Junior Campers from Hell

by Julie Wroblewski

Plot Synopsis:

In the confusion of a squishy-induced sugar high, Bart joins the Junior Campers (a.k.a. the dorks). Initially he hates it, but then he discovers that they get to play with knives . . . Meanwhile, the state of his relationship with Homer is again in a shambles. Out of spite, Homer agrees to go on the Junior Camper rafting trip only to cause his boat to be lost at sea. He then redeems himself and wins Bart's love and respect (at least temporarily) by locating a Krustyburger store on an offshore oil rig and leading them to it.

Speech and Writing, Fathers and Sons

Homer begins the episode with an example of the limitations of communication. He wants a peanut that rolled under the couch, but instead finds twenty dollars. He engages in a discourse with his brain, which tries to explain to him how "money can be changed for goods and services." When Homer's brain must resort to speech in order to describe ideas, they become clearer to Homer, thus supporting the speech/writing dichotomy. Homer, as the father, relies heavily on verbal communication. He later ridicules Bart for studying the knife safety handbook, shouting "Egghead likes his booky-book," and asks "How was jerk practice, boy?" and engages in another direct discourse with his own brain. Homer thus displays his rejection of both the written word (the book), and of Bart's activities as son (by refusing to call him anything other than "boy").

Bart shows his connection to writing at the very beginning of the episode by writing "I will not fake my way through life." He also helps convince Milhouse to go with him on the squishy spree, leading to Milhouse's getting a dirty word shaved into the back of his head, and then shaved bald by Principal Skinner. He resents Homer's intrusion onto his Camper activities. His insistence on calling Homer "Homer" rather than "Dad" emphasizes their separation, and even a sort of antagonism.

Yet, to assume that Homer completely opposes Bart sets up a false binary opposition. Homer, speech, and the paternal role do not take a superior role to Bart, writing, and being a son. His childish taunts certain characteristics of what should be his "opposing" role. Furthermore, the underlying issue of the entire episode is the quality of the father/son relationship. Homer is a screw-up, both at rafting and at his fatherly role. Bart is often able to show him up; for example, he uses his Junior Camper skills to set wild-animal traps for Homer.

The real focus of the episode is the love between Homer and Bart and the quality of their relationship. In true Derrridean fashion, these "centers" are never actually mentioned specifically in the show. The father and son finally acknowledge the traditional parts of their relationship, but still manage to show a meeting of the minds. Bart eventually needs Homer to save their raft, and Homer assumes a pseudo-traditional father role when he gives Bart the knife he stole from another rafter. They will never be completely unlike or separate from each other.

If you would like to hear about the soapbox derby episode, click here.

To return to the menu of student web projects, click here.