The definition of deviant is “having behavior or characteristics differing from that which is normal or expected, especially in an undesirable or socially disapproved manner; as, deviant behavior.”(webster-dictionary.net) However,often times one may not know that their behavior is considered deviant until they see the reactions they get from others around them (Becker, 1963). American television is a great source of information to gauge some of the reactions to deviant behavior. Since the 1950’s, situation comedies (sitcoms) have been a very popular format for modeling to Americans the expected family dynamics or behaviors of society. Sitcoms usually consist of one or two main families going through life with some sort of humorous problem that inevitably is all wrapped up by the end of the 30-minute episode. Although sitcoms have come a long way since only showing the “Leave it to Beaver” family, there are still many indications as to what is considered “normal” or acceptable in today’s popular culture and deviance continues to be a vital source for comedy.
American sitcoms today are somewhat representative of people from many different races, sizes, and sexual orientations; however, the overwhelming majority of the people in sitcoms are still white, straight, middle class, and relatively young, modeling that this is the desired way to be. In Privilege, Power, Difference, and Us, Allan Johnson explains how these groups are part of the privileged. He explains how these people are afforded certain rewards that are not given to people of other groups. (Johnson). It is these privileged groups who are policing the deviant behavior by their reactions to it on sitcoms. There are defiantly certain groups of people that sitcoms take liberties with overtly harassing. One of these groups is overweight people. American society clearly favors thin people and sees overweight people as having a problem with self control that could easily be changed with stronger will power (Lageson, 2010). This is explained in the article "Media Binge". Maybe this is why many writers of sitcoms feel free to openly joke about someone’s weight or what they are eating. This video clip from CBS’ Mike and Molly clearly illustrates this point.
Stereotypical gender roles also provide a multitude of comedic storylines for sitcoms. Often time’s women are depicted as knowing nothing about cars or sports, loving shopping, and yearning for a baby. Men are portrayed as hating marriage, drinking beer, loving sports, and manipulating sex from their wives or girl friends. All of these things are portrayed as normal everyday behavior. Behaviors that stray away from these typical gender roles elicit an often-melodramatic facial expression or comment from the other characters on the show. Often times men showing emotion to other men is portrayed as awkward, signaling another laugh track, and therefore implying its deviance.
Many American sitcoms are funny and do provide some level of entertainment. What needs to be considered is why it is funny to make fun of certain groups of people and not others or what that tells us about which behaviors are considered acceptable or not. Sitcoms are supposed to be representing the American people but in a humorous way. However, often times the way behavior is policed in society is through the same types of jokes and expressions that we see in sitcoms. What needs to be considered is the future generations of the country and how sitcoms may be modeling that belittling others is okay as long as it is funny.
References
Becker, H. (1963). Outsiders-Defining Deviance. In M. Konty, Boundaries: Readings In Deviance, Crime and Criminal Justice (pp. 1-18). Pearson Custom Publishing.
Johnson, A. Privilege, Power, Difference, and US. In M. S. Ferber, Privilage a reader second edition (pp. 77-86). Westview Press.
Lageson, S. (2010, November 22). Media Binge. Contexts. American Sociological Association.
webster-dictionary.net. (n.d.). Retrieved 2012, from www.webster-dictionary.net
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