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The Joy of Sect

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"The Joy of Sect"
The Simpsons episode
File:The Joy Of Sect.PNG
Episode no.Season 9
Directed bySteven Dean Moore
Written bySteve O'Donnell
Original air datesFebruary 8, 1998
Episode features
Couch gagTiny versions of the Simpsons climb on the couch, and Santa's Little Helper runs off with Homer.[1]
CommentaryMatt Groening
David Mirkin
Steve O'Donnell
Yeardley Smith
Steven Dean Moore
Episode chronology
The Simpsons season 9
List of episodes

"The Joy of Sect" is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons' ninth season and originally aired on the Fox network on February 8, 1998.[2] An evil cult called the "Movementarians" takes over Springfield and Homer and the rest of the Simpson family become members of it. Homer and Bart are initially introduced to a pair of young recruiters for a new religious movement. Soon after they both become brainwashed, and Homer moves his family into the cult compound. The episode was written by Steve O'Donnell and directed by Steven Dean Moore. David Mirkin had the initial idea for the episode and the writers drew on many groups to develop the Movementarians, but were principally influenced by Scientology, Heaven's Gate, the Unification Church and Peoples Temple.

Plot

File:The Simpsons 5F23.png
Mr. Burns as the god of his new religion

While taking Bart to the airport to see a local football team arrive after their defeat, Homer sees two people (Glen and Jane) telling people about a new religion, the "Movementarians". They invite Homer to come to an introductory session. Everyone there comes to worship the Movementarian leader after being brainwashed by their video, which states that all Movementarians will be taken by a spaceship to Blisstonia, a new planet. Homer, however, does not pay enough attention to the video to be affected by it. After Glen and Jane's other methods fail on Homer, they finally get him by singing the theme to Batman, replacing the word Batman with the word leader.

Homer moves his entire family to the Movementarian compound while their house becomes the new welcome center for that area. The compound is a vast agricultural facility fenced off with barbed wire and artillery (and an "anti escape orb"), where everyone is forced to grow and harvest lima beans from dawn to dusk. Mr. Burns, learning that Movementarianism is gaining much popularity in Springfield, makes a new religion of his own. But the Springfieldians are convinced not to praise him as their new god when he catches fire after being bowed down to by Smithers, with Lenny finding Special K more interesting than Burns. The children resist brainwashing at first, but Greg and Jane have their ways: Bart is taken by their "Li'l Bastard Brainwashing Kit", Lisa decides that getting good grades is more important (even though she knows it is stupid to say "The Leader" created everything, even the Morse Code), and Maggie is brainwashed by Barney the Dinosaur or someone like him who sings "I love him, he loves me, we're the Leader's family". Marge, however, resists all their methods and just barely escapes the compound (even the "anti escape orb", which accidentally captures Hans Moleman). She gets help from Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, and Willie, who help her kidnap the family. Marge kidnaps them by posing as the anonymous character of "The Leader" and telling them to come in to "his" limousine.

In Ned Flanders' rumpus room, Marge brings back her children by promising them hover-bikes (which are fake). Homer remains strong, but gives in when Ned offers him a beer. Just as a single drop lands on Homer's tongue, he is captured by the Movementarians' lawyers. Back at the compound, Homer reveals that he is himself again and opens the Forbidden Barn (which was said to house "The Leader's" spaceship) intending to expose the fraud of the Movementarians. The door is opened and to Homer's surprise reveals "one hell of a giant spaceship." "The Leader" (from within the spacecraft) proclaimed that due to Homer's "lack of faith", humanity will never go into space. Marge then regrets that he was telling the truth and Lovejoy throws his collar on the ground and stomps on it. However, as it flies off, the ship falls apart revealing "The Leader", on a pedal-powered aircraft, running off with everyone's money, and everyone's faith is broken. However, "The Leader" does not get very far, crashing on Cletus Spuckler's front porch. In the end, Cletus gets the money, by pointing a shotgun at "The Leader." The followers go home glumly and Moe is shown to practice voodoo witchcraft by sticking a beer bottle into a doll Barney and causing the real Barney to want beer. The Simpsons go home and Lisa comments: "It's wonderful to think for ourselves again," and then the family becomes hypnotized by a FOX commercial. They end the show hearing the commercial state: "You are watching FOX," and they all chant back: "We are watching FOX."[1][2][3][4][5]

Production

A Church of Scientology building in Los Angeles. The Simpsons producers vetoed an episode entirely about Scientology due to its litigation history.

