Stereotypes in British Comedy

An Analysis of »Fawlty Towers«

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2005 im Fachbereich Anglistik - Kultur und Landeskunde, Note: 1, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: The term paper examines - portrayed by the example of the 1970s British comedy series Fawlty Towers - in what way comedy can shape the personal attitudes towards other communities and nations. The first part gives a definition of the term 'stereotype' and provides possible sources and origins. The second part examines a variety of ways in which these stereotypes are put on display in several scenes of »Fawlty Towers«, against whom they are directed and what messages they are intended to convey. The third part puts the focus on the 'German question' and sketches out, by the help of several current online newspaper articles and research findings, what consequences and effects stereotypes about the German nation have taken on the British society and why Germany keeps constantly associated with its Nazi past. Furthermore, it tries to offer proposals to find a remedy.