This thesis looks at the ongoing phenomenon of cringe comedy in British contemporary television. Taking a cultural studies perspective, it argues that cringe comedy affects toxic masculinity and the way one perceives masculinities. A close reading of the TV series Peep Show provides a number of examples that give insight into how masculinities are constructed in cringe comedy television and the ideology that comes with awkward jokes. Even though the viewing numbers have always been low for Peep Show, it can be considered a prime example of British comedic television and its recent developments.
With increasing awareness of toxic masculinities and the increasing popularity of cringe comedy television formats that undoubtedly shape Western societies and cultures, it becomes relevant to investigate how humour affects gender stereotypes. When exploring the function of comedy and awkwardness in media, Kotsko (“Awkwardness”) and Middelton found that awkwardness creates a shift to self-reflecting formats, where the spectatorship is being irritated by the uncomfortableness they feel when their expectations are not met on television programs. Studying the meanings of jokes and gender is relevant to understanding how one interacts in cultures and how they use humour as a social tool. This paper contributes to the fields of cultural studies, media studies, and gender studies since humour is used to rationalise social norms in British society, directly its culture. I will argue that the sitcom Peep Show uses cringe comedy as a tool to uncover, create and criticise toxic masculinity characteristics within our society by evoking laughter in the audience.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Literature Review
2.1 Cringe Comedy
2.1.1 Controversial topics and violating social norms
2.1.2 Physical distancing from embarrassment
2.1.3 Empathy and relief
2.2 Masculinities
2.2.1 Toxic masculinity
3 Men in Media
4 The research method
4.1 The text: Peep Show
4.2 Text type
4.3 Research circumstances
4.4 Expectations
5 Analysis
5.1 Filming techniques
5.1.1 Camera: Point-of-view
5.1.2 Language: Interior Monologues
5.1.3 Narrative Strategy
5.2 Complex Characters: This is my chance to be a proper human being
5.3 Love life
5.3.1 Power struggles
5.3.2 Relationship Roles
5.3.3 Mismatched Duos
5.3.4 Hunt for love
5.3.5 Cringy sex
5.4 Homophobia: I’ve always been a bit gay
5.5 Breaking a taboo: It wasn't rape, alright?
5.6 Male violence: He’s a violent teddy bear
6 Conclusion
7 References
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the role of cringe comedy in British television, specifically focusing on how the sitcom Peep Show utilizes this subgenre to uncover, construct, and critique characteristics of toxic masculinity. By adopting a cultural studies perspective, the research investigates the intersection between humorous discomfort and traditional gender roles.
- The subgenre of cringe comedy as a tool for political and social commentary.
- Deconstruction of hegemonic and toxic masculinity through fictional character analysis.
- The impact of filming techniques (POV/Internal Monologue) on audience engagement and empathy.
- Examination of taboo-breaking subject matter, including male victimization in cases of sexual assault and violence.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1.2 Language: Interior Monologues
Apart from Peep Show’s POV shots, the use of interior monologues through a voice-over is another characterising feature of the show. Alongside POV filming, the interior monologues demonstrate how individuals are their own observers, constantly trying to analyse and judge their own behaviours and mannerisms. Through the voice-over the characters function as the narrators of their own lives, able to question and critique their behaviour.
“Often, sitcom relies on the disparity between characters’ knowledge and audiences’ knowledge for its comic effect, and audiences can laugh securely in their superior position” (Mills 62-3). Because the audience can hear Mark and Jeremy’s thoughts, superiority and therefore humour does not work entirely that way in this text. The audience stands in a different relation to the characters and their actions since they have more knowledge than other characters. The distance between the characters and audience disappears and they are not dissociated from their embarrassing actions and thoughts. Humour now derives from the cringe aspect that this lack of distance entails, as shall examined in more detail during this analysis.
Chapter Summary
1 Introduction: Introduces the sitcom Peep Show as a primary example of cringe comedy and outlines the thesis goal of exploring how it critiques toxic masculinity within British society.
2 Literature Review: Provides the theoretical grounding by defining cringe comedy, embarrassment, and toxic masculinity, utilizing psychological and sociological frameworks.
3 Men in Media: Analyzes the depiction of male characters in sitcoms and the cultural expectations of masculinity that often dictate these representations.
4 The research method: Details the content analysis approach applied to the series and specifically the episode "Jeremy’s Mummy," noting the sampling and narrative focus.
5 Analysis: The core chapter dissects the filming techniques, character complexity, dysfunctional relationships, and sensitive topics like homophobia, sexual assault, and violence as depicted in the show.
6 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that while Peep Show effectively uses cringe to expose social issues, it simultaneously operates within a thin line of potentially reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes.
7 References: A comprehensive list of cited episodes and academic works.
Keywords
Cringe comedy, Toxic masculinity, Peep Show, British television, Hegemonic masculinity, Sitcom, Social norms, Gender stereotypes, Humor studies, Embarrassment, Shame, Male rape, Masculinity in crisis, Cultural studies, Point-of-view
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores how the contemporary British sitcom Peep Show employs cringe comedy as a strategic tool to analyze, uncover, and critique characteristics of toxic masculinity.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The work covers cultural studies, gender studies, and media studies, specifically looking at humor theories, social norms, the construction of masculinity, and the depiction of sensitive issues like sexual violence in media.
What is the core research question?
The study asks how a cringe comedy sitcom uses its specific style and narrative devices to effectively address and challenge societal ideologies concerning gender and toxic masculinity.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author performs a thorough content analysis of the entire Peep Show series, complemented by a detailed "close reading" analysis of the specific episode "Jeremy's Mummy."
What does the main analytical section cover?
The analysis investigates the show's unique filming techniques (POV/voice-over), the construction of "complex characters," and how these elements facilitate the exploration of power struggles, failures in relationships, and critical taboo topics.
What are the key terms that define the research?
The work is characterized by terms such as cringe comedy, toxic masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, embarrassment, shame, and the "outsider status" of characters within social structures.
How does the thesis handle the sensitive episode "Jeremy's Mummy"?
The author uses the rape incident in this episode to argue that Peep Show subverts the typical male-as-oppressor narrative by placing a male character in a victim position, thereby forcing the audience to confront issues regarding male trauma and failures in the justice system.
Does the author perceive Peep Show as a pure critique of masculinity?
The author concludes that while the show is successful in sparking debate and breaking taboos, it walks a fine line and occasionally risks reinforcing the very stereotypes it aims to dismantle due to the absence of "culturally necessary" resolutions to its characters' conflicts.
- Quote paper
- Victoria Pels (Author), 2022, The cultural phenomenon of cringe comedy and its effects on toxic masculinity in "Peep Show", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1316561
