Controversy Surfaces Towards Modern-day Sitcoms

1912 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Satire in today's contemporary culture

What goes through your mind when you watch a little kid viciously beat up the family dog? Did you get a disturbing image? Well, in an episode of Family Guy Stewie brutally beats Bryan, the family dog, because the dog didn’t pay him back. This is a very outrageous thing for a baby to do, and more so very inappropriate. Well, with today’s society being more exposed and tolerant to certain contents about many diverse topics, the significant matter used as entertainment in many comedies is becoming more controversial day by day. Popular T.V shows such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park are regularly showing that jokes concentrating on risqué topics such as abortion, religion, drug abuse, racism and even the topic of incapacities are more entertaining. Thus, despite the fact some watchers view these shows in fright, many of them are becoming comfortable and accepting them socially. Comedy isn’t what it used to be in the past; in fact, today comedy is a way to ridicule the society, and the people living in it. Therefore, posing the question, are modern-day comedy sitcoms too controversial?

This show is often criticized as being too controversial and going too far with jokes. It is an American animated sitcom, Family Guy, which has been the target of numerous complaints concerning taste and indecency over the past several years. Parents Television Council (PTC) has expressed moral opposition to the series, and filed complaints with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Family Guy has also been criticized by other animated sitcoms such as, South Park and The Simpsons. Even though, this show has been cancelled twice, it still managed to make its way back on Fox. This show is about a so-called normal family, and their ever...

... middle of paper ...

...he racy subjects that are discussed such as religion, race, abortion, and many more are too provocative. These subjects can easily offend a person. Either sitcom needs to change their outlook or many people are going to be offended.

Works Cited

ABC News. 20 Feb 2010. Web. 22 March 2012

Wikinfo. 27 May 2009. Web. 22 March 2012

Wikimedia. 18 Aug 2009. Web. 22 March 2012

Wikipedia. 20 March 2012. Web. 22 March 2012

“The Cleveland- Loretta Quagmire.” Family Guy. FOX. 12 June 2005. Television

“Patriot Games.” Family Guy. FOX. 29 Jan 2006. Television

“Extra Large Medium.” Family Guy. FOX. 14 Feb 2010. Television

“Two Bad Neighbors.” The Simpsons. FOX. 14 Jan 1996. Television

“It Hits the Fans.” South Park. Comedy Central. 20 June 2001. Television

“Bloody Mary.” South Park. Comedy Central. 7 Dec 2005. Television

Show More
Related

  • Roseanne and Sociology

    2024 Words  | 5 Pages

    Roseanne was a hit sitcom that debuted in the late 80s and continued into the late 90s. It was one of the most watched shows of its time despite the controversy that surrounded it. The series still airs on popular television networks today but, because it functionally paved the way, it is not considered questionable in today’s society. Although the show had its share of controversial issues and what was then thought to be “inappropriate” dialogue, the America population continued to tune-in to Roseanne and empathized with the weekly problems the Conner’s would face. The show depicted life much like people actually experienced it (and still do) and therefore captured the hearts of America, which translated to a better acceptance of the material folks found inappropriate or unacceptable. Over time, as people were more often exposed to the matters that Roseanne felt were pertinent, the disputes became fewer and the issues surrounding them became irrelevant. Dealing with issues such as sex, homosexuality, and a not so functional family, Roseanne proved to be very functional to society as a whole.

    Read More

  • Hyper-Irony In The Pilot Episode Of Modern Family

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    Family comedies have evolved throughout the past century. What was once revered as classic has completely changed forms and turned into the comedic experience we witness today. Family sitcoms in particular have been converted to show a broader picture of how family’s interact in today’s world. This greatly appeals to today’s audiences and is what people want to see. Modern family specifically has tapped into what nontraditional families are all about and even with being so alternative has resonated with every type of family, making it one of the most popular shows on TV at the present moment. The pilot episode of Modern Family uses hyper-irony, allusions and uses references to technology to enforce comedic impact.

    Read More

  • Does Homer Know Best?

    1615 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sitcoms like The Simpsons, are used to show that the traditional family is not what it is played out to be on other shows like Father Knows Best, The Jetsons and Leave it to Beaver. The Simpsons challenges and upholds the traditional sitcom while representing the American nuclear family as a unique and lovable family. Like most shows that come out of Hollywood, The Simpsons is pro-Democrat and against Republican views. This show suggests that not following the traditional family roles will you give you a happier life. Gender roles are often used in the show to demonstrate masculinity and femininity. Through satire and parody, The Simpsons addresses gender roles and the typical problems and behavior of an average American family.

    Read More

  • Sanford and Son and The Chapelle Show

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was hilarious whenever Fred Sanford of the hit series Sanford and Son used to fake his heart attack saying that famous phrase, “I’m coming Elizabeth” or what about him telling Aunt Ester how ugly she was. No one took that type of comedy to the heart and it was intended to hurt no one. It was all for a laugh. Now in today’s time there are new shows on television such as The Chapelle Show, which is hosted and directed by the comedian Dave Chapelle. The object of this show seems to be how much fun he can make of a different race. Times have changed and so have peoples’ since of humor. People went from the laid-back type sitcoms such as Sanford and Son, The Three Stooges, and The Little Rascals, which are all types of shows that people can watch with their entire family, to shows even adults feel turned away from. Some examples include The Chapelle Show and In Living Color.

