Media Critical Paper

SCREENING

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Season One / Episode Six: Mistaken Identity

Classic “fish out of water” formulaic sitcom; Will goes from West Philly to Bel-Air (a very up-scale district in Los Angeles)

Network run: 1990-1996

Widespread off-network syndication worldwide

Created by comedian/satirist Andy Borowitz (1958- ) who now writes a satirical political column for New Yorker magazine.

In this episode, Will Smith (Will Smith, 1973- ) and Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro, 1971- ) are arrested as they drive from Los Angeles to Palm Springs.

The Formulaic Nature of the Situation Comedy

As a genre, the situation comedy can be understood as a highly ritualized attempt at problem solving. Indeed, the “situation” is always problematic. Characters get into trouble, and they have to overcome it in about 18 minutes. How they overcome it is the comedy part! The limited time frame requires economical writing, one reason the genre is so very difficult for writers to master and why the genre tends to be so formulaic.

The genre is ideologically volatile, because the problematic situation very often taps into social, political, and economic issues. The genre does this, because the problematic situation has to be immediately recognized by the audience. There is a reductive element to the writing; complex issues have to be streamlined to fit into the time frame.

Additionally, there is almost always a stereotyping of characters in the genre; stereotyping makes the characters immediately recognizable. Part of the success of this series is that it plays against racist stereotypes in our culture. And this famous episode, especially, deals with race and social class.

As we conclude our reading of Stuart Hall’s influential work in the area of Cultural Studies, consider the episode as a location for ideological struggle. What values clash in this episode? What seems to be the implied hegemonic or dominant ideology, and how is it challenged? In whose interest is the world put “right” by the episode’s closure? As an example of rhetorical strategy, what seems to be the episode’s persuasive element? What is the so-called privileged reading position for audience members? What are the narrative functions of the character Bob?

“One is the loneliest number you will ever do.” (Bob is played by Raymond McLeod)