A growing body of scholarship focuses on the development and action of social justice allies, who work within formal and informal networks to fight oppression and build social justice. Created by Jim Henson in the 1950s, the Muppets, in all their heterogeneous, zany wisdom, have a lot to teach us about social justice allies. Applying queer theory and social justice theories, this paper explores the many ways the Muppets can enrich our understanding of social justice allies and offer us tools for building rich ally networks. Though not without their own factions and squabbles, the Muppets offer important lessons about cooperation among diverse individuals, celebration of difference, collaboration to accomplish challenging goals, and the value of metanarrative; they can also inspire us to not take ourselves too seriously, even as we tackle serious issues. Scholar Ellen M. Broido asserts that self-confidence, combined with critical self-reflection, is vital to social justice ally development. Indeed, the Muppets have a unique blend of audacity and ability to critique themselves. In addition, by frequently delving into the absurd and the impossible, the Muppets remind us of the power of our imaginations to open up new possibilities. In their many incarnations throughout (and after) Jim Henson’s life, the Muppets provide members of campus communities with important insights as we build social justice ally networks. The Muppets continue to be “sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational,” not only providing joy to generations of viewers, but also helping us seek positive change in our communities.
About the presenterDaisy Lantz Breneman
Daisy L. Breneman advises and teaches in the Justice Studies department, and co-coordinates the Disability Studies minor, at James Madison University.