History Of Mary Tyler Moore

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Mary Tyler Moore: Addressing Feminism
Is it a comedy or some sort of history? Today, I feel like the show Mary Tyler Moore is strongly categorized as history. To a casual viewer it may always remain a simplistic and inspiring comedy, but to those looking at the show historically, there is much more to uncover. If you really take a close look at the situations depicted in the show and do some research on the 1970s, it will quickly become evident that Mary Tyler Moore is a comedy embracing the feminist movement in the United States. I will continue to explain how the show really defines that era of American history and why I see the show more historic than comedic. In order to explain my point I will be taking a quick look at two articles: “Mary Tyler Moore Rewind: It’s Wonderful, Current, not Funny” by Willa Paskin and “Using The Mary Tyler Moore Show as a Feminist Teaching Tool” by Allyson Jule.
Allyson Jule’s article on feminism in conjunction with Mary Tyler Moore establishes that the show can be used to teach the American movement of second wave feminism (123). She looks at the show as more of a historical teaching tool rather than just a comedy. On the other hand, Willa Paskin explores another view of the show, the comedy.
Willa Paskin quickly makes it apparent that she doesn’t see the show as funny. Paskin puts it very well, “It could not be more current, except for one thing – and this is some weapon’s grade sitcom sacrilege – it’s not that funny” (Paskin). She goes on to explain how Mary Tyler Moore and her character Mary Richards is a kind of woman that you rarely see on sitcoms anymore. Women and men in today’s sitcoms rely more and more on over exaggerated and profound flaws (Paskin).

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...d what they consider entertaining or even humorous in a sitcom. Overall, modern sitcoms rely on sex, violence, and the most ridiculous situations that you could ever find yourself in to create entertainment, and although Mary Tyler Moore does have some of this, such as the “Chuckles Bites the Dust” episode, for the most part the show relies on the contemporary ideas of the time. The ideas that they explored was the feminist movement of course. This is why the show Mary Tyler Moore holds up as a historic show rather than a comedy. The audience has simply changed what they find as funny over time.
In closing, Mary Tyler Moore is still a great show to see. It is a great way to get away from the sex, violence, and taboo in media today. It may not be as funny as it used to be, but it’s just as revolutionary, and just as entertaining, but in a different way: as history.

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