That 70s Show Satire

For this paper, I have chosen to analyze the sitcom That 70s Show. This show follows the lives of a group of teenage friends: Jackie, Donna, Hyde, Kelso, Eric, and Fez. The show addresses many social issues of the 1970s, including: Sexism, sexual attitudes, drug use, and the recession. It also highlights many of the inventions and developments of the entertainment industry, such as the remote control and Star Wars.

David Farber and Bethy Bailey’s America in the 70’s is a collection from nine authors giving insight on the misunderstood decade. Each author draws heavily on the popular culture in the seventies to illustrate the political and economic transformation. Overshadowed by the 1960s, the seventies are thought to lack passionate champions and struggled in economic transformation. That, with the addition of the defeat in Vietnam, the loss in faith of the president after three failed presidencies and race and gender issues helped camouflage this decade. Americans had “uncertainty about the meaning of happiness, success, patriotism and national identity” (pg. 2).

Imagine a world where everyone was accepted, no matter where they came from. It’s a dream world, am I right? Everyone has to come up in the world, and make their own place for themselves. Well, in Fresh off the Boat, Eddie Huang has to do this in the suburban world of Orlando. Being Taiwanese, he does not exactly fit into the stereotypical ‘American’ life. So, in this series, he and his family work hard to live the American dream.

Imagine, if you will, a time that seemed innocent... almost too innocent. Imagine a nation under whose seemingly conformist and conservative surface dramatic social changes were brewing, changes as obvious as integration and as subtle as fast food. And imagine, if you will, a radical television show that scrutinized, criticized, and most importantly, publicized these changes, making the social turmoil of a nation apparent to its post-world war, self-contented middle-class citizens. But what if this television show was not as it appeared? What if it masqueraded as simple science fiction, and did not reveal its true agenda until viewers took a closer look? Let us examine how

The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil

“The Golden Girls” is an iconic television show set in 1980’s Miami that not only provides insight to aging in America through humor, but sometimes lectures the viewer on social topics with an obvious liberal agenda. Even though I have probably viewed every episode hundreds of times over the past thirty years, I still find myself eager to watch it every night at bedtime to end the stresses of the day on a happy note. I do not always agree with the opinions expressed by the characters or the outcome of a particular episode. However, I still come back for more each night because most episodes end on a happy note, and that allows me to drift into sleep with a little less stress on my mind.

The seventies is often seen as a lost decade, merged between the optimistic sixties and the opportunistic eighties. Bruce J. Schulman argues, in his book titled, “The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture”, that this period ignores changes brought by the 1970s. This period brought changes in the economy, shifts in culture, politics, race, family and religious values. The United States faced many transformations that helped shape our country to this day. Schulman begins to explain his thesis, “The Seventies transformed American economic and cultural life as much as, if not more than, the revolutions in manners and morals of the 1920s and the 1960s.” The information that I will present will summarize the changes that affected the United

For many people in the United States, the late 1970s were a distraught time. Events such as the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War had weakened Americans’ confidence in their government and fellow citizens. Many Americans embraced a new conservatism in social, economic, and political life during the 1980s, marked by the policies of President Ronald Reagan. The decade of the 80s is remembered for its materialism and consumerism, the rise of the “yuppie,” an outbreak of blockbuster movies, and the rise of cable networks which launched the careers of many iconic artists.

Similar to the 1960’s, the 1970’s were a decade of social upheaval. Events such as the killing of students at Kent State University, Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War characterized the decade. The director-driven movies of this decade reflect much of the societal turmoil. One of the most popular films of the 1970’s was M*A*S*H, which was a satirical comedy about the Korean War. Additionally, the 1970’s marked the beginning of prominent comedy directors, in particular, Woody Allen.

For Americans, the 1960’s were a time of both unnerving turmoil and exciting change. Following on the heels of the 1950’s themes of tradition and conformity, the contrasting events and attitudes in the sixties constituted a perfect storm leading to a reconstruction of American social, cultural, and political ideals. Although each decade has experienced identifying features, events occurring during the sixties provided for a definitive coming of age era for the United States. While much of this revolution can be attributed to the events themselves, the medium used for disseminating these ideas bears some of the responsibility. Throughout the decade television replaced radio and newspaper as the primary source of news and entertainment.

What is a stereotype? The Free Dictionary defines a stereotype as “a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group” (Stereotype). Although many people may not realize it, stereotypes influence how they interact with others each day. People judge others because of their race, ethnicity, religion, and heritage before they even know the person. These judgements come from stereotypes they encounter in their lives. There are plenty of news stories, movies, and television shows that portray these stereotypes. However, Seth McFarland’s television show “Family Guy” uses satire to highlight stereotypes in today’s society. The show’s use of ethnic humor includes a lot of

The 1970s was an extremely interesting decade when it comes to the political history and social issues. Many things have occurred to ensure that. The decade was full of things that made a huge impact on the social view of the United States along with the country political views. According to History.com, this decade was a tumultuous time. It was a continuation of the previous decade, the 1960s. In many ways the 1970s made an enormous impact on America.

“Mom, and David how was growing up in the 70s and 80s?” I asked my mother and stepfather that question one night at dinner after reading No Direction Home and watching Menace to Society. They both stated that the 70s and 80s were decades that one may had to struggle to survive from day to day. Many of today’s historians have progressively characterized the 70s as a decade of transformation, in world history concentrating mainly on the financial disruptions. My stepfather always tells me about life during the 80s. I don’t know much about the 70s and 80s other than what I have read from history books or listening to family stories. Two of the good things of the 80s I remember is me and my brother being born in February,1987 and August,1988. During

The 1970s can be best understood as a transitional period in America. Starting in the 1950s, the power of the youth was on the rise, through civil rights activism and anti-war protests. This decade’s ideal citizen seemed to be the person helping others. Then the 1980s are more financially centered and individualistic. This decade’s ideal citizen is the one who measured success by how much money they made. The 1970s proved to be a time of bitterness, cynicism, and increased interest in one’s self for most of the people in America. Some of the events that contributed to this were the Kent State Massacre, Roe v. Wade, and the economic stagflation that happened in the latter part of the decade.

Have you ever wondered what entertainment was like in the seventies and what you would do to have fun? The seventies was the generation where entertainment became popular because of all the new inventions. Entertainment during the 1970’s was very popular: music became more up beat, video games became more widespread, and movies became more action packed. During the 1970s, the popularity of music skyrocketed.