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"They Ain't No Spring Chickens!": A Cultural Analysis of Representations of Older Women in Everybody Loves Raymond.

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Date Issued:
2006
Abstract/Description:
This thesis examines how prime time television assigns traditional gender roles for older women through a case study of the award-winning sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and strives to answer questions raised in regard to age/gender role representations. This study seeks, as well, to explore the ways in which the representations of older women on television and media articles about these television texts construct reality, and the extent to which prime time television reinforces stereotypical " realities" of older women. Though traditional effects theory looks at the ways in which individuals are influenced- or imitaterole models presented in the media, by concentrating on textual and paratextual analysis this study will concentrate on the subtle ways in which such constructions are interpreted by those that mediate between the text and the audience, such as critics and reviewers. Finally, this thesis posits the necessity of feminist theory in the field of communication when engaging in research that looks at the intersections of gender with issues of race, class and age.
Title: "They Ain't No Spring Chickens!": A Cultural Analysis of Representations of Older Women in Everybody Loves Raymond.
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Name(s): Mercadai-Sabbagh, Trudy
Scodari, Christine, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2006
Date Issued: 2006
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 135 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: This thesis examines how prime time television assigns traditional gender roles for older women through a case study of the award-winning sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and strives to answer questions raised in regard to age/gender role representations. This study seeks, as well, to explore the ways in which the representations of older women on television and media articles about these television texts construct reality, and the extent to which prime time television reinforces stereotypical " realities" of older women. Though traditional effects theory looks at the ways in which individuals are influenced- or imitaterole models presented in the media, by concentrating on textual and paratextual analysis this study will concentrate on the subtle ways in which such constructions are interpreted by those that mediate between the text and the audience, such as critics and reviewers. Finally, this thesis posits the necessity of feminist theory in the field of communication when engaging in research that looks at the intersections of gender with issues of race, class and age.
Identifier: FA00000940 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Subject(s): Everybody Loves Raymond (Television program)--Criticism and interpretation
Aged in television--United States
Women in television--United States
Comedy programs--United States--Criticism and interpretation
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000940
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.