SATIRICAL ANALYSIS OF
FAMILY GUY
BY STEWART FORD
WHAT IS FAMILY GUY?
• An American satirical adult animated sitcom
created by Seth MacFarlane
CHARACTERS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Peter
Lois
Stewie
Joe
Cleveland
Quagmire
Meg
PETER
•
•
•
•
Worker of the family
Fat
Stupid
Always getting the family into trouble
LOIS
•
•
•
•
Mother of the family
Sits on the extremes of housewife and seductress
Smart
Saves the family from catastrophes
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdTObaLq_vg
STEWIE
•
•
•
•
Baby
Smarter than everyone else
Role reversal
Homosexual
JOE
• “Tough guy” in the show
• Ironic because he has a disability
CLEVELAND
• African American counterpart to Peter’s family
• Shows how much the families are the same even
though they have a different culture
QUAGMIRE
• “Player” in the show
• Ironic because throughout the series you find out
that he has feelings
MEG
• “Not attractive” daughter in the show
• Ironic because her voice is Mila Kunis
• Goes on a lot of dates even though she is
considered “not attractive” and “annoying” by
everyone in the show
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
• The characters Brian and Lois use ethos
• “This can involve "moral competence" only; Aristotle
however broadens the concept to include
expertise and knowledge.” [Wikipedia]
• Brian and Lois have the most credibility because
they are the most knowledgable
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
• “Pathos represents an appeal to the audience's
emotions” [Wikipedia]
• The show appeals to pathos by placing current
events and past events into the shows to have
people respond with an emotional appeal.
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
• “The use of logos is called a "logical appeal.“” [Dr.
Williams, USC]
• There are not many logical appeals throughout the
show
• Occasionally characters come to a conclusion at
the end of an episode that everyone already knew
SOURCES
• http://georgehwilliams.pbworks.com/w/page/1426
6873/Ethos-Pathos-Logos-The-3-Rhetorical-Appeals
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathos
• http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/familyguy/images/29507418/title/stewie-photo
• http://collider.com/comic-con-family-guy/
• http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip
/seth-macfarlane-outs-baby-stewie-family-guy-gaymacfarlane-playboy-interview-article-1.395390