Analysis of TV Show “Friends”

Analysis of TV Show FriendsDeep Analysis of the portray Friends in footing of Television PluralismFirst Section HISTORICAL OVERVIEWCreation In Ameri pass off television hi invoice, a situation comedy Friends was added by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which initi every(prenominal)y aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 and ended on May 6, 2004. It had 10 seasons in total. The casting for the television show Friends was miraculous. The story revolves almost half-dozen friends living in Manhattan. The equilibrate chemistry between all the sextet brilliant actors justified the casting. Not to for take away the legendary theater handler and the writers, who with their words gave all the young and single, something to relate to. In a place where recession is normal, you have to break take a bearing a couple of times in order to win. It was a thought about those who work and make do in their mid twenties, looking for jobs, at the basic stage of building and exploring a life the y wish. The director wanted to reach those particular quite a little that argon the targeted audience. Imagining about those young ones struggling in prodigious cities, it is very expensive to live on their own, they all almost face same kind of difficulties, its a tough physical as well as emotional journey. Now, with a friend, its a lot easier, this general idea influenced director to transform it into development and so we had this show, its name reflecting the idea itself as knows as Friends. Six friends having six different characters as following Chandler Bing (an executive in statistical analysis), Monica Geller (a chef), Rachel commonalty (fashion enthusiast), Ross Geller (paleontologist) and Joey Tribbiani (struggling actor). The writers had to modify the script in order to suit it with the casted actors. The actors very well played their respective roles and they became friends off air as well which authentically paid off well.Reception It gained a lot of popularity a nd awards throughout its black market. The show Friends became the first long running sitcom, when it got the highest rating for it on US television. Friends won an Emmy, award for the outdo Comedy Series category, which was an separate(a) first. The show was praised for lack of violent content. Although, there were few critical responses oer some contents, it did not stop celebrities to play and guest appearance role in this show which includes Julia Roberts, brad Pitt, Helen Hunt, Elliot Gould, Charlie sheen and others. Despite other competitive sitcoms Friends managed to re important at its place that is for both social phenomenon and staggeringly entertaining television show. According to one of the experts Friends is one of those show which marked a change in American grow. The portrayal of youth and the roles they play are well defined and represents a lifestyle that foc uses around creating and maintaining relationship between a group of friends running their own lives an d seeking support from each other In audience appeal, Friends was un motionedly stayed in the nineties and as well as in the primaeval years of twentieth century. As with time, the reviews got more positive than negative, it progressed and Friends become a most popular take away sitcom. It is still ranked as among time best TV shows (Cosgrove) Critics praised the series for having persistently spiky dialog script and the chemistry among the most important actors was extra ordinary. Some praised the terminus for being more jot and more satisfying as reflecting to the closure it gave. (Parish)Critical Reaction Early reviews for the show were mixed (Friends indurate 1). The producers always tried to match the right stories to location its funny that it was never filmed in bare-assedly York. They decided that filming outside would make the show less funny. The series was criticized for portraying New York the wrong way, by showing a group of friends which are struggling they are weak financially and they are not able to afford large apartments. With this being a minor criticism over the location, it also faced some serious accusations. The major criticism which it faced was focused on the use of sexual activity charged themes specially the time for the show was when the kids usually watch television. Parents Television Council called it raciest sitcom, they claimed that all six characters were shown sexually on the go and the dialogues also contained vulgarity, and more sexual content. Monicas approval on Chandler philia for porn and that Joeys several sexual partners became the target. The PTC, in fact, called the show as one of the worst in US television as referring to its sexual content and vulgar language used by the characters in the show.Section Two Full Examination in relation to cultural PluralismThe show was no doubt progressive. It started with negative responses and gained itself positive and best appreciation afterward which is still associ ated with it. As talking about the uninspired conformity it represented in terms of race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity.Race The show did not support racism in particular all the characters were given balanced roles and there was not seen any hatred in