The episode was the second and last episode written by Steve O'Donnell and was based on an idea from David Mirkin, who is fascinated by cults. Mirkin had been the show runner during seasons five and six, but had been brought back to run two episodes during the ninth season. The main group of writers that worked on the episode were Mirkin, O'Donnell, Jace Richdale and Kevin Curran. The episode's title "The Joy of Sect" was pitched by Richdale.[6]

The Movementarians were largely inspired by various different cults and religions, including Scientology, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, the Heaven's Gate cult, the Moonies, the Oneida Society, Chen Tao and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.[6] In particular, the orientation film was inspired by the Moonies, while the leader driving through the fields in a Rolls Royce was partly inspired by the Bhagwans and Jim Jones.[6] The episodes script was written in 1997, at roughly the same time that the members of the Heaven's Gate Cult comitted Mass suicide. Because of that, several elements of the episode were changed so that it would be more sensitive in the wake of it.[7]

In Pinsky's The Gospel According to the Simpsons, one of the show's recounted to the author that the producers of The Simpsons had vetoed a full-length episode on Scientology that was planned, in fear of the Church's "reputation for suing and harassing opponents."[8] Pinsky found it ironic that Groening spoofed Scientology in spite of the fact that the voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, is a Scientologist,[8][9] having joined in 1989.[10] Pinsky noted that Matt Groening also later "took a shot at Scientology" in Futurama, with the fictional religion, "Church of Robotology."[8]

Analysis

A gathering of Raëlians in South Korea. The writers drew some of their ideas for "The Joy of Sect" from Raëlism.

In the book Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation, the "Sect" represented in the episode is characterized as being a cross between the Church of Scientology and Raelism, with lesser influences from Sun Myung Moon and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.[3] The writers also drew on influences from Hare Krishna and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.[5] Similar concepts utilized by the "Sect" in the episode and Scientology include similarities in physical appearance between "The Leader" and L. Ron Hubbard, reference to a Sea Org uniform, a "Trillion year labor contract" instead of the Sea Org's Billion year contract, and the use of litigation in both groups.[11]

The A.V. Club described the New religious movement portrayed in the episode as a "cult," and compared it to Scientology, Heaven's Gate, and the Unification Church.[12] The Simpsons references to plans to travel to planet "Blisstonia" was compared to Heaven's Gate's promises of bliss after travel to the Hale-Bopp comet.[12] I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide also made reference to the "Moonies" in its episode description, and referred to the group depicted in the episode as a "cult."[1] Planet Simpson also analyzed The Simpsons approach to deprogramming in the episode, and contrasted it with the "Conformco Brain Deprogrammers" used in the episode "Burns' Heir."[3]

In The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer, the authors cited "The Joy of Sect" in analyzing Marge Simpson's virtuous personality traits.[13] The authors noted that Marge's escape from the Movementarian cult commune illustrated her bravery, and they compared her values to those of Aristotle.[13] As the title suggests, the book The Psychology of the Simpsons: D'oh! took a look at "The Joy of Sect" from an psychological point of view, and took the opportunity to educate the reader not just about sects within the episode, but also about the methodology of cults on a broader level.[14] Key characteristics of cult techniques were pointed out and explained, including the charismatic leader or "the Leader," established authority based on a religious entity or alien being (in this case "Blisstonia"), and the method of taking away free choice through acceptance of the Leader's greatness.[14] The book also noted that an exploitation of group mentality is used during the six-hour Movementarian indoctrination film, in which those who get up to leave are reminded that they are allowed to leave whenever they wish. They are, however, questioned in front of the group as to specifically why they wish to leave, and these individuals end up staying to finish watching the film.[14] Emphasis on totalitarianism surrounding "the Leader" is also seen through an analysis of the Movementarian's publications about him. For example, instead of traditional math textbooks, the children on the compound learn from: Arithmetic the Leader's Way and Science for Leader Lovers.[5]

