Laughing Matters Ch. 11-12 Dr. Kristen Landreville Laughing Matters Ch. 11 / Peter L. Francia • Arguments: • • • • TV can reflect traditional or progressive views Fictional TV characters are influential Average US household TV viewing = 8 hours/day (2004-2005) Situational comedies (sitcoms) are battleground for culture war • How much TV do you watch? • Central Question: • Does political orientation affect watch sitcoms we watch? 1950s – early 1960s • Nuclear family • White, suburban, middle-class settings • Reinforce gender roles • Women as feminine housewife • Men as masculine breadwinner • I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver • Example: I Love Lucy and Gender Roles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_uvsKpXszs&p=CA3265D 8BA311281&playnext=1&index=21 Mid 1960s – 1970s • Civil rights and women’s rights movements • Counterculture • Open lifestyle to sex, drugs, and politics • Taboo topics now confronted • Racism, bigotry, sexism, rape, religion, homosexuality, abortion • African-Americans now featured • Reinforce stereotypes? Good Times example: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_xv-lufi5w • • • • Family structure and income level now diverse All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Good Times Example: All in the Family and Homosexuality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dKpHtc9F9M 1980s • Backlash against late 1960s and 1970s • Mix of traditional and progressive • Less socio-political plots, avoid hot-topics (e.g., AIDS) • Wives as strong and equal to husbands • The Cosby Show, Family Ties 1990s • Appearance of the dysfunctional family • Address socio-political topics • Single parenthood, alcoholism, spousal abuse • Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Ellen, Married with Children, The Simpsons 2000s • Continued battleground for culture war • Republicans and Democrats differ • Bush voters more likely to view: • Everybody Loves Raymond • Republicans enjoy Everybody Loves Raymond the most • Kerry voters more likely to view: • Desperate Housewives, Sex & The City, Will & Grace, The Bernie Mac Show, Girlfriends, The Simpsons • Democrats enjoy Will & Grace the most • Non-comedy shows are equally watched and enjoyed • Sitcoms are unique • What about today? What TV shows do you think reflect… • Obama-voters / Democrats / Liberals • McCain-voters / Republicans / Conservatives • 2 Columns on Chalkboard • List sitcoms • We’ll discuss your reasons. Laughing Matters Ch. 12 / N. Guehlstorf, L. Hallstrom, & J. Morris • Arguments • Longest-running sitcom and animated series • Entertains many different audiences • Its comedy: 1. Mocks elites and political institutions 2. Targets the American public 3. Refers to obscure political events • Show criticizes the uninformed/disengaged public more harshly than elites • How often do you watch The Simpsons? • Elected officials are corrupt (e.g., Mayor Quimby) • Media is self-obsessed (e.g., News Anchor Kent Brockman) • http://www.hulu.com/watch/28740/the-simpsons-eye-on-springfield • Bureaucrats are incompetent (e.g., DMV) • Political institutions are ineffectual (e.g., Police Chief Wiggam) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ • Identifies political shortcomings of US citizens • • • • Ignorant of foreign cultures Complacent with political corruption Attraction to image and sensationalist politics Lack of political sophistication leaves public open to pandering by elites • Highlights tendency toward irrational mob rule • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGGU-8gGiaE • This appears more frequently and with more venom. • Uses obscure political events for humor • Example: “I still like Ike” sign held by Homer Simpson’s dad. • Humor appears at random • Appeals to politically and historically sophisticated viewers • Attacks all political persuasions • Republicans: “We’re pure evil.” • Democrats: “We can’t govern. We hate life and ourselves.” • Encourages political and social self-evaluation • Encourages 3rd parties and new platforms