Random Thoughts on The Simpsons Stamps
You may’ve noticed that there are now Simpsons stamps. Finally, a Simpsons-related item that I didn’t own … which gave rise to an odd situation, as I actually ended up buying something Simpsons related (to date, almost everything has been given to me, often in triplicate, by well-meaning people trying to figure out what would make a suitable gift).
I must say, though, that I’m not impressed. The artwork may well be Groening, but Homer doesn’t look like the Homer I know. Or, rather, he looks like Homer does when I try to draw him, not when one of the show’s excellent animators does it.
All the same, as I stood in the long line at the post office on Lexington Ave. waiting to buy them, my mind wandered to how I would use them, or, rather, to how I would use Homer stamps versus Lisa stamps versus Maggie stamps, etc. Extrapolating, I’d love to know how anyone who owns the stamps uses them — what meanings might they tell us about how people relate to The Simpsons. While this is hypothetical research, and, especially given some (welcome) privacy laws regarding mail, impossible research, but pondering what it could unearth gestures further to the importance of paratexts, and to the riches that lie beneath exerted study of paratexts and their use.
I just used a whole pack of these yesterday to send some thank you notes. I’m not sure what I can say about my choice to use the Simpsons stamps in general means, but I did find myself choosing specific Simpsons stamps for specific people. Since my mother is baby crazy with Colleen’s pregnancy, for example, I consciously chose the Maggie stamp for her. People I thought were particularly brainy, I sent the Lisa stamp, etc.
Relatedly, I had a bunch of old 41 cent Marvel superhero stamps that I was still using until recently, and I chose my stamps based on the job the mail needed to get done. In sending in my acceptance letter to UNT, for example, I knew I had to trust the job to a hero I really respected. Save Spider-woman to pay a utility bill or something.
no offense to Spider-woman fans of course–I’ve just never read her books.
“New”is a very discussed concept. Untill when is something new? and how long? as long as no news about it are coming then we have something new. I mean, new mobiles aren´t a new technology unless they make something different as the previous model.
Old theater plays are new as long as they make something different and new in the new version, there we habe a new play.
Derek, I did the same last Christmas! I sent alle the Christmas cards with different simple stamps. People enjoed a lot my idea! And they were obvioulsy chosen for specic people!
Really good stamps.
I am totally crazy of simpsons. It is so cool and so interesting.
I have watched the first twenty season three times. I am laughing a lot in front of them.
Your article is really good. Everything which speak of simpsosn is cool.
It´s true. For what I can see on the pictures here (such cool stuff has not reached Europe) there´s something wrong in their eyes..Anyway I like the one with parts of the 4 heads.
As for the use people do, I cannot help you : (
Yes, they look a bit strange! Seems like the brush is a lot bigger than usual in these drawings …
Great stamps. Very interesting post, every afternoon I watch the Simpsons and it is never boring.
Homer looks on this stamps like he looks in the first seasons.
Maybe they watched one of the first Simpsons seasons when they designed the stamps.