3.4 | Understand the relationship between a genre and society

Politics – Republican vs. Democrat Family Unit – Nuclear / Dysfunction / Divorce / Pseudo Civil Rights – Feminism / Racism Generations – generation gap / Baby Boomers / Gen X / Gen Y Television – broadcasting / fragmented and niche markets / narrowcasting / internet Sex and Sexuality – social discourse / female empowerment / homosexuality The Future – changing technology / internet-based sitcoms / Obama / societal change Post-Modernism – re-writing the rules / rejection of tradition / open acceptance

Families watching “families” Familiar characters and situations Appeal – Common to society, grown up with them Humour as a tool for social engineering Sitcoms are common to each decade – TV staple Old sitcoms are social time capsules – a window into a different time/era on social level.

US society sees change through non-confrontational nature of humour – catching more flies with honey than vinegar. Removed expectation of fulfilment of American Dream – through the latter decades, the sitcom assures US society that it’s okay to NOT fit the American Dream. Society influenced political/social content – Relevant and reflective of era. Roles – Catharsis \ Counselling \ Couching \ Comfort Food

The 60s – Magi-com The 70s – Sex-com The 80s – Family-com The 90s – Single-com The 00s – Me-com

The comic trap – the family unit in whatever form. The fish out of water – most often women though later men. Each struggling to find their place in society amidst social change and upheaval. The naive fool – typically men who assume traditional patriarchal structures of social rule and family dynamics. The acerbic servant – the ‘other’ voice who offers ‘outside’ context. The Running Joke – recurring humorous ideas often satirising outmoded views and ideas of social behaviour, very audience inclusive. Humour – slapstick, one-liners, satire, punch-line, conflict, juxtaposition

Establish American Dream as cornerstone of Post WWII US society The move to suburbia Introduce the housewife as the post Rosie the Riveter ideal for women – can link to post-Noir study well. 1950’s Father Knows Best – taste of early sitcoms.

Bewitched (1964 – 1972) Bewitched (1964 – 1972) I Dream of Jeannie I Dream of Jeannie The Munsters The Munsters The Addams Family The Addams Family My Favourite Martian My Favourite Martian Mr. Ed Mr. Ed

The American Dream of white suburban middle class (Comic Trap) The American Dream of white suburban middle class (Comic Trap) Metaphor of witch as modern woman (Fish out of Water) Metaphor of witch as modern woman (Fish out of Water) Traditional patriarchal man/husband (Naive Fool) Traditional patriarchal man/husband (Naive Fool)

Soap ( ) All in the Family The Mary Tyler Moore Show The Jeffersons Welcome back, Kotter. One Day at a Time

Class differences evident between the Tates (upper-class) and the Campbells (middle-class) for the first time in a sitcom (Comic Trap) Dysfunction and conflict prime source of humour Race and sex openly discussed – development of innuendo as a sitcom staple.

Kate and Allie ( ) Designing Women Golden Girls The Cosby Show Roseanne Growing Pains Family Ties

Traditional family sitcoms harked back to a “Father Knows Best” era with little regard to class or gender conflict. Though many Americans struggled with the impact divorce had on their lives (comic trap) Women especially as the American Dream had not equipped them well for single life after divorce.

Friends ( ) Seinfeld Frazier Caroline in the City Will and Grace Ellen

Rachel is the original fish out of water – appearing in the first episode as a dripping wet bride. The pseudo family becomes the comic trap. Male and female relationships are more equal in sitcoms and society Sex and sexuality is open for discussion

Entourage (2004  ) The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother Sex and the City Two and a Half Men Scrubs My Name is Earl

The family is now fragmented to the viewer’s own choice and experience of family and TV access. All forms of family exist and are treated with the same sense of humour, respect and accessibility. There is potential backlash with the advent of the male- com.

Television Modern Family Cougar Town The United States of Tara The Internet Red vs. Blue The Guild