Coursework Unit 1: Sitcom DVD CoversQuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

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Key Concepts: Audiences and Representations Unit Aims:1. 2. 3. 4. Understand the appeal of sitcoms and how they are QuickTime and a constructed TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Study a range of different kinds of sitcoms considering the way they appeal to different audiences Understand the purpose of DVD covers as marketing Design and construct a DVD cover for a new sitcomQuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

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Lesson Aims:1. Understand what a sitcom is 2. Learn the basic conventions of a sitcom 3. Identify common character archetypes used in sitcoms.QuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

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Four Important Things to Know About Sitcoms Situation Comedy is defined as: A humorous radio or television series featuring the reactions of a regular cast of characters to unusual situations, such as misunderstandings or embarrassing coincidences. Sitcoms style of storytelling is very old, examples of it can be seen in parts of Ancient Greek Theatre, Italian Commedia Dell Arte and Shakespeare as well as being a successful genre in the radio era. Sitcom with conventions as we know it came into existence with the rise of television in the 1940s. Modern sitcoms often combine sitcom with other TV Genres such as Drama (Scrubs) and Reality (The Office). For the purposes of this unit we will be mainly studying sitcom in its most conventional form.

The Basic Conventions of Situation Comedy1. A regular set of characters family, group of friends, co-workersQuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

1. A regular simple setting Homes, schools, workplaces

1. A Situation A reason for all the characters to be stuck together - eg. Stuck in a Family - My Wife and Kids Workplace - Scrubs Apartment Block - Friends Prison - Porridge Island - Gilligans Island Spaceship - Red Dwarf

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The Basic Conventions of Situation Comedy4.

StorylinesReflect the concerns and values of their target audience Simple and usually resolved in a single episode Doesnt affect the overall situation. In sitcom nothing ever changes

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5.

Comedy Mostly dialogue/character driven Misunderstandings and confusion very common Some Slapstick/physical comedy

6.

Actors Have to be reliable and respected comic performers Dont always have to be famous but this often helps sell a sitcomQuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture.

A Stereotype is simplified view or opinion about a group of people.EXAMPLES: All Australians wrestle crocodiles All English people drink tea All Evil people wear black All Good people wear white All Teenagers carry knives

Stereotypes and Archetypes

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An Archetype is the fictional perfect example of a stereotype. Media texts such as sitcoms both: USE stereotypes/archetypes to help us understand characters SUPPORT stereotypes/archetypes by using them again and again.

Mr Men and Little Miss characters rely on simple archetypes to tell their stories.

What Archetypes could be connoted here?

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Sitcom Archetypes The Square Often protagonist Most Normal Character May still be funny but keeps the story realistic

The Wisecracker Always has something to say Makes a joke out of anything May annoy or irritate some other characters

Sitcom Archetypes The Bully Not usually mean but very rude Will pick on weaker characters Often wound up by the wisecracker

The Precocious The Cute Kid Always friendly Designed to make the audience go Awwwww

Sitcom Archetypes The Dork A Hollywood Nerd/Geek. May not look geeky but is much more so than the other characters

The Goofball Wild and crazy Does the unexpected Social misfit Usually has a heart of gold

Sitcom Archetypes The Stick Uptight and loves rules Spends most of their time getting angry when rules are broken The Sage Older character Provides advice to others Usually not part of main plots

Task 1: Watch the start of the first episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air and identify each characters Archetype. Give at least TWO examples of how this character is represented as their archetype.

Homework: Use the internet to find an example of a sitcom character who you can identify the archetype of. Give information on one PowerPoint slide including their: Picture Name Sitcom they are on Archetype Important representations that let us know what kind of person they are.

Email to your class teacher by 7pm Tuesday night.

Homework Example:Sitcom Archetype Case Study:Name: Bender Sitcom: Futurama Archetype: Bully/Wisecracker Representations: Always makes a joke out of every situation Is very selfish and only ever looks after his own needs Destroys things and offends other characters In this picture he is scowling and is often angry