Identities in Family Guy: Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality and Nationality.

Family guy is a comedic cartoon satire addressing America’s political and social influences on culture, ideologies and principles. American viewers are able to relate because this sitcom tackles everyday values, beliefs and at many times in a very blunt, outright manner. The hidden beliefs that many American may keep secret in order to maintain political correctness are exposed through sardonic and comical situations within the show. These situations address labels within society relating to race, class gender, sexuality and nationality. Through satire, Family Guy is able to depict the norm’s (American, white, middle-class married heterosexual couple with children) dominating oppressive influence over deviant identities that do not fit into the ideal American family. How and why these identities are made to be deviant stem from the hegemony, political and social influence over a nation and Family Guy uses this ideology of control to flip it and use it as raw humor. Instead of being saddened by the reality, we are therefore able to laugh at it. Lucky there’s a Family Guy!

Using Family Guy’s season four episode, “Don’t Make Me Over”, I will analyze the show’s use of satire when portraying identity through assumptions, standards and stereotypes.

Race

Chris: “Um, Mr. Doctor, if you get shot in a rap feud, can you perform surgery on yourself? “

Puff Daddy: “Well, no, Chris, my degree is in optometry.”

• Chris’ question to producer Puff Daddy suggests that all African Americans within the rap entertainment industry seemingly engage into acts of violence where they may be shot and injured by an opposing rap artist.

Brian: “(barking) Oh, God. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Oh, my God. That-that is not me. That's not who I am. I vote Democrat. Uh, it will not happen again. W-We cool? We good?”

:: Puff Daddy exits leaving just the Griffin Family::

Brian: “You, uh, y-you guys know I have no problem with black people, right?”

Peter,” Lois, Chris, Meg & Stewie: Oh, yeah, sure. Yeah, yeah, sure.”

Stewie: “Well, you did say you hated Crooklyn”

• Brian’s violent barking at the producer suggests to the audience that he has a problem with African Americans and he tries to redeem himself by claiming his vote for the democratic party

Class

The Griffin family starred in Family guy portrays the typical ideal American white middle class family. They reside in a home in the suburbs of Rhode Island with a dog and garage. Financially they have no difficulties and if so, by the end of the episode these issue are resolved. Family guy represents the heterosexual, middle class. White married couple with kids, a home and pet dog. This representation typical known as the American Dream.

Gender

Tricia Takanawa: “Some lucky hideous woman will be transformed by our makeover magicians into someone of value to society.”

• Tricia’s referral to a hideous woman suggest that woman that do not fit the American white woman standards are hideous, and therefore lucky to be getting a makeover to transform them into a more beautiful woman. This more beautiful woman would then become a value to society because she now fits into the American beauty standard.

Sexuality

Producer: “We gotta get her half-naked and put her out front, center stage, and that's gonna make y'all billionaires, because America loves hot, white jailbait ass.”

Meg: “Shut up, Mom, it's not your decision! I want to be exploited.”

• Meg’s producer is more interested in turning her new look into a teen sex symbol for America to gawk at than the actual music itself. The exploitation of young women in pop culture, such as in music, television, movies and magazines has become one of the industry’s highest profit margins. Celebrities who refuse to conform to the typical white American beauty (thin, long hair, colored eyes) and show more skin are usually made to be unwanted by the American mainstream media. Meg’s want for this is not a personal but social goal. She knows that if she conforms to this ideal image, she will be accepted and successful. If not, she will be shunned, disregarded and unwanted

Nationality

• Miss Swan, Meg’s personal nail technician appears in the episode giving Meg a pedicure on the tour bus. Her heavy accent, appearance and career suggest that many Asian women come to the United States for careers at nail salons where they provide services for nail, body and facial care. A majority of the nail and massage spas are primarily employed by Asian workers, who usually speak their native language but have conformed to American fashions due to their clientele.

Family Guy. “Don’t Make Me Over.”

Season 4, Volume Three, Disc One, DVD. 6/5/05

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation: Beverly Hills, CA. 2005.