Masculinities in the US Hangout Sitcom

<p>Masculinities in the US Hangout Sitcom examines how four sitcoms – <i>Friends How I Met Your Mother</i><i> The Big Bang Theory</i> and<i> New Girl</i> – mediate the tense relationship between neoliberalism and masculinities.</p><p>Why is Ross in <i>Friends</i> so worried about everything? This book argues that the men in <i>Friends</i> and similar shows that follow young straight mostly white twentysomethings in major US cities are beset by a range of social and economic concerns about their place in society. Using multiple methods of analysis to examine these shows – including conjunctural analysis historiographical method and critical discourse analysis – a range of topics in these shows are examined from sexuality through to homosociality from race through to nationality. </p><p>This book makes an insightful contribution to work on the television sitcom and on neoliberalism in culture and society. It will be an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduates post-graduates and researchers in a range of disciplines including television and screen studies critical studies on men and masculinities and humor studies.</p>