Evaluation Essays: Thesis Statements

As a brilliantly aware satire, Matt Groening’s The Simpsons has effectively stirred different emotions from different factions of the culturally deadened American populace, and for this alone, it should be recognized as “quality programming.”

At a time when it seems that society is being destroyed by its own designs, it is good to be able to hold up a mirror that shows us the extent of our problems. Neither escapist nor preachy, The Simpsons provides such a satiric mirror, a metaphoric reflection of our dissolving social foundation. More than that, The Simpsons is therapeutic: to be able to laugh in the face of such problems is the ultimate catharsis.

At first and final glance, Poltergeist is simply a riveting demonstration of a movie’s power to terrify. It creates honest thrills within the confines of a PG rating, reaching for shock effects and the forced suspension of disbelief throughout the movie.

Unlike most horror flicks, Poltergeist works! Its success is due to excellent characters, music, and special effects -- and to the fact that the story stays within the bounds of believability.

With its characters, music, and special effects, and its clearly distinguished boundaries of belief, Poltergeist is able to capture its audience with its unique thrills, allowing viewers to link their most inner-locked fears to those on the screen. Poltergeist: It knows what scares you!