It’s no surprise that I think 30 Rock is a culturally significant television show, and one of my favorites of all time. Not only is it downright hilarious, but it also confronts issues like racism and sexism through comedy. Shows like 30 Rock make these societal issues more accessible to the general public. Popular culture is a way to make people care about what’s going on in the world. If you want to understand South Park and SNL every week, you’re going to have to know a little about what’s going on in the news. (Like the video below)
The feminist blogosphere is full of commentaries about 30 Rock. There’s this one about third-wave feminism, this one that recaps Liz Lemon’s feminism in screen caps, and this other roundup of funny feminist scenes, to name a few. 30 Rock has opened many doors for women on television. Granted, the number of women television writers hasn’t sky rocketed, but it’s a start.
Because you can run the world and still wear a fanny pack
There are also a host of blogs and articles about the racial humor on 30 Rock. Some give glowing reviews, but others don’t quite appreciate the racial humor. Some claim that the show is just plain racist.
While I think it’s very forward of the show to confront such controversial topics, I can see how others don’t appreciate it. But I think they’re missing the point. The point is that Liz Lemon is an independent, professional woman who doesn’t need a relationship for fulfillment, so it’s funny when she interacts with the chauvinistic Jack Donaghy. The point is that Tracy Jordan fits almost every negative stereotype of African American men, so when he and Twofer (the Harvard-educated, pretentious African American) or Dotcom (Tracy’s underappreciated, over-educated crony) get into it, it’s witty. I don’t think that 30 Rock is trying to be blatantly sexist or racist or conservative—there’s just humor in the very liberal Alec Baldwin playing a right-wing conservative executive.
I think there should be a class about 30 Rock…I mean, it’s already been the subject for a few masters’ theses…