BY S T E WA RT F O R D

SATIRICAL ANALYSIS OF FAMILY GUY

WHAT IS FAMILY GUY?

• An American satirical adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane

CHARACTERS

• Peter • Lois• Stewie• Joe• Cleveland• Quagmire• Meg

PETER

• Worker of the family• Fat• Stupid• Always getting the family into trouble

LOIS

• Mother of the family• Sits on the extremes of housewife and seductress• Smart• Saves the family from catastrophes• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdTObaLq_vg

STEWIE

• Baby• Smarter than everyone else • Role reversal• Homosexual

JOE

• “Tough guy” in the show• Ironic because he has a disability

CLEVELAND

• African American counterpart to Peter’s family• Shows how much the families are the same even

though they have a different culture

QUAGMIRE

• “Player” in the show• Ironic because throughout the series you find out

that he has feelings

MEG

• “Not attractive” daughter in the show• Ironic because her voice is Mila Kunis• Goes on a lot of dates even though she is

considered “not attractive” and “annoying” by everyone in the show

ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS

• The characters Brian and Lois use ethos • “This can involve "moral competence" only;

Aristotle however broadens the concept to include expertise and knowledge.” [Wikipedia]• Brian and Lois have the most credibility because

they are the most knowledgable

ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS

• “Pathos represents an appeal to the audience's emotions” [Wikipedia]• The show appeals to pathos by placing current

events and past events into the shows to have people respond with an emotional appeal.

ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS

• “The use of logos is called a "logical appeal.“” [Dr. Williams, USC]• There are not many logical appeals throughout

the show • Occasionally characters come to a conclusion at

the end of an episode that everyone already knew

SOURCES

• http://georgehwilliams.pbworks.com/w/page/14266873/Ethos-Pathos-Logos-The-3-Rhetorical-Appeals• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathos• http://

www.fanpop.com/clubs/family-guy/images/29507418/title/stewie-photo• http://collider.com/comic-con-family-guy/• http://

www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/seth-macfarlane-outs-baby-stewie-family-guy-gay-macfarlane-playboy-interview-article-1.395390