Would anyone be interested in a Feminist critique of The Big Bang Theory?

"Swing the hammer of truth" - seriously? Are you out for most pretentious troll of the year award? Careful not to peak too early, it's only Jan 1st. At least see if you can last out till April 1st.

*Both actions are exploitative and contemptible, though for differing reasons.

My critical and unrelenting gaze wouldn't let someone in to read the meter without viewing his credentials, so if you're going to be judging if my arguments are worthy I'm going to be needing something pretty substantial

I do not request entry to your house, only to your mind; that I might liberate it from the reluctant grasp of ignorance.*

Hmm... I didn't mention names. Funny you assumed it was you.

I suppose you fancy yourself as a skilled manipulator of the English language, capable of hinting at something in a subtle yet meaningful manner? If that is the case, then allow me to swing the hammer of truth in your direction.

I hate the storyline where Penny asks Leonard to pretend they are still dating because she hasn't told her father they've broken up, and he basically takes the opportunity to keep kissing and groping her. She is visibly cringing away from him, really uncomfortable viewing.

Analyse the situation as a whole, LurcioAgain. She uses him like a piece of meat in an effort to deceive her father, and he takes advantage of the situation for his own pleasure. Both are actions and exploitative and contemptible, though for differing reasons.

I hate the storyline where Penny asks Leonard to pretend they are still dating because she hasn't told her father they've broken up, and he basically takes the opportunity to keep kissing and groping her. She is visibly cringing away from him, really uncomfortable viewing.

Hmm... I didn't mention names. Funny you assumed it was you. (Bursts into song)... You're so vain, I bet you think this thread is about you. ..

there is a rampant spread of misinformation on this area of the forum, and, alas, it is incumbent upon me to correct it

ROFL - watch out - it's the internet police out to make sure you've thought through and can back up every opinion you have.

Exalted, can you tell me what qualifies you to correct it? Can you provide some proof of your qualifications please?

My critical and unrelenting gaze wouldn't let someone in to read the meter without viewing his credentials, so if you're going to be judging if my arguments are worthy I'm going to be needing something pretty substantial

Exalted - if you read my post, you'll see that I said I'd only watched half of one episode, at no point did I say that all the comedy was about it. I found the jokes so beyond the pale that I couldn't watch any more.

I'm pretty sure that the episode was one of the first ones, where they didn't know each other, and so they were making jokes at a stranger's expense, not the comradely ribbing you're suggesting.

I'm by no means singling out the Asian comedy as a problem above all else - I watched and really enjoyed Aziz Ansari's Master of None - a comedy which actually did include comradely jokes at the Asian's character's expense and thoughtfully prodded at assumptions both around racism and sexism in a much deeper way than BBT seems to.

Exalted if the standard of discussion here is beneath you then do feel free to find somewhere else where your talents will be appreciated.

Would that I could. It appears that there is a rampant spread of misinformation on this area of the forum, and, alas, it is incumbent upon me to correct it. Or at the very least, provide an alternative opinion to challenge the preconceptions of close-minded feminist rhetoric.

It's times like these where I really want a "hide poster" button.

If that were the case, then almost every post on this thread would be hidden from my critical and unrelenting gaze.

Isn't it sweet when they come on here, wave their testicles of objectivity then get more and more upset when their hormonal tantrums aren't taken seriously?

That last to Exalted.

It's times like these where I really want a "hide poster" button. What was an interesting discussion gets derailed again. Sigh.

Sez you.

Exalted if the standard of discussion here is beneath you then do feel free to find somewhere else where your talents will be appreciated.

rather than all this demanding evidence, telling others they are wrong and generally being dismissive, patronising and hostile?

It is difficult to be dismissive when there are no arguments worthy of consideration.

Good grief, whatever happened to actual discussion, you know, one where you say 'I disagree on that because...' or 'have you considered this', or 'how does X example you give fit with y example?', rather than all this demanding evidence, telling others they are wrong and generally being dismissive, patronising and hostile?