Cultural references

File:Barney 9x13 .png
Barney indoctrinating toddler recruits of the Sect.

In addition to its comparisons to cults, sects, and new religious movements, the episode also referenced several elements from popular culture. The title of the episode itself is a spoof on the book The Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort. When Marge attempts to leave the compound, she is chased by a Rover guard "balloon" from the 1967 television program The Prisoner.[1][15] Nelson Riddle's theme music to the 1960s Batman series is also used in the episode to indoctrinate Homer when he was not brainwashed by the orientation video.[1] The song from Barney and Friends was used by the sect to brainwash babies. When Mr. Burns introduces his new religion, a lot of the sequence is a parody of the Michael Jackson video HIStory.[6]

Reception

"The Joy of Sect" received generally positive reception in the press, and later also in books and analytical papers on The Simpsons. Jeff Shalda of The Simpsons Archive, used the episode as an example of one of the "good qualities present in The Simpsons," while analyzing why some other aspects of The Simpsons makes Christians upset.[16] The book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide commented that the episode was "an odd one", with "a lot of good moments", and went on to state that it was "a nice twist to see Burns determined to be loved".[1]

In a 2006 article in USA Today, "The Joy of Sect" was highlighted among the six best episodes of The Simpsons season 9, along with others including: "Trash of the Titans," "The Last Temptation of Krust," "The Cartridge Family," "Dumbbell Indemnity," and "Das Bus".[17] The A.V. Club featured the episode in its analysis of "15 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras."[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "The Joy of Sect". BBC. Retrieved 2007-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "The Joy of Sect". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  3. ^ a b c Turner, Chris (2005). Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation. Da Capo Press. pp. Page 269, The First Church of The Simpsons. ISBN 030681448X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Deming, Mark. "The Simpsons: The Joy of Sect, Plot Synopsis". All Movie Guide. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Gimple, Scott M. (December 1, 1999). The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued. HarperCollins. pp. Pages 26-27. ISBN 978-0060987633. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Mirkin, David (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Joy of Sect" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ O'Donnell, Steve (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Joy of Sect" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  8. ^ a b c Pinsky, Mark I. (2001). The Gospel According to the Simpsons. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN ISBN 0664224199. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Emma Brockes (2004-08-02). "That's my boy". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  10. ^ "NPR transcript from All things Considered: Scientology". Solitary Trees. 1997-03-12. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  11. ^ Hunt, Martin. "Celebrity Critics of Scientology, Simpsons (TV show)". FACTnet. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ a b c Koski, Genevieve (July 23, 2007). "Features: Inventory: 15 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras". The A.V. Club. 2007, Onion Inc. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b Irwin, William (2001). The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer. Open Court Publishing. pp. Pages 48-49. ISBN 0812694333. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c Brown, Alan S. (2006). The Psychology of the Simpsons: D'oh!. BenBella Books, Inc. pp. Page 211-212. ISBN 1932100709. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Booker, M. Keith (2006). Drawn to Television: Prime-Time Animation from the Flintstones to Family Guy. Greenwood Press. pp. Page 66. ISBN 0275990192. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Shalda, Jeff. (December 29, 2000). "Religion in the Simpsons". Online. The Simpsons Archive. Retrieved 2007-02-10. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ Clark, Mike (December 22, 2006). "New on DVD". USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Wikiquote has quotations related to "The Joy of Sect".

See also

Template:Religion in The Simpsons

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