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BC University offering: The Simpsons as Sociology? D'oh!
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by Barry Artiste | April 24, 2008 at 05:39 am
1633 views | 20 Recommendations | 10 comments
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Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
You know for a minute I thought this was a joke, then I realised Silly me, I live in British Columbia, where the joke is a University which recently got it's University accredation.
Only in British Columbia, where a real BC University Simon Fraser University is forced to cut courses, double their class size and layoff staff due to budget constraints, but this University of Fraser Valley (No Relation) seems to have Students Parents Course Tuition cash to burn.
Certainly University College of the Fraser Valley (UCFV) will rank up there in Academia with Costa Rican Diploma Mills and other ludicrous Universities which remain questionable by Employers who seek Real University Graduates from Legitimate Universities.
Again, only in British Columbia. To that, I too say D'oh !!
Vancouver Sun
The Simpsons as sociology? D'oh! Course is so popular at University of Fraser Valley that there's a waiting list.
Denise Ryan, Vancouver Sun
Published:Thursday, April 24, 2008
ABBOTSFORD - It's every parent's worst nightmare. You shell out good money to send your kid to university, only to find out he is spending his days watching cartoons.
Some lucky B.C. students have done just that this year, spending course hours studying The Simpsons.
The University College of the Fraser Valley, which just two days ago was granted university status and renamed University of the Fraser Valley, will be offering the course, Sociology of The Simpsons, again next year.
Source: Vancouver Sun
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 06:11 on April 24th, 2008
Surely if a viewer doesn't already know that The Simpsons is sociological commentary, then a class won't help.
(UCSD once offered a music class called Gods of Rock Guitar, which, as one may well surmise, was Hendrix-, Vai- and Satriani-oriented. A friend of mine tried to get in, but the course filled up almost instantly)
at 06:18 on April 24th, 2008
Yes, I am sure along with a University Graduation Ceremony, Paper Hats will be handed out to Graduates to prepare them for the exciting World of Fast Food.
Thanks for the comments Jordan
at 08:12 on April 24th, 2008
Barry Artiste,You hit a Homer with this story
at 09:22 on April 24th, 2008
Simpsons Sociology? Not such a bad idea considering that sociology is the study of people and society.
I'd take Simpsons sociology any day over the study of "family rearing traits and conflict during the Edwardian era in rural England."
If we find sociology valuable as a study, particularly from an observation and analysis basis, I bet that it would be a pretty good bet to start with a contemporary phenomena such as the Simpsons. This cartoon is (ironically and intentionally) a better collection, reflection and parody on current society and its habits than any sociology anthology could ever be.
at 13:47 on April 24th, 2008
Surely Doctor Ok, you don't think the Simpsons is real life?
BTW what kind of Doctor are you to come up with a Gem like that? ahaha
Thanks for the comments though, especially the Edwardian era.
at 13:49 on April 24th, 2008
Thanks for dropping by Politisite, thanks for the GS, though in a Perfect world I would call this story "EXCEEEELLLLLEEENNNTTT"!
at 13:56 on April 27th, 2008
I very much enjoy that this piece about educational standards is written by some one who is barely literature.
Witness the confusion of their with there:
"University College of the Fraser Valley (UCFV) will rank up their in Academia with Costa Rican Diploma Mills and other ludicrous Universities which remain questionable by Employers who seek Real University Graduates from Legitimate Universities"
The writer should also be advised that the University of California, Berkeley, universally agreed to be one of the finest institutes of higher learning on the planet, also offers a Simpsons course. So it's not "only in B.C." after all. Further, Shakespeare was himself "popular culture." Does this mean undergraduates should not study Shakespeare?
at 14:34 on April 27th, 2008
Thanks for pointing out my spelling error there "Jello Sheriff of the Literati", anyone offering a "Filler Course" for money, instead of an acutal future employment based course, is scamming someone for the sake of watching Cartoons for a easy University credit. Of course if you're comparing Homer J. Simpson to Shakespeare, then "God Help Us All !!!"
at 14:34 on April 27th, 2008
I have to agree with Jordan (and Sassback too!) but thanks for posting Barry. It's a fun read. However, I think this post belongs in the culture channel, what do you think? cheers,
at 14:43 on April 27th, 2008
Thanks for the comments Cynthia,
In response to your question, hey I posted it in the Culture Channel Cynthia, take it up with the Now Public Computer, while you're at it, see if it (Now Public Compter) can retake that University of California, Berkeley remedial Math Course too. HAHAHHA, God I slay me sometimes.......Oh,Crap, I spelled computer wrong, Damn, oh well, too late to change the speiling now Skeeter. Oh Crap I sprelled, speiling worng, dang, did it agin, pretty soon ah is goner bee living in a tralur park in cloverdhale. Did mah teefth jus feeld outta mah haid?