Put the dictionary away Exalted, and actually chat and discuss.

you have no more right to demand examples and proof (and get them) than anyone else.

When somebody makes a ludicrous claim and intends to be taken seriously, the burden of proof falls on them; they cannot expect people to simply accept their assertions without criticism. Arguing that this show promotes misogyny is, not only preposterous, but entirely baseless. I am still waiting for proponents of this erroneous view to bring forth their reasoning. And I use this term very loosely.

they started making bloody appalling jokes at the indian character's expense [...] Most US sitcoms are terribly sexist though.

You speak as if the show draws humour from Indian culture exclusively. The truth of the matter is that the background of every character is satirised using stereotypes, such as Sheldon's southern mother and Howard's Jewish heritage. This show merely portrays the dynamic between close friends who are comfortable enough with each other to joke about such things. This very much takes place in real life, and to censor the human aspect of these characters is to make them less relatable and less interesting.

Yy. It's presented as harmless because of who they are and the fact their characters are geeky and powerless.

element there's no issue with disagreeing. I've had knockabouts in here about things like the Harry Enfield 'women' sketches. It's the arrogance of coming on and appointing oneself the voice of reason and telling people how they have to engage with you in order to be taken seriously.

I agree with you that there are elements of holding a mirror up and showing how stupid some of the characters are for being the way they are. There are, I believe, also issues which they don't treat that way. The episode where L and S are in Penny's apartment while she is sleep... That worries me. They are doing something abusive and criminal and making out it's just a little 'silly'...

For me it goes back further than how it's treated in the episode though - it's that that is seen as a valid plot line - why have a plotline with robot prostitutes at all? Why not pick less sexist plotlines?

It's not like BBT is supposed to be some deep social commentary, they're not treating these issues as anything more than a cheap laugh, how about we avoid sexist cheap laughs, and racist cheap laughs in a lighthearted comedy?

Bit scared of commenting now! As I think exalted does make one good point.

Isn't it important how a show deals with certain issues, rather than the issues themselves, which just reflect society? I'm not saying BBT always gets it right, but a lot of the sexist stereotypes do seem to be presented as ridiculous/dealt with rather than just accepted. So eg. Howard being upset that Penny earns more isn't just accepted as "poor Howard" but actually more "So what? Why does that matter?"

This is more a comment in response to some of the examples that have been given rather than the show overall though.

Exalted. We're here for a chat, where we are all roughly equals, not to justify ourselves to you so you can be 'satisfied with my evaluation and judgement of its arguments' - dude, you're just some other person on the internet, no better or worse than anyone here, and you have no more right to demand examples and proof (and get them) than anyone else.

There are a lot more intellectual threads that you can visit and talk to people on - in fact we're known for being up our own arses in this section, so you should fit right in (good luck talking episa whatsit some of the regulars though - they do it for a living)

Anyhow. I've only seen one episode - not even all of one, I had to turn it off when they started making bloody appalling jokes at the indian character's expense. I'm not indian myself, but I work with plenty and consider them to be friends (oh, and shock! Human beings, not comedy props to ridicule because of their accent/life experience).

Most US sitcoms are terribly sexist though. Idiot blokes, screeching wives, naughty boys and clothes obsessed girls. I think that's why they need tinned laughter - to tell you when you're supposed to be finding something funny.

If you want something treating these issues with humour and sensitivity, try something more like the Detectorists (I bloody love the detectorists) - there's a subtle, thoughtful comedy.

Urgh.

I'm not an enormous wanker who thinks it's all an intellectual exercise

Well, you certainly can't engage in intellectual exercise; I have witnessed this myself. I haven't seen much evidence of that other thing, though.

Exalted has a point whether you like it or not.

I'm off to RaceBaitr to explain racism and arguing to Black people. And how there isn't racism and how they made it all up.

Hold on, I won't because I'm not an enormous wanker who thinks it's all an intellectual exercise and I respect people's lived experience.

Dodged a bullet there.