الفهرس 
Theoretical Background & Review of LiteratureOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The major aim of this research study is to examine the use of connotation and denotation in postmodern animation through semiotic analysis of texts, characters, colours, gestures in order to investigate the socio-cultural aspects of the American society in some episodes of the American animated sitcom, The Simpsons, within the theoretical framework of postmodernist techniques as well as the multimodal approach. This series is selected for being the longest-running American sitcom; moreover, it depicts the life of the typical American middle class family, represented by the Simpson family. The major research questions that this study attempts to answer are: to what extent does the semiotic approach assist with reading between the lines of The Simpsons? How do media mirror the sociocultural aspects of the society? The data collected comprise some episodes of seasons (28) and (29) of the series. The main results of the study can be summed up in the following points: first, the American people are much more consuming than producing; the culture of consumerism is pervading the society, second, people are indifferent to the environmental issues around them, third, capitalism prevails the American society; there is a spacious gap between the middle class and the wealthy class, forth, women take on much duties and responsibilities than men do; thus they become much more independent than before, finally, political leaders are portrayed as corrupt, selfish and uncaring about the society problems.