Despite its longevity and widespread appeal the Sit-Com is rarely taken seriously by critics and is seldom written about in academic work and if it is this is usually constricted to an analysis of form. Yet there must be something to say about a Genre which leaves such a lasting impact on our collective psyche as a nation and also informs us of so much about what we understand the USA to be like.
If we start from the premise that it's widespread popularity must indicate some significance then the demands to study its evolution don't seem too ridiculous at all! Luverly Jubberly!
RESEARCH INVESTIGATION
Your essay will not be a historical biography of the TV Sit-Com. Finding research on different histories of variously influential programmes is not the point of this essay. Your essay will be closely linked to various theories of Genre studies. Generally this can be discussed in terms of the Descriptive Approach or the Functional Approach to studying Genre. In other words an analysis from the perspective of the aesthetics (the look, the sound the way it is made) and the Ideologies of the Genre (how does it hold a mirror up to our society?).
A decent knowledge of cultural context is important and this leads on to the next biggest decision that you'll make - British or American?
It is best to choose just one and then decide on a few case studies to explore - despite our Nations' 'Special Relationship' our Sit-Coms are just too different from each other to really make any meaningful comparisons!
Think old and modern - and also Postmodern! The classic era of the 1970s sitcom (think The Good Life, Fawlty Towers, Dad's Army etc) has got more in common with Miranda and Mrs Browns Boys - and yet amongst the most popular examples of the genre of this century have been the realism heavy sitcoms like The Office, Outnumbered and The Royle Family. Even if we can reconcile the differences between those two groups then where the hell do you put The Mighty Boosh and The League of Gentlemen?!
Please note that you cannot study the Sit-Com Gavin & Stacey for this project.
Label any research with your name and: Evolution of the Sit-Com
MEDIA PRODUCT
You have two choices or you may wish to do a combination of the two. Either:
- Write, direct and edit a sequence for a Sit-Com (this can be done individually or in a group)
- Create a teaser campaign for a new Sit-Com and a review of it for a TV listings magazine.
Option 1.
This will need to be planned meticulously - one thing about Sit-Coms that you will have found in your research is that there are distinctly different styles depending on the era they were made in as well as the country they are broadcast in. Your aim is to create something that includes the conventions that you have explored in your essay. This doesn't just include a visual style but also the themes and functions of the genre.
Therefore you will have to write a script and storyboard your sequence - you must have actors that you can trust and who understand the vision of what you want your film to look like and the style of humour you are trying to demonstrate to the audience. All the time you must remember that just because something is funny to you and your mates doesn't make it funny to everyone else. Therefore there should be no 'in jokes' and no laughing on camera. Even if the most ridiculous thing is happening on screen, the other characters in a sitcom will rarely find it funny.
This is a very difficult project - making people laugh is much more difficult to making them sad or anxious, you will have to understand the genre inside out and plan every last detail.
If you don't plan it may look like an incoherent shambles.
Option 2
You will need to decide on the narrative, themes, actors, director, visual style and setting of a Sit-Com that will never get made!
Once you have decided on all of these factors and you know your (non)show inside-out, you will create the teaser poster for it - this should make clear the different characters, the setting and tone of the show - think of a Friends DVD case.
You must also create a two page magazine review or interview with the stars of this fake series which must explore the ideas that you have found in your essay which relate to the Sit-Com but also looks and reads exactly like a TV listings magazine such as TV Choice magazine.
This is a slightly complex project which requires you to know exactly what the Sit-Coms style and messages would be so that you can prove to the examiner that you have learned from your essay. But also show that you have the technical and creative skills to reproduce the style and content of a TV listings magazine.
