Campbell’s (1989) outline of narrative structure, illustrates the mechanism that allowed of The Simpsons to become so popular. Campbell’s ‘Hero’s Journey’ shows how a character is able to transform throughout a story, journeying into the ‘abyss’ in order to change. This narrative structure appeals to so many as it is the vehicle in which everyone lives. Everyone journeys from the known (Home, Family etc) to the unknown (Work, Stress, Challenges) in order to grow as individuals. The Simpsons was able to follow this architype of story, which in turn was able to resonate with so many people. Groening’s (1997) thought that the humour should always be grounded in the ‘real world’. Realism in postmodern thought is “the representation of reality”
