Blame it on LisaBlame it on Lisa

Exploring stereotypes Exploring stereotypes through The Simpsonsthrough The Simpsons

The episodeThe episode

The family travels to Rio de Janeiro The family travels to Rio de Janeiro in the search of Ronaldo, a slum in the search of Ronaldo, a slum orphan Lisa has sponsored. The orphan Lisa has sponsored. The Simpsons’ adventures in the Simpsons’ adventures in the South American city are South American city are interspersed with plenty of clichés interspersed with plenty of clichés and stereotypes about the and stereotypes about the Brazilian society.Brazilian society.

MIVCI 2009-10

Brazilian clichésBrazilian clichés

PovertyPoverty Rio is crammed with poorly dressed Rio is crammed with poorly dressed favelafavela

kids running around brightly coloured kids running around brightly coloured wrecked houses in order to avoid being wrecked houses in order to avoid being bitten by herds of wild monkeys.bitten by herds of wild monkeys.

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Brazilian clichésBrazilian clichés

LustLust Sex seems to be Brazilians’ main concern.Sex seems to be Brazilians’ main concern. The most popular kids show on TV – The most popular kids show on TV –

Teleboobies - Teleboobies - is conducted by a stripper.is conducted by a stripper.

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Brazilian clichésBrazilian clichés The Brazilian male is depicted as a The Brazilian male is depicted as a

basically frisky creature always ready to basically frisky creature always ready to flirt with anyone he meets – either male or flirt with anyone he meets – either male or female.female.

The Copacabana beach dress code is The Copacabana beach dress code is strict: just Speedos.strict: just Speedos.

PenetradaPenetrada is the trendiest dance in Rio is the trendiest dance in Rio

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Brazilian clichésBrazilian clichésCrimeCrime

Although the travel guide warned not to Although the travel guide warned not to get into unlicensed cabs, Homer is get into unlicensed cabs, Homer is eventually kidnapped by a dodgy taxi eventually kidnapped by a dodgy taxi driver.driver.

A woman distracts Homer and Bart so that A woman distracts Homer and Bart so that her own children can mug them.her own children can mug them.

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Brazilian clichésBrazilian clichés

LeisureLeisure Brazilians do not need to work: they’d Brazilians do not need to work: they’d

much rather linger around town, lie idly on much rather linger around town, lie idly on the beach, dance to conga or get drunk.the beach, dance to conga or get drunk.

They feel passionate about soccer: at the They feel passionate about soccer: at the hotel reception, all the staff members hotel reception, all the staff members carry out their tasks as if they were carry out their tasks as if they were playing football.playing football.

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American clichésAmerican clichésStereotypes are not only focused on Brazil, Stereotypes are not only focused on Brazil,

but also on the Americans’ self-centred but also on the Americans’ self-centred spirit.spirit.

On the plane, Bart is using some On the plane, Bart is using some recordings to learn Spanish until Marge recordings to learn Spanish until Marge tells him that the language spoken in tells him that the language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese.Brazil is Portuguese.

Homer accidentally drops a manual called Homer accidentally drops a manual called How to loot BrazilHow to loot Brazil..

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Exaggerations and misleading Exaggerations and misleading informationinformation

All the stereotypes included in this episode All the stereotypes included in this episode are commonplace: they add nothing new are commonplace: they add nothing new to the typical preconceived ideas we all to the typical preconceived ideas we all have about Brazil, although have about Brazil, although exaggeration is present for exaggeration is present for the sake of comedy an satire.the sake of comedy an satire.

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Exaggerations and misleading Exaggerations and misleading informationinformation

There are also some innacuracies:There are also some innacuracies: Brazil is credited with the invention of the Brazil is credited with the invention of the

CongaConga or the or the MacarenaMacarena, which is not true., which is not true. The Amazon and Rio are shown as nearby The Amazon and Rio are shown as nearby

areas but, in fact, they are thousands of areas but, in fact, they are thousands of kilometres far from one another.kilometres far from one another.

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Scope of this episodeScope of this episodeBrazilians found the show annoying when it was Brazilians found the show annoying when it was

first broadcast and watched by over 11 million first broadcast and watched by over 11 million Americans in 2002.Americans in 2002.

According to According to The Guardian, (Tuesday 9 April The Guardian, (Tuesday 9 April 20022002), the ), the Rio Tourist BoardRio Tourist Board was ready to sue was ready to sue Fox Fox for damaging the city’s image.for damaging the city’s image.

Even Mr. Cardoso, President of the country, Even Mr. Cardoso, President of the country, declared that “it brought a distorted vision of the declared that “it brought a distorted vision of the Brazilian society”.Brazilian society”.

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Scope of this episodeScope of this episode The series makers highlighted some The series makers highlighted some

stereotypes about Brazil normally stereotypes about Brazil normally assumed by outsiders, though they can assumed by outsiders, though they can hardly reflect the reality of this country.hardly reflect the reality of this country.