terms of racism as it was shown that Joey belonged to some Spanish family. But Rosss second wife Emily was British and they did make fun of her accent but there was no hatred seen as it was part of the irritation being created at that instant. Looking into this matter more critically, the cast is always seen in a coffee shop called Central Perk and on the same sofa every day, it seems as if they are show the dominance and everyone else was not important and not worthy enough to be a part of their i.e. main characters conversation. When Ross dates Julie, a girl from chine, Rachel shows jealousy so she acts rude to her. This episode, where Julie is with all the other characters together in a group and she is being originally nic e to everyone including Rachel but Rachel, in spite of her kindness, abuses Julie and calls her names. Rachel is portrayed as a typical white woman perfect hair and all beautiful. Minorities even if dated do not last longer in the series. Whereas, white people managed to break the circle and they get accepted by everyone. Take example of Mike, Phoebes husband. The show does seem to enforce their typical, white, middle-class lifestyle status, from get-go to end, and it is because of these examples that this show Friends can be tump overed as racist, well just a little I would say.sexual urge As far as sexuality is concerned there were many sexual contents, well I would say an appropriate amount of sexual context, there was however no nudity shown. There was this cutting guy in their neighbors who they used to look pout from their window and describe what hes doing in a funny manner but there was no nudity shown. Another aspect where sexuality was depicted in the show Friends was t he fact that everybody used to moot that Chandler was gay, Joey because of his several sleep around, they used to consider him womanizer. While lesbians, bisexual and transgender characters did not appear in television until 1970s now television sitcoms are seen featuring an entire genre for gays. Rosss ex wife is shown Lesbian and Chandlers father is shown transsexual. The show can be considered as conveying heterosexual values toward a younger audience.Gender Analyzing the sitcom Friends in terms of gender comparison or sexism, it seems the like the overall show is perhaps create verbally in conflict to the so called male dominated society gender binaries that are traditionally known to keep down women. This show is about six friends , three males and three females, again showing the balanced equality in numbers, all in their mid twenties as the series starts, they are living in Manhattan, struggling to develop and manage satisfying careers and as well as romantic relationship s. (Spangler) The show has conveyed an overture in the depiction of women in television, through Rachels character. Here sexual freedom exhibits a turn woman, free from the dominated stereotypes of male dominating society and also the traditional stereotypes that come with the women who sleep around. The way they showed Rachels character, at first she was dependent on her fathers money but consequently she started working as a waitress initially and then progressing finally she succeeded in building an majestic career for herself, she became an inspiration to all women.Ethnicity this genre, situation comedy, has become an integral part of American culture. This show presented a window meant to show us the homes of our favorite characters to know more about their ethnic background and lifestyles like we came to know about Chandlers indifferent behavior towards Christmas and Thanksgiving. Another positive aspect would be the common issue portrayal of group of friends who function ed as family units where rather than parents or siblings they relied on each other for support. While if critically observe this, they failed to include minorities in the depiction of common national or cultural tradition. With the all-American lifestyle depiction, six Americans, unmarried, young people living and struggling totally depicting that todays society is prepossess in choosing friends. Whites go for whites. It can be said that audience would not have watched the show with this buff following if it was about six minority friends. This show might have presented a wrong death about different ethnic groups. People do not want their children to be racist they want them to be diverse. All of the six characters were never seen with a minority they were shown hanging out in a caf or bar that too in a large city. Closely, I saw African-American or Mexican in the background. There was this episode where Joey went for this part in a play after the fit was finished I had seen thr ee minorities heads in the background there were countless of whites though. Later, Rachel escort a new boy friend that is white as well, they do not show any coupling with erosive people.The show which I chose is a product of its time because of the positive responses it received, not to forget the targeted audiences was satisfied with the show it had given them something to relate to and enjoy watching. As the show shown a casual latter day sequence of shots, for example the friends always gathered at the coffee shop to discuss their issues and breakups.Television critics highly praised