Genre Theory and That 70's Show

That 70’s show is a sitcom based around disco balls, tacky clothes and bell-bottoms. With a tacky generation to stereotype it’s no wonder That 70’s Show fits the genre of a situational comedy. According to Grossberg, genre theory is a group of text that has a common theme (Grossberg, 159). The setting, like most situational comedies is set around the occurrences in the home.

With the show’s laugh track, and humorous embarrassments the genre in this show is clearly a situational comedy.
That 70’s Show has many conventions typical to a comedy. The viewer is certain of the genre as they watch and laugh at the mistakes the characters make. The show revolves around a group of teenagers exploring an adolescent world that creates humorous situational comedy for viewers. While the younger generation watching the show did not experience the 70’s era themselves, these viewers can still relate to the love struck embarrassment, awkward development and rebellion that all of the main characters go through. In this situational comedy, like many others, characters are set up to act funny. The viewer understands the “articulation” of the text and interprets the messages according to the young adults’ experiences (Grossberg, 161).

This comedy, like most situational comedies, is derived from social situations that the characters deal with. The audience understands Eric’s struggle with authority and his struggle to find his individuality. The audience reads many of the awkward scenarios of a stereotypical teenager and laugh at their own related experience.
With all of the conventions of a comedy found in That 70’s Show it’s obvious that we don’t need to “read” the show. The messages come accross to the audience clearly and effortlessly. Since the show is stereotyped around an American middle class family living in the 70's, the viewer need only understand the norms of that time. In fact, the show creates its humour from characters misinterpreting or valuing the social stereotypes and values of the period. With all of the conventions of a comedy that is evident in each episode, the viewer can be certain That 70's Show is a comedy. That 70’s Show clearly corresponds with its genre.

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Written by Sarah Potter