Genre framing in discourses surrounding comedy television remakes between the UK and the US

Bylina, Lisabeth (2017) Genre framing in discourses surrounding comedy television remakes between the UK and the US. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Traded as a format between Britain and the US, the sitcom has traditionally been
understood as closely connected to its socio-cultural context (Tueth, 2005; Wagg,
1998) and as being characterised by its humorous intent (Eaton, 1978; Mills, 2009).
Current format studies of sitcoms illustrate the variety of ways in which the final
texts relate to their local contexts, offering either comparative analyses between
versions or singular critiques of programmes focusing on their suitability for their
particular market (Beeden & de Bruin, 2010; Ducray, 2012). While doing well to
showcase the nations involved, what is missing is an understanding of the industrial
specifics involved. This project seeks to understand how industrial factors impact the
format process, specifically what role industry understandings and expectations of
genre play. Therefore, to meet the goal of this project, this study is guided by the
question of how genre is expressed in industrial discourses surrounding sitcom
remakes between Britain and the US and presents its findings in terms of
identification, origination, work, and intention. These aspects of the remake process
are shown to be framed in terms of genre. As such, genre is significantly utilised as a
framing device (Bielby & Bielby, 1994) within the statements surrounding comedy
remakes. The publicly made statements under study are a part of the discursive
formation of genre for these programmes (Mittell, 2004) and, therefore, their
examination contributes to understanding these programmes generically.
Understandings of comedy within the statements examined are utilised and
expressed with regard to familiarity and a negotiation between similarity and
difference. This study is focused on only one remake relationship – that between
Britain and the US – and only considers one genre: scripted television comedy. The
findings of this study demonstrate the utility of utilising this method for future
studies of the relationship between remakes and genre.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Art, Media and American Studies
Depositing User:	Users 4971 not found.
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2017 11:02
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2017 11:02
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/65121
DOI:

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