    Read More

  • The Impact of African-American Sitcoms on America's Culture

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the 1990s, nearly 14% of the television families were African-American (Bryant 2001). These statistics obviously show the substantial impact our American culture has had on African-American television families.

    Read More

  • Media Critics Beavis and Butt-head

    492 Words  | 1 Pages

    In all reality, people do watch Beavis and Butt-head and other anti-family television shows. The power we feel in the act of criticizing and the seemingly harmless antics of these shows gives us a reason to keep watching and criticizing TV despite the irony of it. Because we know TV characters have no power to change their situations in the TV world we feel we are above them and can watch TV with harmless effects.

    Read More

  • Censoring South Park

    2070 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ression just because it is not politically correct. Critics of South Park are in denial of what the world is because the world itself is not politically correct. People want to make the world seem like it is not as bad as it is. In the real world, profanity is spoken, violence happens, and racism is committed. South Park shows us what the real world is and how we should deal with it.

    Read More

  • Family Guy: One Big Dysfunctional Family

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    Family Guy, an animated sitcom about a New England family and their everyday dilemmas, is a way for viewers to see the comedic side of a dysfunctional family. The Griffins consist of Peter and Lois, the patriarch and matriarch, and Meg, Chris, and Stewie are the children(Family Guy). Every character is different from the next character. They are also weird in their own way. The television show itself displays feminism, structuralism, and gay and lesbian criticism. Each character in the show also displays those criticisms in a certain fashion. Family Guy can be offensive to viewers with its satire, and the way the show delivers its message can make the family and the other characters in the show seem dysfunctional.

    Read More

  • Sitcoms Gender Roles

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    For a large part of the history of TV sitcoms women have been portrayed as mothers or as having to fulfill the woman's role in the private sphere. Family based sitcoms were one of the forms of sitcom that keep women in these roles, but what is interesting is that even in other forms of sitcoms women do not truly escape these roles. Sitcoms, like Sex and the City and Murphy Brown showcase women whom have seemingly escaped these roles, by showing liberated women, but that does not mean that both do not fall into the gender role showcased in family sitcoms. It draws the similarities between ensemble sitcoms and family sitcoms when it comes down to the role of women. The starring women in both Sex and the City and Murphy Brown, and even the Mary

    Read More

  • An Analysis of the Television Sitcom, Different Strokes

    504 Words  | 2 Pages

    Different Strokes a comedy sitcom, first aired in 1978, and lasted until 1986. This sitcom consisted of a widowed Manhattan millionaire, Phillip Drummond , who adopted two orphaned brothers. Arnold who was 8 years old and Willis who was 12. The boys' mother was Drummonds housekeeper who became very ill, so Drummond made a promise to her that he would take care of her two sons after she passed away. Drummond treated the two boys like his own. He also lived with his daughter, Kimberly, who was 13 years old, and his current housekeeper. This sitcom showed typical life lessons in growing up, and social problems that were occurring during that time. Some of the aspects of this show were both positive and negative.

    Read More

  • Full House In American Culture

    495 Words  | 1 Pages

    Whether it’s through its overly upbeat and positive conflict resolving themes or inclusivity of customary morals and values, each show has seen its fair share of critique in terms of it’s realism to society.

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In Sitcoms

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The sitcom is a jumble of mixed metaphors: the repetition compulsion of eternal sameness conjoined to a desire to overturn the established order; a profound aesthetic conservatism bundled with an ingrained desire to shock. Every sitcom possess not just a routine that it perpetually seeks to overturn but also a particular style of fomenting that chaos.”

    Read More

  • Everybody Hates Chris

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since television came into existence, it has evolved into a useful tool to spread ideas, both social and political, and has had a great effect on the generations growing up with these heavily influential shows. To these younger generations, television has taken the role of a teacher, with the task of creating a social construction by which many of us base our personal beliefs and judgments on. This power allows television shows take the opportunity to address problems in a manner that many audiences can take to heart. Many television shows present controversial topics in a comical matter, in some ways to soften the blow of hard-hitting reality at the same time bringing attention to the issue being addressed. In the television show, Everybody Hates Chris, season one, episode four entitled “Everybody Hates Sausage”, the stereotypes that continue to fuel racism are examined in a satirical motif, and class is presented in a comical way, but carries serious undertones which present a somewhat realistic view of the different social strata within the United States.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis of the Television Show The Honeymooners

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay will examine my thoughts and those of David Sterrit on the critically acclaimed television show The Honeymooners. First, I will talk about the Honeymooners and it’s setting in postwar America. Secondly, the social and cultural issues the series portrayed. Next, would be the psychological perspective and the aesthetics of the show. Finally, the essay would conclude with my thoughts on how the Honeymooners were impacted by these aspects, but also how the show managed to leave a legacy in television today.

    Read More

  • Television Comedies

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    Television comedies have been on the air for decades, and throughout this time many different shows have come and gone. Due to the dominance of these shows, comedies are one of the biggest draws on television. There are many different types of comedies, each with their own unique characteristics and features that differentiate them from others and lead to their popularity. Whether the show is a sketch comedy, sitcom, mockumentary or dramatic comedy, each utilizes different types of humour, locations, themes, and situations to appeal to the audience; which is likely why they are so popular today.

    Read More

More about Controversy Surfaces Towards Modern-day Sitcoms

Open Document