Exploring Satire with The Simpsons

The Simpsons does attack social institutions and reveal flaws. There is more emphasis on the social criticism itself than a call to action, as in almost all satirical entertainment aside from documentaries, because a direct "call to action" within a comedy would fall flat.

I teach a course on Satire & Humor in America wherein we define satire as "the use of irony, derision, or wit to attack a social institution; it reveals flaws and intends to move the reader/viewer/listener to action." I would argue that there is no such intention on the part of The Simpsons. It's simply a parody and caricature. If it results in any sort of viewer action meant to change a social institution, it's purely accidental.