Screengrab: Instagram/Scenic_Simpsons
It's been an emotional few days. First, there was the dark and surreal state pageantry of Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday, and then the direct counterpunch of the massively inspiring Women's March demonstrations on Saturday. It was probably the largest affective shot-chaser of my life, and it's left me a bit dizzy.It's in times like these that I turn to The Simpsons for a break. And in particular, to a Social Media Account of Particular Importance called Scenic_Simpsons. I share this with you now because I think we could all use it.With a scant 149 posts at the time of writing and just a few thousand followers, the account posts strikingly well-composed interiors and landscapes—usually without any characters in the frame—from The Simpsons. Thanks in part, I'm sure, to the subtle intellectualism of the show's early period and partly because of the curation, Scenic_Simpsons evokes the silently screaming stillness of Todd Haynes's Safe, or Terrence Malick's Badlands.It's also worth noting for real heads out there that all (or most) of the screencaps come from the "golden age" of The Simpsons, referred to as such not just for the writing, but for its look, thanks to people like animator David Silverman and colorist Larry Field. The exact timeframe for this golden age is pretty much an individual preference, but from seasons one to 10 the animation has a distinctly organic quality to it with thick outlines and bright colours.The person behind the account didn't respond to my entreaties to gab about a show I'm assuming we both love, but regardless, it's an excellent way to spend an hour. I recommend some appropriately contemplative musical accompaniment.Get six of our favorite Motherboard stories every day by signing up for our newsletter.