Sitcoms Research Paper
Sitcom Essay
Comedy programs such as sitcoms which focus on issues and current events in our society have become seemingly popular in today’s day and age. This maybe due to the four elements found in the programs. The four elements being: plots, characters, settings and the techniques in which humour is applied. These elements ease the program into achieving two possible purposes; firstly, to entertain its viewers; and secondly, to provide moral guidance to its viewers. A prime example of a sitcom that clearly displays these four elements is the American produced sitcom: Friends. Friends, roughly summed up, is a twenty-two minute sitcom which focuses on the day-to-day lives of a group of six friends.
When observing sitcoms there are two …show more content…
This is because sitcoms are character driven, as the plots, settings and humour all revolve around the lives of the characters. A general trait among all characters is that they are usually stereotypical. As the stereotypes assist in letting viewers get familiar with the characters in a short amount of time. Also these characters have strengths and weaknesses that make them more realistic and help the show in being more humorous. For example: Chandler from Friends is insecure and uses sarcasm to cover-up awkward moments, or Monica, also from Friends has a tendency to get what she wants no matter what the price. The example of this can be shown when she is not invited to her cousin’s wedding and manipulates Ross into dumping his date and going with her instead. All the similarities and traits found in sitcom characters are to give the audience a chance to relate or to get familiar, much like the theme …show more content…
These techniques not only make the sitcom funny, they also make its characters unforgettable. The techniques include physical humour, sarcasm, irony, truth, human weaknesses, understatement, overstatement, contradictory and immaturity. These techniques are usually used in a stereotyped manner and are typically predictable. For instance, something precious will always get lost and be seen again. Also, these techniques are only funny in the correct situation and only when applied to the correct character. For example, in the sitcom Friends, Joey is memorable for his one liners and immaturity, while Chandler is remembered for his sarcasm and human
Comedy programs such as sitcoms which focus on issues and current events in our society have become seemingly popular in today’s day and age. This maybe due to the four elements found in the programs. The four elements being: plots, characters, settings and the techniques in which humour is applied. These elements ease the program into achieving two possible purposes; firstly, to entertain its viewers; and secondly, to provide moral guidance to its viewers. A prime example of a sitcom that clearly displays these four elements is the American produced sitcom: Friends. Friends, roughly summed up, is a twenty-two minute sitcom which focuses on the day-to-day lives of a group of six friends.
When observing sitcoms there are two …show more content…
This is because sitcoms are character driven, as the plots, settings and humour all revolve around the lives of the characters. A general trait among all characters is that they are usually stereotypical. As the stereotypes assist in letting viewers get familiar with the characters in a short amount of time. Also these characters have strengths and weaknesses that make them more realistic and help the show in being more humorous. For example: Chandler from Friends is insecure and uses sarcasm to cover-up awkward moments, or Monica, also from Friends has a tendency to get what she wants no matter what the price. The example of this can be shown when she is not invited to her cousin’s wedding and manipulates Ross into dumping his date and going with her instead. All the similarities and traits found in sitcom characters are to give the audience a chance to relate or to get familiar, much like the theme …show more content…
These techniques not only make the sitcom funny, they also make its characters unforgettable. The techniques include physical humour, sarcasm, irony, truth, human weaknesses, understatement, overstatement, contradictory and immaturity. These techniques are usually used in a stereotyped manner and are typically predictable. For instance, something precious will always get lost and be seen again. Also, these techniques are only funny in the correct situation and only when applied to the correct character. For example, in the sitcom Friends, Joey is memorable for his one liners and immaturity, while Chandler is remembered for his sarcasm and human