The Simpsons is well-known for its humorous take on various aspects of popular culture, whether it's to ridicule personality archetypes or make clever allusions to make its episodes seem more intriguing. Some episodes even include subtle references to historic events, movies, and even art.
These instances are eagerly discovered and shared by the fans of the show. One such fan, known as Criminalsimpsons on Twitter, has compiled numerous side-by-side comparisons of these references with their original inspirations.
In this post, we have gathered The Simpsons' recreation of historic photographs, and invite you to explore more of these fascinating references on Criminalsimpsons' Twitter page.
Bored Panda got in touch with Ramón, the creator of these comparisons, to learn more about him and his fascination with The Simpsons.
Ramón, a 24-year-old from Argentina, in addition to the Simpsons, is a big fan of football and movies, "but I guess the Simpsons occupy 90% of my brain now," shared Ramón.
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#1 An Iconic Scene From Woodstock In 1969
A historic photo taken by Burk Uzzle shows a man hugging a woman at the Woodstock festival in 1969.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
We were wondering how this idea of creating exclusively Simpsons content came to be. Ramón shared: “the idea of creating Criminalsimpsons is actually not very original or extravagant, haha. I’ve always been a part of Simpsons fan groups both on Facebook and other social networks, and I saw that something very interesting was brewing on Instagram. People were creating very particular and specific Simpsons appreciation accounts, and I loved the idea. There were accounts exclusive to landscapes in The Simpsons, others just showing the different dishes from the show, and even one account that only posted photos of Homer wearing hats. I loved the idea of covering something as big as The Simpsons from a single point of view. In this way it occurred to me, since I’m a big fan of movies about the mafia and the criminal world, to unite these two topics. This is how Criminalsimpsons was born.”
#2 Ringo, Paul, George, John (And Yoko) During Recording Of "Let It Be", 1969
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#3 President Richard Nixon And Elvis Presley Shake Hands In The White House On Dec. 21, 1970
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
To find these comparisons, Ramón had to go through each and every episode very diligently. He shared his experience of discovering these hidden gems: “I look for everything related to references to art, cinema, or history directly from the source, either by looking in the scripts of every episode or in the comments made by the writers on the DVDs. I also ask other people in the community who know a lot about those particular topics, even though The Simpsons was released over 30 years ago, there are always hidden references and other interesting things that are worth investigating.”
#4 Cbs News Anchor Walter Cronkite Reports That President John F. Kennedy Was Assassinated In Dallas On Nov. 22, 1963
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#5 Betty Grable’s Famous Pin-Up. Photographed By Frank Powolny, 1943
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
To find all these images and constantly share The Simpsons' content, you truly have to be invested in the show. Therefore, we were wondering when Ramón’s appreciation started. He shared: “the truth is that I’m a fan from the first time I saw them when I was 6 years old. Over time, like everyone, I changed my tastes, but the Simpsons always accompanied me. In relation to that, I also changed my favorite character, but I think the one I like the most is Lionel Hutz (the lawyer).”
#6 The Weeping Frenchman, 1940
French people staring and waving at the French Army's remaining troops leaving metropolitan France at Marseilles harbor, 1940.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#7 Detective James R. Leavelle, Left, Glowered As Jack Ruby Shot Lee Harvey Oswald At A Police Station Basement In Dallas On Nov. 24, 1963
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
Ramón already has a big following of 223K on Instagram and almost 29K on Twitter. We asked him whether he had ever imagined his social media channels becoming so popular.
“I never imagined that I would have such a reach and have such a large community. I’m very happy and grateful. I think that there is more than the numbers (likes, followers, etc.), that the truth is something a bit empty and fictitious. The most interesting and enriching thing is being able to talk with people with the same interests throughout the world. That is what most I’m fascinated by this account, being able to connect with different people that The Simpsons goes through their lives in different ways,” shared Ramón.
#8 V-J Day In Times Square, A Photograph By Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1945
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#9 Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Sworn In As President Following The Assassination Of John F Kennedy November 22 1963
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#10 Muhammad Ali And Sonny Liston's 1965 World Heavyweight Fight
Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#11 "Dewey Defeats Truman," St. Louis, November 4, 1948
A jubilant Harry Truman held up a Chicago newspaper emblazoned with the (erroneous) headline, "Dewey defeats Truman," st. Louis, November 4, 1948.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#12 The Fall Of Saigon, 1975
An air America helicopter crew member helps evacuees up a ladder on the roof of 18 Gia long st. In Saigon on April 29, 1975, shortly before the city fell to advancing north Vietnamese troops the fall of Saigon.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#13 Republican Iberian Federation Of Libertarian Youth (Fijl) Soldier, During The Battle Of Cerro Muriano In The Spanish Civil War. Photographed By Robert Capa, 1936
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#14 The Elvis '68 Comeback Special
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#15 The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937
The german passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at the naval air station, Lakehurst.
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#16 Infamous Handbill Circulated On November 21, 1963 In Dallas, Texas, One Day Before John F. Kennedy Visited The City And Was Assassinated
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#17 Sean Penn Throwing A Punch At Photographer Vinnie Zuffante, New York, 1986
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
#18 Loch Ness Monster: “Surgeon's Photograph”, 1934
Image credits: Criminalsimpsons
