Title

From wise to foolish: The portrayal of the sitcom father, 1950s-1990s

Authors

Erica Scharrer

Publication Date

2001

Journal or Book Title

Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media

Abstract

An exploratory content analysis of family-oriented sitcoms shows modern television fathers and working class television fathers are more likely to be portrayed foolishly than fathers of the past or fathers of higher socioeconomic classes. A sample of long-running and top rated domestic sitcoms from the 1950s through the 1990s is examined. A theoretical argument is made that the portrayal of sitcom fathers can be linked to changing social climates in which certain jokes become "fair game."

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15506878jobem4501_3

Pages

23-40

Volume

45

Issue

1

This document is currently not available here.

COinS