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
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Cringe Comedy
- Controversial topics and violating social norms
- Physical distancing from embarrassment
- Empathy and relief
- Masculinities
- Toxic masculinity
- Cringe Comedy
- Men in Media
- The research method
- The text: Peep Show
- Text type
- Research circumstances
- Expectations
- Analysis
- Filming techniques
- Camera: Point-of-view
- Language: Interior Monologues
- Narrative Strategy
- Complex Characters: This is my chance to be a proper human being
- Love life
- Power struggles
- Relationship Roles
- Mismatched Duos
- Hunt for love
- Cringy sex
- Homophobia: I've always been a bit gay
- Breaking a taboo: It wasn't rape, alright?
- Male violence: He's a violent teddy bear
- Filming techniques
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis investigates the relationship between cringe comedy and the portrayal of masculinity in the British television series, Peep Show. The study aims to understand how cringe comedy functions as a tool to critique and expose toxic masculinity. It examines the show's use of humor to explore and challenge traditional gender roles and societal expectations surrounding men in British culture.
- The use of cringe comedy as a form of social commentary.
- The portrayal of masculinity and toxic masculinity in Peep Show.
- The relationship between humor, embarrassment, and self-reflection in the show.
- The role of cringe comedy in challenging traditional gender roles.
- The cultural significance of Peep Show within the context of British television.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of cringe comedy and its growing popularity in Anglophone cultures. It highlights the lack of research on the intersection between cringe comedy and masculinity, establishing the thesis's aim to bridge this gap by analyzing Peep Show. The introduction also establishes the show’s unique position in British television and its potential to reveal insights into societal attitudes towards masculinity.
Literature Review: This chapter provides a critical review of existing literature on cringe comedy and masculinities. It explores various facets of cringe comedy, such as its use of controversial topics, its creation of physical and emotional distance from embarrassment, and its capacity to elicit empathy and relief in the audience. The chapter also delves into the complexities of masculinity, particularly toxic masculinity, providing a theoretical framework for understanding the show's portrayal of male characters.
Men in Media: This section likely examines the existing portrayals of men in media, particularly within the context of British television. It will explore how previous representations of masculinity have contributed to or challenged societal norms. It might also touch upon the role of media in shaping perceptions and understanding of gender roles.
The research method: This chapter details the methodology employed in the thesis, specifically focusing on the chosen text, Peep Show. It clarifies the text type, the research circumstances, and the researcher's expectations for the analysis. The choice of Peep Show is justified within the context of its cultural significance and its suitability for exploring the themes of the thesis.
Analysis: This extensive chapter provides a detailed analysis of Peep Show, focusing on how the show uses various cinematic and narrative techniques to portray masculinity. It unpacks the complexities of the characters, especially Mark and Jeremy, examining their relationships, struggles, and flawed behaviors. Specific examples from the show are likely used to demonstrate how cringe comedy is employed to expose and critique toxic masculinity. Sub-sections dealing with themes of love, homophobia, and violence would be analyzed within the larger context of the show's use of cringe comedy.
Keywords
Cringe comedy, toxic masculinity, Peep Show, British television, gender roles, humor, embarrassment, social commentary, cultural studies, media studies, gender studies.
Peep Show: A Study of Cringe Comedy and Masculinity - FAQ
What is the main focus of this thesis?
This thesis investigates the portrayal of masculinity in the British television series Peep Show, specifically examining how cringe comedy functions as a tool to critique and expose toxic masculinity. It analyzes how the show uses humor to explore and challenge traditional gender roles and societal expectations surrounding men in British culture.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
The key themes include the use of cringe comedy as social commentary, the portrayal of masculinity and toxic masculinity in Peep Show, the relationship between humor, embarrassment, and self-reflection, the role of cringe comedy in challenging traditional gender roles, and the cultural significance of Peep Show within British television.
What is the methodology used in this research?
The research method centers on a detailed analysis of the British television series Peep Show. The thesis details the text type, research circumstances, and researcher expectations. The choice of Peep Show is justified based on its cultural significance and suitability for exploring the thesis's themes.
How does the thesis analyze Peep Show?
The analysis focuses on how Peep Show uses cinematic and narrative techniques (like point-of-view shots and interior monologues) to portray masculinity. It examines the complexities of the characters, their relationships, struggles, and flawed behaviors. Specific examples from the show demonstrate how cringe comedy exposes and critiques toxic masculinity, covering themes such as love, homophobia, and male violence within this context.
What aspects of cringe comedy are examined?
The thesis explores various facets of cringe comedy, including its use of controversial topics, the creation of physical and emotional distance from embarrassment, and its capacity to elicit empathy and relief in the audience. It examines how these elements contribute to the show's overall commentary on masculinity.
What is the role of the literature review?
The literature review provides a critical analysis of existing research on cringe comedy and masculinities. It establishes a theoretical framework for understanding the portrayal of male characters in Peep Show by exploring different aspects of cringe comedy and the complexities of masculinity, including toxic masculinity.
What are the chapter summaries?
The thesis includes chapters on the introduction (defining cringe comedy and the thesis's aims), a literature review (on cringe comedy and masculinity), an overview of men in media (likely focusing on British television), the research method (detailing the analysis of Peep Show), and a detailed analysis of Peep Show itself, exploring various themes within the show's use of cringe comedy.
What are the keywords associated with this thesis?
The keywords include cringe comedy, toxic masculinity, Peep Show, British television, gender roles, humor, embarrassment, social commentary, cultural studies, media studies, and gender studies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Victoria Pels (Autor:in), 2022, The cultural phenomenon of cringe comedy and its effects on toxic masculinity in "Peep Show", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1316561
