Family Guy is an animated sitcom that offers a satirical portrait of middle-class life. It pokes fun at society as we know it and most find it easy to laugh at the fast-paced jokes aimed at American culture. Overflowing with hegemonic ideologies, here are a few of interest from the episode "Don't Make Me Over".
The Ideal Girl (white, blond, and skinny of course):
Meg questions her attractiveness and, therefore, her self-worth when she is rejected by the high school “rebel”. Lucky for Meg, her mother quickly intervenes and offers to take Meg shopping for new clothing to make her feel better. Her mother, Lois suggests a number of baby tees with the glittery labels “little slut”, “porn star”, and “sperm dumpster” stamped on the front. Although this particular shopping excursion turned out to be unsuccessful, Meg eventually gets a break. “Asian correspondent” Tricia Takanawa claims that the makeover magicians at the mall can turn you into “someone of value to society.” Meg is saved! Her hair becomes longer and blonder, her lips redder, and she proudly bares her midriff. She is, as Dr. Diddy would put it, “hot, white, jailbait ass” that America loves. She gains recognition from her “rebel” sweetheart and the cherry on top is that the “popular” girls now accept her, too. This is a challenge to hegemonic ideologies; no one wants to admit that they live in a society that values half-naked underage girls, but it is almost undeniable. I was even a little upset to admit that I have seen those labeled tees before (somewhere).
Sexuality, A Few Cases:
Peter and the rest of his band decide that their mismatched stage outfits make them look like a bunch of “queers” and maybe they should have matching outfits instead. The reference to queers could have a couple of different implications: either that homosexuals dress weird, or the word “queer” is used as a synonym for “stupid”. It is easy to see examples of this in day-to-day conversation: “You have to study tonight? That’s gay” or “Ew, you like Jeff? He’s such a fag!” The use of these words is so commonplace that many don’t even take notice. Of course, the scene with the gay inmates confirms a few stereotypes as well. They are depicted as tough and violent but with an emotional streak, with a one track mind focused on sex (from either of the sexes). Meg received full attention from the prisoners (one states that he wants to “strangle her all night”) as did her brother, Chris.
A final instance of homosexuality jokes occurred in the mall, when Stewie runs naked and screams, “Help! I’ve just escaped from Kevin Spacey’s basement!” This small joke hit two with one: Spacey’s sexuality and the media’s obsession with Spacey’s sexuality.
The Black Music Producer and White Guy in Denial:
Dr. Diddy, a cross between Dr. Dre and Puff Daddy, is a black music producer, complete with the appropriate baggy clothing and bling. Despite his claims that he is not a racist, Brian involuntarily barks at Dr. Diddy and just can’t seem to control it; Dr. Diddy is apathetic towards Brian. This epitomizes a prevalent attitude in society- a person can declare and even truly believe that they are not racist but will act in certain ways (i.e locking the car door specifically in dangerous/poor areas) that are contradictory. These actions are sometimes automatic and expected because racism is so deeply fixed in our society.
Social Stratification:
Ironically, Meg’s Asian pedicurist is “Miss Swan,” a character from MadTV. On the surface, this scene is funny because Meg is so rich and beautiful that she gets to take her pedicurist along on her tour bus and hey, what do you know, it happens to be Miss Swan. However, this is a clear stereotype of the “Asian manicurist/pedicurist”, and even the stereotypical attitude was depicted correctly: simple, smiling, quiet until asked a question, in which case a short response is given. The subtlety of this stereotype still challenges hegemonic ideologies, considering it is all too familiar to those privileged enough to pay for their manicures.
Meg questions her attractiveness and, therefore, her self-worth when she is rejected by the high school “rebel”. Lucky for Meg, her mother quickly intervenes and offers to take Meg shopping for new clothing to make her feel better. Her mother, Lois suggests a number of baby tees with the glittery labels “little slut”, “porn star”, and “sperm dumpster” stamped on the front. Although this particular shopping excursion turned out to be unsuccessful, Meg eventually gets a break. “Asian correspondent” Tricia Takanawa claims that the makeover magicians at the mall can turn you into “someone of value to society.” Meg is saved! Her hair becomes longer and blonder, her lips redder, and she proudly bares her midriff. She is, as Dr. Diddy would put it, “hot, white, jailbait ass” that America loves. She gains recognition from her “rebel” sweetheart and the cherry on top is that the “popular” girls now accept her, too. This is a challenge to hegemonic ideologies; no one wants to admit that they live in a society that values half-naked underage girls, but it is almost undeniable. I was even a little upset to admit that I have seen those labeled tees before (somewhere).
Sexuality, A Few Cases:
Peter and the rest of his band decide that their mismatched stage outfits make them look like a bunch of “queers” and maybe they should have matching outfits instead. The reference to queers could have a couple of different implications: either that homosexuals dress weird, or the word “queer” is used as a synonym for “stupid”. It is easy to see examples of this in day-to-day conversation: “You have to study tonight? That’s gay” or “Ew, you like Jeff? He’s such a fag!” The use of these words is so commonplace that many don’t even take notice. Of course, the scene with the gay inmates confirms a few stereotypes as well. They are depicted as tough and violent but with an emotional streak, with a one track mind focused on sex (from either of the sexes). Meg received full attention from the prisoners (one states that he wants to “strangle her all night”) as did her brother, Chris.
A final instance of homosexuality jokes occurred in the mall, when Stewie runs naked and screams, “Help! I’ve just escaped from Kevin Spacey’s basement!” This small joke hit two with one: Spacey’s sexuality and the media’s obsession with Spacey’s sexuality.
The Black Music Producer and White Guy in Denial:
Dr. Diddy, a cross between Dr. Dre and Puff Daddy, is a black music producer, complete with the appropriate baggy clothing and bling. Despite his claims that he is not a racist, Brian involuntarily barks at Dr. Diddy and just can’t seem to control it; Dr. Diddy is apathetic towards Brian. This epitomizes a prevalent attitude in society- a person can declare and even truly believe that they are not racist but will act in certain ways (i.e locking the car door specifically in dangerous/poor areas) that are contradictory. These actions are sometimes automatic and expected because racism is so deeply fixed in our society.
Social Stratification:
Ironically, Meg’s Asian pedicurist is “Miss Swan,” a character from MadTV. On the surface, this scene is funny because Meg is so rich and beautiful that she gets to take her pedicurist along on her tour bus and hey, what do you know, it happens to be Miss Swan. However, this is a clear stereotype of the “Asian manicurist/pedicurist”, and even the stereotypical attitude was depicted correctly: simple, smiling, quiet until asked a question, in which case a short response is given. The subtlety of this stereotype still challenges hegemonic ideologies, considering it is all too familiar to those privileged enough to pay for their manicures.
Family Guy. “Don’t Make Me Over.”
Season 4, Volume Three, Disc One, DVD. 6/5/05
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation: Beverly Hills, CA. 2005.
Season 4, Volume Three, Disc One, DVD. 6/5/05
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation: Beverly Hills, CA. 2005.
