To Wrap it Up...
Gender studies in regards to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia certainly go hand in hand, because studies of femininity cannot exist without that of masculinity. This modern sitcom’s portrayal of men and women is overemphasized through the show’s satirical form of comedy, and because of this, this show challenges and defies the common stereotypes of men and women in modern day television shows, and sitcoms in particular. Suzan Walters argues, however, that this excess as hyperbole method as Birthisel and Martin (2013) describes does not necessarily inform the viewer’s defiance of these social norms. These overemphasized defiances may, in fact, encourage the viewer to categorize characters based upon those stereotypical representations of men and women. This is an element that could most definitely inform further research into this topic.
Gender studies in regards to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia certainly go hand in hand, because studies of femininity cannot exist without that of masculinity. This modern sitcom’s portrayal of men and women is overemphasized through the show’s satirical form of comedy, and because of this, this show challenges and defies the common stereotypes of men and women in modern day television shows, and sitcoms in particular. Suzan Walters argues, however, that this excess as hyperbole method as Birthisel and Martin (2013) describes does not necessarily inform the viewer’s defiance of these social norms. These overemphasized defiances may, in fact, encourage the viewer to categorize characters based upon those stereotypical representations of men and women. This is an element that could most definitely inform further research into this topic.
Sources
Birthisel, J., & Martin, J. A. (2013). “That’s what she said”: Gender, satire, and the American workplace on the sitcom The Office, Journal of Communication Inquiry, 37(1), 64-80. doi: 10.1177/0196859912474667
Carroll, H. (2008). Men’s soaps: Automotive television programming and contemporary working-class masculinities, Television & New Media, 9(4), 263-283. doi : 10.1177/1527476408315495
Goffman, E. (1974). Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience. New York: Harper and Row
Lotz, A. D. (2014). Gender studies, masculinity, and television. Utne Reader. Retrieved from:
http://www.utne.com/arts/gender-studies-men-on-television-ze0z1409zdeh.aspx
Nussbaum, E. (2014). Bar none. The New Yorker. Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/11/bar-none
Raymond, C. W., (2013). Gender and sexuality in animated television sitcom interaction, Discourse & Communication, 7(2), 199-220. doi : 10.1177/1750481312472971
Robertson, E. (2011). Constructed masculinity: How much do media representations dictate male identity? Annual American Men’s Studies Association Conference Proceedings, 18, 88-99.
doi: 10.3149/AMSA.17.88
Smith, M. M., & Beal, B. (2007). So you can see how the other half lives: MTV “Cribs”’ use of “the other” in framing successful athletic masculinities, Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 31(2), 103-127. doi : 10.1177/0193723507300483
Birthisel, J., & Martin, J. A. (2013). “That’s what she said”: Gender, satire, and the American workplace on the sitcom The Office, Journal of Communication Inquiry, 37(1), 64-80. doi: 10.1177/0196859912474667
Carroll, H. (2008). Men’s soaps: Automotive television programming and contemporary working-class masculinities, Television & New Media, 9(4), 263-283. doi : 10.1177/1527476408315495
Goffman, E. (1974). Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience. New York: Harper and Row
Lotz, A. D. (2014). Gender studies, masculinity, and television. Utne Reader. Retrieved from:
http://www.utne.com/arts/gender-studies-men-on-television-ze0z1409zdeh.aspx
Nussbaum, E. (2014). Bar none. The New Yorker. Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/11/bar-none
Raymond, C. W., (2013). Gender and sexuality in animated television sitcom interaction, Discourse & Communication, 7(2), 199-220. doi : 10.1177/1750481312472971
Robertson, E. (2011). Constructed masculinity: How much do media representations dictate male identity? Annual American Men’s Studies Association Conference Proceedings, 18, 88-99.
doi: 10.3149/AMSA.17.88
Smith, M. M., & Beal, B. (2007). So you can see how the other half lives: MTV “Cribs”’ use of “the other” in framing successful athletic masculinities, Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 31(2), 103-127. doi : 10.1177/0193723507300483