The television classic, Friends, is a crowd-pleasing comedy that people of all ages continue to enjoy. The show itself does not have a continuous plot, but its eclectic collection of characters managed to keep it going for a staggering 236 episodes. In Alex's blog, she applied our newfound knowledge of the theories of humor and comedy to the sitcom while also pointing out individuals who present them. For this blog, I plan to continue exploring the characters individually and attempt to relate them to Freud's theories of comedy.
Joey Tribbiani
- "little kid" humor
- victim of much superiority humor
Joey, in my opinion, is one of if not the most laughable character. He fulfills the comical archetype of the attractive actor without any brain cells to spare. The other characters enforce their mental superiority over him regularly while the audience follows his personal antics, sexual escapades, and career.
Chandler Bing
- sarcasm
- over-inflated
Chandler has never been my favorite character. In comparison to the rest, I find him to be one of the more regular characters. This makes him very relatable to the audience and allows us to channel our own lives while watching him. Out of the theories of comedy, I would most associate Chandler with the relief theory because of the light he brings to inconveniences and instances we can all relate to.
Phoebe Buffay
- incongruity theory to a tee
- airheaded nature
Now onto Phoebe, my personal favorite, and the character I most identify with. Naming another character like Phoebe is near impossible, and that is simply what makes her so great. Her extreme individuality and contrast to those around her shed light and laughter on any scene she is in.
Rachel Green
- "princess" character
- victim of superiority theory and her own stupidity
Rachel, probably the most problematic of the bunch. She is introduced to the audience as a flighty girl led by her heart, not her heart. Like Chandler, Rachel is a pretty run of the mill character whose mistakes and triumphs we cannot help but follow and link to our own experiences.
Ross Geller
- personality applies him to the incongruity theory
-nerdy nature and bad luck makes him an easy target for superiority humor
Unlike the rest of our male characters, Ross Geller appeals to the more sensitive and intellectual side of the male psyche. His quirks and ticks are what make him the lovable and humorous character we know him as.
Monica Geller
- extreme personality features
- another case of incongruity theory
Monica, the last of our characters is most well known for her OCD tendencies and controlling nature. The struggles that Monica faces tend to be self-conflicted, leaving the audience to laugh at her and the hoops she must jump through and the challenges she must overcome.
That's a very helpful character sketch. It seems like you break down the show into those who we are laughing at (Joey Phoebe Rachel), those who we are laughing with (Chandler, Monica) and those who are laughing at themselves (Ross), who are self deprecating. Some people have suggested that Chandler might be in the last category too.
ReplyDeleteI love how you analyzed each character separately and how each character fits into one or more of the theories! This is a definite example of how the humor theories can be directly correlated into this show and why this show is so popular. Clearly because there is such a variety of characters, each with their own personality, that we can all relate to in some way or another.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your point on the other characters enforcing their mental superiority over Joey, and I have definitely started to notice this during the show recently. Joey is a great example of the superiority theory of humor. I also liked how you gave your opinion on each character as well as what theory of humor you related them to.
ReplyDeleteI love how your response examines each character further in depth. After reading Alex's post I had a brief understanding of each character and their different types of humor. However after reading your post I now have even more knowledge on the show and how the three theories relate. This was extremely helpful!
ReplyDeleteI love how you took time to analyze each character and provide insight into the possible theories of humor they represent! Assuming the Superiority Theory exists, I agree with your claim that Joey "is a victim of much superiority humor." The audience considering Joey's actions inferior and laughing in response to this superiority they feel is one valid argument. But, what if we are NOT laughing because we feel superior to Joey's actions? What if we're laughing because his inferior actions are not how we expect a fully grown mid-twenties man to act? If that's the case, Joey's humor is more closely related to the Incongruity Theory. Or maybe there IS some sense of superiority we feel (allowing ourselves to release our tension and insecurities for a moment), but this feeling is partnered by the humor of not knowing how Joey will act next. Anyway, just a thought. Alex mentioned how Chandler's humor could be explained by the superiority theory. I agree with your claim that his form of comedy is better explained by the Relief Theory.
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