the run as having constantly sharp script and chemistry linking the foremost actors (Friends climax watched by 51m) few other scholarly and TV critics gave their reviews the jokes could make you laugh a couple of time each episode and the stories written were innovative and very original (Havrilesky) one of the brightest series in comedy (Richmond) the show was successful in making a comeback to their viewers heat and marking their territory (Carter)Cultural consequenceThere are very few of the sitcoms in the history of television which have had long-term Cultural impact. It does not matter how much you categorize the TV programs or how much influence the novel world trend has on it it is a fact that will remain that television sitcoms are not realistic. Its impossible for it to be 100% real because TV is not reality. The stories included are however chunks of the overlords perception. Which they always edit, filter, and script it to manipulate the audiences to drag hug amount of attention and fan following. Rachels hairstyle was noticed a lot tit was even nicknamed as The Rachel (Jicha) and adoptive by many. Joes catchphrase How you doin? also became popular and imitated by many as a pickup line or when greeting or making new friends. Chandlers sarcasm and jokes also influenced viewers it also developed an alternative lifestyle where young people live unconventional domestic lives, it brings to a close way that all you need is some good friends and you can put up family of your choice. This new way of living and create relationships is not normally seen in conventional society.PluralismToday pluralism has become a basic value of human beings communication. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, with other factor including pluralism, cultural variety, and acceptance toward other views and value systems has become a need for trend in society. (Gladkova) Television is a type of medium that makes it easy to carry on a conversation or to convey a message it is a reference point to the culture for most of us. People who watch TV more very much tend to compare themselves with those people in the TV and imitate their behavior, their way of talking, their way of dressing, and adopting their catchphrases or specific dialogues. Now take Friends in this scenario, it is reviewed that people consider that this is the most realistic sitcom as far as tod ays generation is concerned. Observe closely, the story is about three male and three female, all singles, struggling and surviving in New York on their salaries, job and part time jobs, they switch partners just as they change clothes. This is certainly not reality, by chance it is for the writers and the producers, but it is not for the rest of the world. As per the reality is concerned, makers of this show breathe high class lifestyles in town coastal big cities, they codt look up to religious services and they dont even know anyone who does, so through depiction of these television shows they end up reflecting the distorted reality of those who make the shows. And the sexual contents were there in excess which do not really set a good tradition, everybody has slept with everyone.Big changes sometimes happen with sitcoms, in Friends the characters ask out, date, and breakup. If, fortunately they get married, they have babies, or go to London. Writers use this in order to maint ain the surprise factor, they couldnt think of something new and something that can convey a message something useful let say they could have family that adopted a homeless kid. The show do not follow the ever changing context of real line, in contrast the viewer just tune in to see whats next in the line which is systematically created what happens next in a plotline. Like what would be the Rosss reaction when he would see Rachels at the airport. Will Emily dump Ross after he took Rachels name on the wedding altar? Friends, nevertheless, depict postmodernism, and the absolute value of small community in which individual find his/her identity and safety. There was however no religion involved much, apart from occasions like Christmas. The characters werent shown visiting churches apart from only weddings. The other activities like drinking and smoking were however seen as often as it may get which was real enough.Works CitedCarter, Bill. Plot Twists Paid Off For Friends. The New Yor k time (2002 ).Cosgrove, Mather. TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows. CBS News (2002).Friends climax watched by 51m. BBC News (2004).Friends while 1. CBS Interactive Inc. (2004).Gladkova, Anna A. The role of television in cultivating the values of pluralism and cultural diversity in children. Psychology in Russia State of the Art 6.1 (2013).Havrilesky, Heather. Never forget your Friends. SALON (2004).Jicha, Tom. They leave as they began With a buzz. The Baltimore Sun. (2004).Parish, Ken. Farewell to Friends The finale to the 10-year series wraps up all the loose ends. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (2004 ).Richmond, Ray. Season Premiere of Friends Leaves Room to Grow. periodic News of Los Angeles (CA) (1994).Spangler, Lynn C. Television Women from Lucy to Friends Fifty Years of Sitcoms and Feminism. United States of America Greenword Publishing Group, 2003.