"Cartoons don't have any deep meaning...": "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" address American culture, imperialism and the 'shrinking globe'.

Animation, both in film and on television, has long been regarded as a playful, subversive medium that is free to communicate countercultural messages, as it is not bound by the use of tangible sets and cinematographic conventions associated with live-action productions. Though many countries around the world have experimented with animation, it is considered to be indigenous to the United States, and American animation has a longstanding tradition of questioning the dominant sociopolitical ideologies that guide American citizens, both at home and abroad. This thesis examines Fox's animated television sitcoms, The Simpsons (1989-present) and King of the hill (1997-present) and discusses the satirical strategies (both narrative and visual) used in these series to make viewers aware of the difficulties that arise when we try to define 'American culture' in an increasingly global world. Factors that complicate attempts to name general characteristics and symbols that 'sum up' America and the American way of life, such as regionalism, immigration, and globalization, are explored in detail as they are represented and negotiated in these popular series.