Television Unit

Television Unit

Media Studies

Mrs. Tuccillo

Room 112

Understanding Stereotypes

A STEREOTYPE is a generalized picture of a person, reacted without taking the whole person into account, or it is to make such a generalization. When we stereotype a group of people, we depict all of the individuals within that group as having the same characteristics.

RACE is a categorization of people based on shared biological traits such as skin color, hair texture, and eye shape. EXAMPLES: Black, White, Latino, Native American, etc.

ETHNICITY is a categorization of people according to shared culture, language, or geographic region. The terms “Italian” and “Irish” and “African” and “Mexican” describe four distinct ethnic groups.

BIAS is an attitude or behavior based on stereotypes of people. When we treat someone in a particular way based on a stereotype, we display a bias towards them.

Stereotypes in Schools

People often use labels or categories to describe others and these labels can be based on such characteristics as clothing, looks, the way a person talks, or the groups to which he or she belongs. Categorizing things or people is a natural human inclination; however, people often make assumptions about groups of people they don’t even know.

Brainstorm categories that are used at school to group people:

Brainstorm different racial and ethnic groups:

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Gender Stereotyping

Group Discussion Questions

1. Where do we learn these gender roles?
2. What are some situations where you may be pressured to “Act Like a Man” or “Be a Lady”?
3. Have you ever experienced a situation where you were expected to act a certain way because you were a girl or a boy, even though it may not have been the way you felt like acting?
4. How might these stereotypes lead to violence?

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Name:

Media StudiesMrs. Tuccillo

Please respond to these questions on a separate sheet of loose leaf paper.

1. How do the stereotypes recorded by the class make you feel?
2. What do you notice about the stereotypes listed?
3. Where have you seen these stereotypes portrayed?
4. How do you think a stereotype might cause someone to act unfairly toward another person?
5. Think about a situation when someone made a biased judgment about you or acted unfairly toward you because of your age skin color, clothes you were wearing, gender, the way you speak, where you live, how much money your family has, or some other reason. If you cannot think of a situation, think of a situation when YOU made a biased judgment acted unfairly towards someone else because of his/her age, skin color, clothes you s/he was wearing, gender, the way s/he spoke, where s/he lives, how much money his/her family has, or some other reason. If you cannot think of this situation, think of a situation that has happened to someone you know. Consider the following questions before you begin to write:
6. How did you know that you were being unfairly judged/ unfairly judging someone else?
7. What words or actions were directed at you/the other person/people because of assumptions or stereotypes?
8. Why do you think those assumptions were made?
9. How did the experience make you feel?
10. How do you think you should have been treated/treated the other person/people?

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The Situation Comedy – “The SITCOM”

There are three distinct types of sitcoms:

ACTCOM – the action comedy

• It can be based on a variety of themes – family, gimmicks, place, occupations…
• The emphasis is on VERBAL and PHYSICAL comedy.
• There is not a lot of character development in these sitcoms.

DOMCOM – the domestic comedy

• The greatest emphasis is on the characters and their growth and development as humans.
• Invariable, these are set in and around a “family” unit.
• Problems encountered are more serious and related more to human nature than those in an “actcom”.

DRAMEDY – the dramatic comedy

• This is the rarest and most serious type of sitcom.
• Its entire being is not devoted to evoking laughter from an audience.
• The emphasis is on thought, often presenting themes that are not humorous – war, death, crime, aging, unemployment, racism, sexism, etc.

CHARACTERS

1. Main characters are those that carry the bulk of the action.

• The audience is supposed to watch these characters.
• What happens to them is important.

1. Supporting characters are members of the regular cast who support the main character.

• Often, these characters act as foils.

1. Transient characters provide plot problems and complications or those purely mechanical functions of a story.

• Guest star – major role in a single episode, providing a plot problem.
• Small but necessary roles- walk on characters, delivery people, store clerks, customers, etc. Necessary for the continuity of the plot but contribute nothing as characters.
• Necessary but not constantly needed – a supporting role that does not appear in every episode (maybe two or three times during the course of a season).

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(Climax)

(Exposition) (Conclusion)

Problem #2

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Satire on Television

A work that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques such as exaggeration, reversal, incongruity, and/or parody in order to make a comment or criticism about it.

The four techniques of satire:

Exaggeration

To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen.

Incongruity

To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings.

Reversal

To present the opposite of the normal order (e.g., the order of events, hierarchical order).

Parody

To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing.

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Name: Media Studies

Satire on Television

Analyze any episode of a sitcom that is meant to be a SATIRE and explain how individual techniques of satire are used. Acceptable shows include (but are not limited to) Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, American Dad, Married with Children…. How do these shows comment or satirize a subject from contemporary society?

The analysis should include:

• a summary of the episode,

• an explanation of the main comment or criticism the episode is making,

• and identify three different examples of satirical elements used in the episode.

For each example, the analysis should:

• describe the example in concrete detail,

• explain what the subject, idea, or issue was like before it was satirized,

• explain how a satirical technique (such as exaggeration) is used in the example,

• and explain how the example contributed to the main comment or criticism about contemporary society.

Name: Media Studies

Saugerties Central SchoolMrs. Tuccillo

Paper #1

Analyzing the Situation Comedy

These are varied points for which you should look while analyzing a situation comedy for discussion or for written work. Choose a situation comedy of your choice.

This paper must be typed. You may NOT use an episode of a sitcom that we have viewed in class.

Required Elements

• Begin by discussing the characters involved – which are main, supporting, transient etc. List repetitive personality characteristics of the characters if you have seen the show before.

• Does this show follow the prescribed sitcom format? Do you think it is an actcom, domcom, or dramedy? Why?

Choose THREE of the following topics about which to discuss for your sitcom.

• In what ways are stereotypes enforced in this show?
• What examples of today’s social attitudes are being satirized?
• What examples of SEXISM/RACISM appear in this show?
• What attitude is expressed toward:
• Parents
• Husband and wife relationships
• Authority
• The family
• Friendships
• The treatment toward one’s fellow man or woman?

• How does the show reflect our values?
• What aspects might be criticized for content or language?
• Do you think the program is worthwhile? Why?

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