The Simpsons, Kamp Krusty episode 8F24, 9/24/1992
Kamp Krusty was the premier episode of the fourth season of The Simpsons, originally aired in 1992 on the Fox television network. Produced during an era without commercially available household internet, families (including mine) would have watched this show during prime time television, syndicated reruns (which still run on local stations), or off VHS tape. I first saw the episode in 1992 on television and have since purchased the DVD set, which includes commentary by members of the production team. The Simpsons began as a short feature on a late night variety show and continues to be aired during “prime time” (generally recognized as 7:00-11:00 pm), identifying the target audience as adults, though creator Matt Groening has targeted both children and adults, and feels the show is more universal and doesn’t “feel the entire audience must get every joke” (Stoyle, 2009).
There are many instances of text within the text of The Simpson as a series (the opening and closing credits, Bart’s chalkboard writing, the price at the check-out line during opening credits) as well as within the episode, Kamp Krusty. The brochure of the camp features the word “Kamp” instead of “camp,” a joke seen again in the written script with the term “Krusty Korporation”. Interestingly, the audience never sees the word “Korporation” written which begs the question; who is the joke written for? Returning to the brochure, we see a smiling Krusty the Clown standing on a log in “Big Snake Lake” with a young camper who appears terrified as he falls off into the river. This disregard for campers’ safety is the first of many we will see as the episode unfolds. Another important piece of text that turns up throughout the episode alludes to the irresponsible merchandising machine that Krusty the Clown represents; the infamous “Krusty Brand Seal of Approval.” This approval, applied to countless articles by Krusty himself as we see in the “product testing room scene” means little. Indeed, the clock that heats up, the doll with a pointed spike as his head, the vitamins that caused Bart his rapid heart beat, and the camp itself all don the seal, though they are clearly subpar products at best, and dangerous at worst.
There are clear references throughout the episode to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (Turner, 2005). A group of young students try to govern themselves (though in the book they are forced to by their circumstances, in Kamp Krusty it is a Bart-led revolt against the corrupt authority of the camp) with somewhat disastrous results. It could be argued, however, that the results in Kamp Krusty are positive (except for Homer, who loses hair and gains weight at the reveal that Bart is the revolt’s leader), in that Bart and his new society not only catch the attention of Krusty himself, but are treated to a vacation to “The Happiest Place on Earth...Tijuana!” (The Simpsons, Krusty the Clown). Along with the storyline, the positioning of Martin Prince, the class brainiac, as the rule abiding and intellectual weakling “Piggy” (see The Simpsons, Das Bus, episode 5F11) forcibly attending the fat camp branch of Kamp Krusty (Chief-Starving Bear Weight Loss Center). The background illustrations of the campers with spears in red grease paint and the pig head on a stake outside Bart’s fortress add to the Lord of the Flies comparison. Another meaning evident in this episode is a critique of unscrupulous merchandising techniques aimed at children. As referenced above, the Krusty brand seal of approval turns up on a great number of shoddy products including the camp itself throughout this episode. Krusty is a manipulative corporate icon, slapping his likeness on anything for sales despite possibly dangerous products or services being released. The camp feeds the children “Krusty brand imitation gruel,” supplies U.S Army surplus blankets, roasts pinecones over a tire-fire, and houses the campers in decrepit cabins all while the campers feast on roasts and brandy and the newly Knighted Krusty enjoys strawberries and cream with the Queen at Wimbledon. Even in the end, to save face (though perhaps also to make personal amends with his followers) Krusty takes the children on a bus trip, unbeknownst to their parents, to Tijuana, arguably not the healthiest, safest, or appropriate location for unsupervised children. Comparisons of Krusty the Clown and McDonald’s Ronald McDonald abound throughout the series (apparent in the Krustyburger chain), and this episode adds to the criticism of selling to children. Reminding us (and the children) of the corporate control of Krusty, the camp song itself ends with the line “a registered trademark of the Krusty brand Korporation, all rights reserved” (The Simpsons, camp choir).
