was forced to resign after the controversy.
It’s worth noting that the controversy in Florida occurred in 1995, five years after the airing of ‘Itchy & Scratchy & Marge’.
However, it’s possible that the episode may have influenced the way some parents thought about the issue, given the show’s popularity and cultural impact.
Despite the controversy, art experts and educators have defended the value of showing students classical artwork like Michelangelo’s David. As one art historian noted, “David is not about s*x, it’s about beauty and about the values of civilization that we hold dear.”
Meanwhile, The Simpsons continues to amaze viewers with its ability to predict future events.
Over the years, the show has seemingly foretold a number of real-world events, including the election of Donald Trump, the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, and even the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the show’s executive producer Al Jean once put it, “We predict a lot of things that eventually come true because, frankly, we just throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.”
Whether it’s intentional or just a lucky coincidence, The Simpsons’ track record for predicting the future is nothing short of remarkable.
