24th Annual Student Research Conference
Boys in the Burbs: A Critical Analysis of The Boondocks
Alyse N. Jenkins
Dr. Elizabeth M. Clark, Faculty Mentor
African Americans are underrepresented in sitcoms even though sitcoms make up two out of three television programs. Furthermore, African Americans are underrepresented in literature about family interactions and in media criticism. By using a critical analysis approach focused on genre studies of the animated sitcom series the Boondocks, the study examines the nature of characters roles and their experiences as a family. Additionally, the research analysis determined how the characters roles and experiences reflect broader changes in cultural values of African Americans today and the sitcom genre. This study aimed to broaden the understanding of the contemporary sitcom genre and African American family structure roles. The research discovered that the Boondocks contains similarities to previously identified themes in the sitcom genre, but did not find a change in African American family Structure. However, there was evidence to support tension in race relationships and between the older and the younger generations.
Keywords: the Boondocks , sitcoms , genre studies , African Americans , animated sitcom
Topic(s):Communication
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 45-3
Location: VH 1228
Time: 3:15