Friday, July 18, 2008

Family Guy "Don"t Make Me Over"

Family Guy is a television show that many viewers have found to be one of there favorites to watch. It is extremely funny, however its comedic grounds are found through making fun of different genders, socio-economic-statuses, and racial stereotypes. In the Family Guy (Season 4, Don’t Make Me Over) episode that was shown to us, I noticed numerous times that it was blatantly obvious that they were “making fun” of a certain group.
At the very beginning of the episode, Meg is talking to some friends about her boyfriend. Then Meg goes to see him and he is dirty, drunk, homeless, and passed out under a tree with trash all around. This implies that homeless people are dirty drunks. It makes fun of people who are a part of this SES background. Meg was dressed in her normal conservative clothing, wearing glasses and a hat with her natural brown hair down. Then she was almost immediately found talking to a popular “jock” at school, he completely put her down because she was what he had seen as “ugly,” and wouldn’t give her the time of day if she asked. This sends the message that she doesn’t meet the standards that teenage girls are expected to meet in order to get the respect of a popular guy in school. It sends the message that Meg wasn’t cool enough as herself which made her feel that she needed to change her appearance to be noticed.
With the low self-esteem that she had from her school experience, her and her mom went shopping to “make her over” into a cool kid. She went to the mall conservative in clothes that made her comfortable but left a new girl. Her mother was even picking out clothes that read on the tag “Porn Star” or “Slut.” These clothes revealed a lot of skin and made her a sex object. It was shocking that her very own mother was helping her fit into these ridiculous standards that are pushed onto teen girls. She had won a contest and received a make-over, which they dyed her hair blonde gave her contacts and revealing clothing. After the make over, she was noticed by the cool jock that made her feel so horrible earlier. This definitely sends the message that girls are noticed when they portray themselves in this manner. However, the jock still acts like a jerk and still doesn’t treat her as if she is a person and has feelings. The episode implies that the jock is cooler and hipper then her homeless boyfriend also that Meg is better after her make over then she was without it, which are two examples of hegemony.
Meanwhile, Meg’s father is worried that his favorite bar isn’t producing enough business since the super mall across the street has incorporated many bars and restaurants. This is another example of hegemony, implying that the new bigger then an older smaller business. They install a karaoke machine to drawl in customers and by accident the family forms a band. The band is named after Meg, implying that she is the star; she is the sex appeal to the band. Meg’s attitude changes after this make over. She gets noticed and knows it, starts to get a big head after she and the rest of the family are in a band. She starts treating her family as if they are below her, that she is better then them.
The band manager is an African-American man, and the family dog (Brian) is obviously a completely white dog. The hegemonic side of this is that Brian barks at the manager each time he sees him, also he makes comments that imply he is racist. This implies that white is better then black, which in reality we are all the same. Just that some people perceive it to be different.
This is a very funny television show; however, it mocks and demeans people of different backgrounds. But at the same time, it kind of shows views that are there just not talked about on a daily bases. I personally don’t watch it regularly but have found myself stopping to watch it if I see that it is on. I will probably watch it with new eyes from now on.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Classwork from 7/16/08

Nice job with the Family Guy analysis!

:o)
Jessie

See SOCS for point/grade-related credit (reminder: for all blog-assignments, the number or letter-grade will only be posted to the "Gradebook" on SOCS).