Rhetorical Analysis Of The Problem With Popplers

The Futurama episode entitled “The Problem with Popplers” (2000) satirically pokes at meat-eating, while openly mocking animal rights protestors in the face of their ignorant compassion. And while targeting the hypocrisy that exists within modern society and presenting the far too common avarice of corporations and businesses, the episode never truly lets the audience get comfortable. That being said, a general feeling of moral ambiguity underlies the episode. And without becoming unpalatable and unenjoyable, the content reaches the brink of legitimate trepidation, while maintaining cunning social commentary and foolishness. Therefore, the audience most likely consists of young adults and adults, sci-fi fans, and those

A potential takeaway from the episode to be careful of what one eats is exemplified by the protagonist, Leela. After she devours the seemingly delicious alien offspring, she comes to the atrocious realization that popplers are sentient beings. And although the episode doesn’t outwardly reinforce the graveness of this matter, it doesn’t conceal the eeriness of it either, which contributes to the humorous tone of the episode. This is shown when Leela ironically discovers that popplers are intelligent beings, yet still licks the crumbs off of her fingers right after. Another rhetorical technique involved in the episode is understatement. The characters go about their lives so nonchalantly and it is obvious that they blindly comply with what society deems acceptable. Because audience members live in a society with such close resemblance to the fictional one presented, it is fascinating to be an observer from the outside looking in.

Not only do they enhance satire, but they engage audience members by creating an element of cuteness in the midst of the episode’s horror. Also, by Linda saying she’ll have to “bleep” the language, the episode touches upon media censorship and what is regarded as socially acceptable. For example, the characters use the media to broadcast the hippie being eaten, literally a live murder, but God forbid people hear the word “ca-ca.” In fact, the media even uses this opportunity to advertise Fishy Joe’s new inhumane product, "fresh squeezed walrus" juice, which is quite fishy alright! Furthermore, by Gilman saying “If these gutter-mouthed creatures are so smart, why don't they defend themselves?” it shows that intelligence may simply be the ability to defend oneself in the face of danger, or in other words survival of the fittest. It’s tragically hilarious to witness a reflection of modern society, magnified. Furthermore, the final scene with the staff sitting around the dinner table is a real eye opener, posing the question: How intelligent does something have to be before it’s okay to eat it? When Farnsworth toasts to Leela saying “She showed us it's wrong to eat certain things,” it’s almost impossible not to laugh. The emphasis in this sentence is really on “certain things.” This scene is the perfect example