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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] A cult called the "Movementarians" takes over Springfield, and Homer and the rest of the Simpson family become members. 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. David Mirkin had the initial idea for the episode, and it was written by Steve O'Donnell and directed by Steven Dean Moore. 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.

The episode was later analyzed from religious, philosophical and psychological perspectives. Books on The Simpsons compared the episode to many of the same cults and new religious movements that the writers had based their story on; and The Psychology of The Simpsons analyzed the episode in comparison with "a typical course of indoctrination for a cult". The show contained many embedded references to popular culture, including the title reference to The Joy of Sex and a vehicle from the television program The Prisoner. Press, media and later books on The Simpsons all had positive comments about the "The Joy of Sect." USA Today highlighted the episode as one of the six best episodes of season 9, and The A.V. Club featured the episode in an analysis of fifteen era-encompassing episodes of The Simpsons.

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 a man and a woman named 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 a new planet: "Blisstonia". 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, 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. The children initially resist brainwashing, but Greg and Jane have their ways: Bart is taken by their "Li'l Bastard Brainwashing Kit", Lisa decides that getting good grades are important even though she knows it is stupid to say "The Leader" created everything, and Maggie is brainwashed by Barney the Dinosaur. Marge, however, resists all their methods and just barely escapes the compound. She gets help from Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, and Willie, who help her kidnap the family. Marge tricks 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 turn out to be 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 no longer brainwashed. Homer 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" proclaims 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. As the spaceship flies off, it 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, and crashes on Cletus Spuckler's front porch. The Simpson family returns 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][6]

Production

David Mirkin, executive producer of "The Joy of Sect."

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. He stated that he was attracted to the notion of parodying cults because they are: "comical, interesting and twisted."[7] 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.[7] Steven Dean Moore directed the episode.[8]

Aspects of the Movementarians were inspired by different cults and religions, including Scientology, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, the Heaven's Gate cult, the Unification Church, the Oneida Society, and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.[7] In particular, the free orientation weekend was inspired by the Unification Church, the leader driving through the fields in a Rolls Royce was partly inspired by the Bhagwans, and the notion of holding people inside the camp against their will was a reference to Jim Jones.[7] The name "Movementarians" itself was simply chosen for its awkward sound.[7] The scene during the six-hour orientation video where those who get up to leave are induced to stay through peer pressure and groupthink was a reference to the Moonies and the est Training.[9] The show's producers acknowledged that the ending scene of the episode was a poke at FOX as "being the evil mind controlling network."[7] The episode's script was written in 1997, at roughly the same time that the members of the Heaven's Gate Cult committed Mass suicide. Because of that, several elements of the episode were changed so that it would be more sensitive in the wake of it.[9]

Themes

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.[10]

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.[11] 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.[11] I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide made reference to the "Moonies" in its episode description, and referred to the group depicted in the episode as a "cult."[1] Planet Simpson analyzed The Simpsons approach to deprogramming in the episode, and contrasted it with the "Conformco Brain Deprogrammers" used in the episode "Burns' Heir."[3]

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

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.[12] The authors noted that Marge's escape from the Movementarian cult commune illustrated her bravery, and they compared her values to those of Aristotle.[12] 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.[13] 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.[13] The book 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.[13] Emphasis on totalitarianism surrounding "the Leader" is seen through an analysis of the Movementarian's publications about him. For example, instead of traditional mathematics textbooks, the children on the compound learn from: Arithmetic the Leader's Way and Science for Leader Lovers.[5]

In Pinsky's The Gospel According to the Simpsons, one of the show's writers 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."[14] Pinsky found it ironic that Groening spoofed Scientology in spite of the fact that the voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, is a Scientologist,[14][15] having joined in 1989.[16] Pinsky noted that Matt Groening later "took a shot at Scientology" in Futurama with the fictional religion "Church of Robotology,"[14] and according to Groening he received a call from the Church of Scientology concerned about the use of a similar name.[17]

Cultural references

File:Barney 9x13 .png
Barney the Dinosaur 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][18] Neal Hefti and Nelson Riddle's theme music to the 1960s Batman series is 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, most of the sequence is a parody of the Michael Jackson video HIStory.[7]

Reception

"The Joy of Sect" received generally positive reception in the press, and 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.[19] 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".[20] The A.V. Club featured the episode in its analysis of "15 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras."[11]

See also

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.
  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. ^ Staff (March 15, 1998). "Sunday Night at the Palladium, ITV, 8pm". The Sunday Mail. Trinity Mirror plc. pp. Family Choice, Features section. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g 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)
  8. ^ Alberti, John (2004). Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture. Wayne State University Press. p. 321. ISBN 0814328490. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ a b 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)
  10. ^ Hunt, Martin. "Celebrity Critics of Scientology, Simpsons (TV show)". FACTnet. Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ 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)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ a b c Pinsky, Mark I. (2001). The Gospel According to the Simpsons. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0664224199. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Emma Brockes (2004-08-02). "That's my boy". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  16. ^ Burnett, John (March 12, 1997). "All things Considered: Scientology". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ Groening, Matt (2003). Futurama season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Hell Is Other Robots" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. I did get a call from a Scientologist who had somehow gotten hold of the script.
  18. ^ 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)
  19. ^ Shalda, Jeff. (December 29, 2000). "Religion in the Simpsons". Online. The Simpsons Archive. Retrieved 2007-02-10. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ 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)
Further reading
Wikiquote has quotations related to "The Joy of Sect".

Template:Religion in The Simpsons

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