The Sitcom Evolution - Brian Smith

"The Sitcom Evolution"

Brian Smith

http://alumni.marist.edu/writingcenter/pdfs/escriptor6.pdf#page=30

(pages 30-43)

• I chose this article by Brian Smith as it is related to the research project that I plan to carry out and it is based on a subject that I am interested in.
• The article is about how sitcoms have changed and how changes in society and problems that have occurred in the world have contributed to these changes.

'Since the 1950s, the typical sitcom father’s role has changed dramatically, and the progression of his role through the years has altered the type of humor found in most shows.'

• I agree with this point made as I feel that the father figure shown in sitcoms today is different than the one that was shown in early sitcoms.

For example...

Full House (1987-1995) shows a different type of father figure than shows such as The Cosby Show (1984-1992) as, although it still shows the father as being the head of the household, it shows a father that takes on the roles of both the mother and the father. 

'Changes to the roles of women in American society, especially in the 1970s, also contributed to these humor shifts.'

• I think that as the role of women in society changes, the way in which they are represented in sitcoms changes also. As well as this, I feel that women have become less stereotypical and traditional and are now shown in sitcoms to be more independent. They are now shown to have jobs instead of being a housewife.

Quotes:

• 'However, recent sitcoms have witnessed a return to family values seen in earlier shows, but rather than focusing on life inside the home, they concentrate on the workplace.'
• 'Throughout its history, television sitcoms have spanned a changing array of topics, but one thing they all have in common is making their audiences laugh and feel good.'
• 'sitcoms can be said to reflect the values in society during a particular time period.'

Overall...

I think that this article shows how sitcoms have evolved overtime and shows what changes in society have contributed to this change in sitcom. I agree with this article that changes in gender roles have influenced sitcoms and how things going on in the world can have an impact on the issues that are dealt with in sitcoms.