Is joking about domestic violence, verbal abuse, sexuality, and racism funny? According to Antonia Peacocke in “Family Guy and Freud,” it is. She tries to argue that Family Guy is not an offensive show to viewers. Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that the show is a comedy and truly is not trying to offend viewers, but this is where I disagree. The author incorrectly claims that Family Guy can try to be removed but never will, argues that the show relates to American culture, and states that Family Guy does no harm to society. In the article, Peacocke, who is a supporter of Family Guy, explains how even though the show has been booted off the air before, the show always makes its way back on the air; although Peacocke may believe this, I believe it causes controversy with continuing to cancel the show then it being aired again. Peacocke states, “Fox had the cartoon censored and irregularly scheduled; as a result its ratings fell so low that 2002 saw its second cancellation… But then it came back on in vengeance” ( 301). She is saying that the no matter how hard viewers try to get the show to be cancelled it will somehow make its way back on air. However, I disagree with Peacocke's view that the show will be able to keep re-appearing after being cancelled. If Family Guy continues to use derogatory language and be racist, sexist, and politically incorrect, then eventually viewers will begin a battle to make the show be cancelled indefinitely. Family Guy will be discontinued if it proceeds to not censor the shows and correct the problematic matters that tv watchers are offended in today's society. Peacocke claims that Family Guy relates to the life of American culture. She believes that “. . . those who pay more attention and think about the creators’ intentions can see that Family Guy intelligently satirizes some aspects of American culture” (303). Peacocke is mistaken because she overlooks the feelings of viewers that hear and take in the harsh brutalities Family Guy is “jokingly” airing to make viewers “laugh” and “enjoy.” I strongly disagree with her when she says with more exposure she found herself adapting to the show (303). The show is hurtful to those it makes fun of and mocks; it does not “relate to the American culture.” If “relating to the American culture” is being sexist, racist, and domestically violent, then citizens might want to reconsider the country they are living in. I do not see this show as reflecting the American culture, in fact, I see it insulting to those who have suffered the hardships this show is mocking. Peacocke continues to make a false argument when defending Family Guy saying it does not mean to offend any viewers. She clarifies, “In fact, Family Guy does not aim to hurt, and its creators take certain measures to keep it from hitting too hard” (307). She is saying that the show is not intentionally trying to hurt the feelings of those who watch. By focusing on the “comedy” part of the show, Peacocke overlooks the deeper problem of what the words and motions the characters on family guy truly mean. TV has an influence on viewers in today's society, so the creators of family guy might be looking at the words the characters of the show are saying, but what they aren't realizing are the actions they are making. It is the influence of the actions made by the characters that can also be offensive to some and “hit too hard,” but all the creators are looking at is what the characters say. Furthermore, the words are not the only measures that are becoming offensive to viewers. Antonia Peacocke in “Family Guy and Freud” incorrectly argues that Family Guy is a comical show that does no harm to others. Family Guy is a show that offends many viewers with the content of verbally abusive language and domestic violence. The verbal abuse in this show ranges from sexism to racism. The domestic abuse shows viewers that is okay in the American culture. The author incorrectly claims that Family Guy can try to be removed but never will, it relates to America’s culture, and that the show does not mean to offend others.
Works Cited Peacocke, Antonia. "Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 299-311. Print.