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The Poetics of the British Sitcom
VESELÝ, Jan
This master's thesis is focused on British sitcoms, which represent one of the basic elements of British humour as a much sought-after phenomenon across the world, including the Czech Republic. The thesis aims to introduce the reader to this particular television genre and outline the elements of comedic content both in general, as well as in relation to certain selected works. The thesis also aims to demonstrate how the described phenomenon transcends the usual framework of television. Regarding the methodology for examining the subject matter, a synthesis of relevant sources as well as various insights obtained during the master's studies are used to examine certain selected works of popular culture which represent the very essence of British sitcoms. The thesis outlines the boundaries of a television sitcom as an independent genre, also focusing on comedic works preceding the sitcom, overlaps with other genres and various specifics connected to the British cultural environment. Established macro theories of humour are applied to the British sitcom in order to explain the source of the comedic effect, as well as the influence of comedy in relation to relieving tension within society. The thesis focuses in particular on careful observations of the humour in certain cult works of comedy, such as Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister, 'Allo 'Allo!, Red Dwarf and The IT Crowd. The closest attention is paid to the role of the individual characters and environments in selected sitcoms, since those elements might be considered vital for a successful sitcom. The influences of British productions in this area as a whole are also mentioned, noting the social relevance of this often-overlooked phenomenon.
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