theories

Fiske’s Theories to the Inbetweeners

Polysemic Reading

Explanation

Because there are four main characters, each character has a different personality. This allows the audience to gravitate to one or all of the characters, finding traits that they share and connecting to them. This creates a bond between viewer and character, and because the viewing figures were large for the Inbetweeners, that can be linked to the polysemy of the characters. There is also the argument that not many TV shows these days have four main characters so similar yet different, which explains the vast viewing figures as the ratings favoured young people who could relate to the age/gender/humour but also relate in the individual traits.

Episode Explanation

The individual traits are expressed through each episode as a different scenario is given. This allows each character to approach the scenario in their own way, yet anchoring down the same shared scenario. For example, in the Thorpe Park episode, the car door is knocked off by a pole, this effects them all, but they all approach it in a different way. Simon panics but is persuaded to go into the theme park, Will just wants to ride a roller coaster, Jay wants to find the girls and Neil claims he knows someone who can fix it. These various emotions define a certainside of each character and the viewers can pick for themselves who they would relate to.

Stereotyped Characters

Explanation

Similarly to their personalities, the image of each individual character emphasises their persona visually. When combining both their personality and clothing, each character can be stereotyped by the manner in which they speak and the way they dress. For example, Will speaks with a very clear, English accent and wears very formal clothes, as well as bringing a briefcase into college. This mature character construction allows the audience to stereotype him as being overly mature for his age, and probably not as much fun as most teenagers, which brings me to Jay. Jay is the polar opposite of Will. He dresses extremely casual, doesn’t have a posh accent and isn’t that charming when he speaks about women. These two characters were made to contrast, and when put in a small group of four, allow for the writers to turn their clashing personalities into humour.

Episode Explanation

In the episode The Gig and the Girlfriend, Will is adamant that he wont go anywhere near any drugs, something that Simon said he would get for Tara. Jay builds up a story that he knows people that can get some, but ultimately resorts to buying some in the pub. Will ends up eating the weed to prove Jay wrong and ends up in an ambulance panicking, which feeds in to the stereotype that mature people don’t do weed.

Audience & Characters

Explanation

The plot of the TV show is very relatable and spans from current students, to adults who have experienced student life. This can explain the large viewing figures as it’s not targeting a niche market like “Living in Uzbekistan” which may not have as much of a relatable for the British public.Because the show revolves around students going to college and getting up to mischief, as well as the genre being comedy, it has more of a realistic vibe. If it was a fantasy, there wouldn’t be as much of an authentic, in perfect show. The simplicity appeals to the public as that’s what the public can see their lives as being. Going to college isn't seen as being glamorous, and the Inbetweeners doesn’t glamorise it, but humours it, which is why it’s so appealing to people. There is also a sense of familiarity between audience and characters as events are carried and repeated in other episodes, this builds up a history and knowledge of the characters lives.

Episode Explanation

Will’s unfortunate experience in a exam hall which was featured on a previous episode wasmentioned in another episode by someone. This creates a sense of realism in this TV worldas episode plots carry through, and that the characters are known by other people otherthan the other main characters.