Week 2 Blog Post: George Meyer Simpsons Script Files

The collection presented on writer and producer George Meyer consists of script files for his long-running animated television show, The Simpsons. The script files consist of story notes, outlines, and/or various drafts for seasons two to six of the show dated from 1990 to 2004, as written or co-authored by Meyer.

The container list begins with Censor Notes which provides context and narrative into some of the free speech restrictions and limitations Meyer and his fellow writers had to work around. However, the notes are based from 1989-1996, and many policy and legal changes have occurred since the time, especially due to the dot-com bubble and Internet revolution. To create an effective narrative, these notes would need to be cross analyzed with the scripts both before and after this time frame to discuss any significant changes in content due to censorship.

Next, the Character Design Guide provides animation design guidelines including drawings of characters, situations, objects and logos, along with copyright information. Based on this, one can write an interesting narrative on the number and variety of styles and tools used in creating the animations per category along with whether others can copy the same techniques. However, one cannot conjecture any sort of background as to how these designs were chosen, such as the meaning behind the unique yellow caricatures and who all were involved in this creation (Was Meyer’s?).

The third additional file is the Episode Guide and Storylines reference for seasons 1-9 which includes a general character fact sheet and synopses of each episode along with a character cast list. Since the rest of the script files are focused around Meyer’s time from seasons 2 to 6, this reference guide is particularly important in creating a narrative of how Meyer’s focus for the show was similar or different than the rest. One can point out the general plotline and themes discussed and specific characters introduced or eliminated during seasons 2 to 6, then comparing these to the other seasons not written by Meyer. It’d be interesting to note the transition and change in the plot story throughout the years as different producers and writers are involved. However, in doing so, one will have to look to outside sources to Meyer’s background to understand motivations and inspirations behind Meyer’s plot and character choices as compared to the others.

Lastly, the rest and the bulk of the collection includes the script files, including story notes, outlines, and/or various drafts of scripts for seasons two through six, written or co-authored by Meyer. These files are crucial in creating a narrative highlighting the collaborative and working process of writing a tv show from its first draft to final draft. Story notes and outlines allow a narrator to delve into the authors’ thought process as well as help identify which ideas in particular were by Meyer as opposed to the other collaborators. Additionally, a narrator can mark any significant contributions, tones and themes presented overall throughout the scripts. However, the notes I assume are brief and insufficient evidence to create a full narrative on the motivations and influences behind the plotlines- crucial aspects to consider when evaluating Meyer’s career with the show.

Overall, the collection provided would shape an interesting narrative on the collaborative process of editing and revising along with the details and tools needed in piecing together to create the animations, or presentation. However, the collection provides few solid evidence to build any narrative based on the reasoning or meaning behind the storyline and characters. I found it interesting to note that the script files were organized by alphabetical order as opposed to chronologically by episode. By doing so, I believe the archivists makes the narrator focus more on the contribution of each individual script and overall commonalities in the process rather than allowing for comparisons and connections to be made in the storyline and structure across seasons.