Laziness, lust, poverty and crime are Laziness, lust, poverty and crime are present everywhere else, and cannot present everywhere else, and cannot summarize the essence of a society.summarize the essence of a society.

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Scope of this episodeScope of this episode The Simpsons show The Simpsons show has been a steady success has been a steady success

for twenty years now and it has reached huge for twenty years now and it has reached huge worldwide audiences.worldwide audiences.

However, we shoud bear in mind it is just a tv However, we shoud bear in mind it is just a tv product whose mere aim is entertainment.product whose mere aim is entertainment.

In fact, the show can be used with pedagogical In fact, the show can be used with pedagogical purposes to help young viewers to overcome purposes to help young viewers to overcome prejudices about foreigners.prejudices about foreigners.

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Lesson planningLesson planning

Learning objectivesLearning objectives Activities: Activities:

Pre-viewing activitiesPre-viewing activities While-wieving activitiesWhile-wieving activities Post-viewing activitiesPost-viewing activities

AssessmentAssessment

Learning objectivesLearning objectives Understand and process the overall verbal and non Understand and process the overall verbal and non

verbal information provided in a multimodal text (verbal information provided in a multimodal text (The The SimpsonsSimpsons episode). episode).

Spot the stereotypes appearing in the film and critically Spot the stereotypes appearing in the film and critically analyse them, recognizing the devices used in comedy analyse them, recognizing the devices used in comedy to convey humour and satire.to convey humour and satire.

Use the target language to give their opinions, exchange Use the target language to give their opinions, exchange information and draw conclusions.information and draw conclusions.

Be able to work in teams, assuming responsibilitiesBe able to work in teams, assuming responsibilities Search information on the Internet and use it to draw a Search information on the Internet and use it to draw a

chart.chart.

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RationaleRationaleThe rationale underlying this lesson planning is The rationale underlying this lesson planning is

based on different methodological principles:based on different methodological principles: Communicative language teachingCommunicative language teaching: most : most

activities focus on communication and authentic activities focus on communication and authentic materials are used.materials are used.

Tasked-based learningTasked-based learning: learners have to apply : learners have to apply their communicative competence to undertake their communicative competence to undertake the proposed tasks.the proposed tasks.

Cooperative learningCooperative learning: team-work and social : team-work and social interaction are promoted.interaction are promoted.

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ActivitiesActivitiesPre-viewing activitiesPre-viewing activities What do we know about What do we know about The SimpsonsThe Simpsons??

Describing the familyDescribing the family National stereotypesNational stereotypes

Finding Spanish stereotypes. DiscussionFinding Spanish stereotypes. Discussion What do we know about Brazil?What do we know about Brazil?

Group brainstorming and discussionGroup brainstorming and discussion Pre-viewing warming upPre-viewing warming up

Helpful tips to successful viewingHelpful tips to successful viewing

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ActivitiesActivitiesWhile-wiewing activitiesWhile-wiewing activities Retrieval chart: Pair workRetrieval chart: Pair work

SceneScene What’s going What’s going on?on?

StereotypesStereotypes

On the plane to RioOn the plane to Rio Lisa is reading a travel Lisa is reading a travel guide that warns not to guide that warns not to drink tap water in Riodrink tap water in Rio

Underdevelopment, Underdevelopment, povertypoverty

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ActivitiesActivitiesPost-viewing activitiesPost-viewing activities Comprehension questionsComprehension questions Brazilian celebritiesBrazilian celebrities

Quizz and group discussionQuizz and group discussion Drawing a chart: final taskDrawing a chart: final task

Integrating different competencesIntegrating different competences Searching and selecting informationSearching and selecting information Using ICTsUsing ICTs Writing a summaryWriting a summary

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AssessmentAssessment Evaluating the learnig processEvaluating the learnig process

Did students understand the film?Did students understand the film? Were the stereotypes spotted? Were they critically Were the stereotypes spotted? Were they critically

approached?approached? Did they engage in successful communication in Did they engage in successful communication in

English when undertaking tasks? English when undertaking tasks? Did teams work?Did teams work?

Evaluating students’ outcomeEvaluating students’ outcome Students’ work through the whole lessonStudents’ work through the whole lesson Learners’ communicative competenceLearners’ communicative competence Participation and collaborationParticipation and collaboration Marking final task.Marking final task.

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““All stereotypes turn out to be All stereotypes turn out to be true. This is a horrifying thing true. This is a horrifying thing about life. All those things you about life. All those things you fought against as a youth: you fought against as a youth: you begin to realize they're begin to realize they're stereotypes because they're stereotypes because they're true.”true.”

David CronenbergDavid Cronenberg

““The whole idea of a stereotype The whole idea of a stereotype is to simplify. Instead of going is to simplify. Instead of going through the problem in all its through the problem in all its great diversity – it’s this, or great diversity – it’s this, or maybe that -, you have just one maybe that -, you have just one large statement: it’s this.” large statement: it’s this.” Chinua Chinua AchebeAchebe    

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