Super Safi’s Monday Morning Musings 113 – Robert Mapplethorpe

WARNING: The Simpsons episode discussed in this Musings contains themes of an adult nature and the musings itself contains themes of an adult nature. Reader discretion is advised.

Morning Musically-Minded, Medically-Minded, Masticators!

(Today’s post is sponsored by the letter “M”)

Over the past 600+ episodes, The Simpsons has taken us on an amazing journey involving music, science, and food to name a few concepts.

And what better way to start your week, than by discussing some of these concepts Monday morning?

So let’s get started this week by talking about a famous photographer.

WARNING: The Simpsons episode discussed in this Musings contains themes of an adult nature and the musings itself contains themes of an adult nature. Reader discretion is advised.

WARNING: The Simpsons episode discussed in this Musings contains themes of an adult nature and the musings itself contains themes of an adult nature. Reader discretion is advised.

In the one hundredth and thirteenth episode of The Simpsons, Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy (Season 06, Episode 10), Homer and Marge are having a hard time connecting in the bedroom, whether due to movies on TV or due to Bart interrupting them.

Marge: “Homer, wake up! Wake up!”
Homer: “Wha?”
Marge: “We need to talk about the…marital difficulties we’ve been having lately.”
Homer: “Marge, there’s just too much pressure, what with my job, the kids, traffic snarls, political strife at home and abroad. But I promise you, the second all those things go away, we’ll have sex.”
Marge: “I simply can’t wait that long. Maybe we should get some help… how about a book?”
Homer, excited: “Ooh, OK!”
Marge: “A tasteful book.”
Homer, unexcited: “Oh, all right.”

So they head to the bookstore where Bart and Lisa surprise Homer and Marge.

Bart: “Hi, guys. Whatcha lookin’ at?”
Homer and Marge fumble books
Marge: “Um…I’m just reading up on — [“Tanks of the Third Reich”] —
artillery.”
Homer: “Yes, and I’m pursuing my interest in — [“Mapplethorpe”] — aah!”

Marge is busy reading up on artillery.

While Homer is checking out photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.

While the books don’t help, Homer and Marge find a solution courtesy Grampa’s magic tonic.

So Homer and Grampa go into business providing their tonic to the masses.

But have you ever wondered who Robert Mapplethorpe is?

WARNING: The Simpsons episode discussed in this Musings contains themes of an adult nature and the musings itself contains themes of an adult nature. Reader discretion is advised.

Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe was an American photographer, best known for his black-and-white photographs. His work featured an array of subjects, including celebrity portraits, male and female nudes, self-portraits, and still-life images.

Robert Mapplethorpe (November 4, 1946 – March 9, 1989)

His most controversial works documented and examined the gay male BDSM subculture of New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

A 1989 exhibition of Robert’s work, titled “Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Moment“, sparked massive debate in the United States. The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., had agreed to be one of the host museums for the tour. The hierarchy of the Corcoran and several members of the United States Congress were upset when the works were revealed to them, due to the homoerotic and sadomasochistic themes of some of the work. Conservative and religious organizations such as the American Family Association vocally opposed public funding for art of this nature.

Robert died at the age of 42 due to complications from HIV/AIDS in a Boston hospital on March 9, 1989. His body was cremated. His ashes are interred at St. John’s Cemetery, Queens in New York City, at his mother’s grave-site.

Now that we’ve learned more about Robert Mapplethorpe, be sure to come back next week when we continue our Monday morning musings with the next episode of The Simpsons.

Did you remember this episode? What’s your favourite Marge and Homer relationship scene? What’s your favourite Grampa Simpsons moment? Sound off in the comments below. You know we love hearing from you.