1. Revising Genre and Society
1. Who is the society we studied?
2. What specific time period did we look at this society?
3. What genre did we study?
4. What is the nature of that particular genre?
5. What do you think the nature of the relationship is between the society and the genre? One way?
Two way? Sitcoms as folk-tales? Sitcoms as parables for life? Sitcoms as social commentator?
Prelude to the 60’s
6. Define the nuclear family
7. Define the society’s values at the time
8. Who are the Baby Boomers?
9. What impact did television have on this society?
10. Where did television fit into their everyday lives?

2. The 1960’s – Magi-com – Bewitched / I Dream of Jeanie / The Flying Nun etc.
11. When we first meet the society what is the current state of them?
12. Is this reflected in a text from the genre? If so which one and how? Why Magi-com?
13. What conventions do we notice in the genre at this point? The comic trap? Fish out of water?
14. What comment can you make about society’s relationship with the sitcom/TV at this stage?
15. The humour seems forced and cheesy, why do you think this is?
16. Anything else you think that is relevant to mention about the society or the genre at this stage?
Political climate? Historical events? President?
17. How many TV networks were there at this time?

3. The 1970’s – Sex-com – Soap / Three’s Company / All in the Family
18. When we next meet the society what is the state of them? What are their values? What has shaped
these values?
19. Is this reflected in a text from the genre? If so which one and how? Why Sex-com?
20. What conventions do we notice in the genre at this point? The comic trap? Fish out of water?
21. What comment can you make about society’s relationship with the sitcom/TV at this stage?
22. The humour uses double entendre and innuendo, why do you think this is?
23. Anything else you think that is relevant to mention about the society or the genre at this stage?
Political climate? Historical events? President?
24. Had anything changed about television in general at this time?

4. The 1980’s – Family-com – Kate & Allie / The Cosby Show / Cheers etc.
25. When we next meet the society what is the state of them? What are their values? What has shaped
these values?
26. Is this reflected in a text from the genre? If so which one and how? Why Family-com?
27. What conventions do we notice in the genre at this point? The comic trap? Fish out of water?
28. What comment can you make about society’s relationship with the sitcom/TV at this stage?
29. The humour seems flat with lots of one-liners, why do you think this is?
30. Anything else you think that is relevant to mention about the society or the genre at this stage?
Political climate? Historical events? President?
31. What was happening with TV during this decade?

5. The 1990’s – Single-com – Friends / Seinfeld / Frazier
32. When we next meet the society what is the state of them? What are their values? What has shaped
these values?
33. Is this reflected in a text from the genre? If so which one and how? Why Single-com?
34. What conventions do we notice in the genre at this point? The comic trap? Fish out of water?
35. What comment can you make about society’s relationship with the sitcom/TV at this stage?
36. The humour seems natural but clever, why do you think this is?
37. Anything else you think that is relevant to mention about the society or the genre at this stage?
Political climate? Historical events? President?
38. What was happening with TV during this decade? HBO and cable?

6. The 2000’s – My-com – Sex and the City / The Office / Scrubs
39. When we next meet the society what is the state of them? What are their values? What has shaped
these values?
40. Is this reflected in a text from the genre? If so which one and how? Why My/Me-com?
41. What conventions do we notice in the genre at this point? The comic trap? Fish out of water?
42. What comment can you make about society’s relationship with the sitcom/TV at this stage?
43. The humour is very different per sitcom, why do you think this is?
44. Anything else you think that is relevant to mention about the society or the genre at this stage?
Political climate? Historical events? President?
45. What was happening with TV during this decade? HBO and cable?

7. Conclusion – the future / the sum up
46. Overall what has the nature of the relationship between the identified society and the genre been?
47. Are the male-centric sitcoms of today(Entourage, Two and Half Men, Four Kings, My Name is
Earl, and Freddie), a male backlash? If so why?
48. Where is humour appearing now if sitcoms are on the decline?
49. Has it been one-way or two-way relationship? With the genre? Or with TV? How do you know
this?
50. Have there been changes in the genre because of the society? If so, what, where and why?
51. What do you think the future holds for sitcoms?
52. Have there been changes in the society because of the genre? If so, what, where and why?
Consider what the current state of their society (post 9/11, pre-election) is?
53. Do you think this relationship will continue/decline/develop in the future? If so, what might cause
this?