GENDER AND TELEVISION
SITUATION COMEDY
British and/or U.S. TV Sitcoms
OCR Specification
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Representation of the construction of gender in
characters; construction of characters by appearance
and dialogue; the character’s function in the themes
and narratives of the programmes; stereotypes and
archetypes; casting issues; characters’ values and
beliefs and how they are positioned by the narrative
and preferred reading of the programme
Representation -Definitions
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The process by which a media text represents an idea,
issue or event to us.
1. The Media do not PRESENT reality they REPRESENT it.
2. The media only represent things AFTER they have
occurred.
How Representations Work
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1. A Representation is composed of repeated
elements.
2. We are invited to identify with or recognise the
representation.
3. The media makes categories of people, events or
ideas.
4. Representations contain a point of view.
5. Representations have mode of address.
Stereotypes (1)
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A simplified and highly judgemental type of
representation.
E.G. The tough loner cop who is unmanageable by
those in command.
Or. The long suffering wife/house keeper.
Ideology and Representation
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“the media serve the interests of the state and
corporate power; which are closely inter-linked,
framing their reporting and analysis in a manner
supportive of established privilege and limiting
debate accordingly.”
Noam Chomsky
Questioning Representations
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Who made it?
When was it made?
Where was it made?
What are its
social/political/ cultural
origins?
What are its purposes?
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Who benefits from the
representation or whose
point of view does it
support?
Who does not benefit?
Who or what is not
shown?
Exercise (representation)
1. Dress up as a well known stereotype and take a
photograph of yourself. Repeat till you have a
portfolio of at least four images.
2. Write notes explaining each stereotype and its
defining features. Point out where you have seen this
stereotype before.
Construction of Gender
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Survey the way Men and Women are represented in a number
of Sitcoms form 1960’s to now.
Are there patterns of change?
Study theorists such as Giddens and Butler to test empirical
research.
Construction of Gender http://www.theory.org.uk
See TV Sitcom and Gender Representation.doc
Construction of Characters
Appearance
Study costume, hairstyle, movement
Interactivity with other characters
 Dialogue
Who has the comedy lines?
Who is the feed?
Who wrote this series (M/F)
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Themes and Narrative
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Themes
Central ideas repeated in series.
Narrative
See http:/www.wsu.edu:8080/~taflinge/sitcom.html
Stereotypes and Archetypes
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Study Major Characters – to what extent are they
stereotypical? – do they develop? Are they built on
a complex narrative foundation?
Minor characters – are they more likely to be
stereotypical.
Casting Issues
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Links with Institution and the profitability of the
shows.
Are the leading performers celebrities / comedians?
Values and Beliefs
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Key Issues here are the effects of Representation on
the Audience.
Social and Historical factors important
i.e. Media Effects Theory.
Links to Digital Brain - Audience
Preferred Reading
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A term coined by Stuart Hall
Every Media author has a “preferred meaning “
which he/she hopes the Audience will use.
Theories of Active Audience allow audience to have
power to negotiate meaning or reject the preferred
reading of the author.
See