Perhaps overlooked in this particular episode is the deeper anarchist, anti-antiauthoritarian undertones prevalent throughout the story, hinted at in the previously discussed Lord of the Flies reference. The episode opens within a dream sequence on the last day of school; Bart manipulates his teacher into changing his grades so he can go to camp, as Principal Skinner, over the loudspeaker, comments “I trust you all remembered to bring your implements of destruction” which leads into a sequence of students (and Willy, the often rebellious school maintenance man) destroying and setting fire to the building, scored by Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”. Alas, it was just a dream, and the Simpson children head off, with high hopes, to their last day of school. The hopes of both are dashed as neither receive the grades they desire, in two scenes that hint visually at the oppressive nature of the adults in this episode. First, Lisa discovers a “B” on her report card, an odd occurrence for the normally straight “A” student. She approaches Ms. Hoover, who sits at an unusually high (compared to other episodes) desk, and looks down as Lisa explains “There appears to be a mistake on my report card” (Lisa, The Simpsons). There isn’t, the “B” stays as a “blotch on [her] permanent record’ (Ms. Hoover, The Simpsons). We move to Bart’s classroom, covered in Krusty Posters, where Bart receives straight “D’s” meaning Homer will not allow him to attend camp. Again, Bart stands comparatively short in front of Mrs. Krabappel’s desk, a visual cue at the authority of the teacher. This high visual stature is repeated in the first scene at camp; the campers meet the villainous head counselor Mr.Black (jet black hair and pasty skin adds to his malevolent presence) who stands high on a stage, as the show’s bullies, in their new roles as camp counselors, stand unusually tall behind the campers, hinting at their oppressive authoritarian roles. Eventually, the poor conditions of the camp become too much for the campers, and during a disappointing false appearance of Krusty (Krusty turns out to be town drunk Barney in a bad costume) an inspired Bart lists off Krusty’s shoddy products and negligence and leads a revolt of campers. The Krusty totem pole is toppled - a similar fate of the statues of Lenin and Hussein - the counselors are chased off (via hydrofoil, the preferred method of transportation of villains), and Bart seizes control of the camp, raising the black flag, a common symbol of both anarchy and pirates. Camp bart is now established, and media frenzy ensues. We’ve seen the dream of the students overtaking and destroying the school, the toppling of the authority of Kamp Kursty, and are treated to one more instance of anarchy in the final image of the episode. Krusty, learning of the revolt on the news, returns to make amends with the campers. After a meeting with Bart, he makes it up to them with a trip to Tijuana. During the credits we are treated to a photo montage reminiscent of the cocaine montage in Shaft. sombreros, tequila, cockfights, etc. with the campers seemingly enjoying their time with their former idol Krusty. Perhaps, though, even Krusty is eventually viewed as too much of an authority figure and the final photo shows the bus driving away without Krusty (hinting that the bus is being driven by a student). We are left where we begin, with an anarchist society, or at least mini-society, controlled by kids. As a follow up to this episode and the punk-rock, anarchist, antiauthoritarian theme, we are presented in 1998 with a rendition of the aptly titled (when considering Krusty and his camp as an authoritarian institution) “Hail to Thee, Kamp Krusty” on The Simpsons Yellow Album. After a traditional, choir-sung verse, the song breaks into guitar rifts and anti-establishment (camp) sentiments, especially Bart’s Sex-Pistols-esque bridge:
“let’s burn it”
(Kamp Krusty)
“let’s fry it”
(Kamp Krusty)
“electrocute it”
(Kamp Krusty)
“let’s do it”
(Kamp Krusty)
“annihilate it”
(Kamp Krusty)
-Music by Alf Clausen, lyrics by Al Jean, Jay Kogen, Mike Reiss,
Perhaps the message here, is that children, at least the children of Springfield, are more powerful than sometimes assumed, and that even the most mundane authoritarian institutions are in danger of revolt.
References:
"Kamp Krusty." The Simpsons. Fox. September 24, 1992. Television.
Kamp Krusty. (n.d.). In Simpsons Wikia. Retrieved November 13, 2013, http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Kamp_Krusty
Turner, Chris. (2005). Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation. Toronto: Random House.
Stoyle, David. (2009,10/7). Simpsons Creator Matt Groening talks to fr2day at mipcom. fr2day. Retrieved 11/12, 2013, from http://www.fr2day.com/exhibition/simpsons_creator_matt_groening_talks_to_fr2day_at_mipcom_2009
Freeman, Joel. (Producer), & Parks, Gordon. (Director). (July 2 1971). Shaft. USA: MGM Warner Bros.