Entertainment and Society

The television show Two And A Half Men is greatly entertaining however under closer examination this show tells us more about our society today. The show was one of the biggest hits of the last decade and continues to run on syndication through different networks. It is centered on Charlie who, is wealth and lazy takes in his younger brother, Alan, who is going through a divorce and his son Jake. The show displays some of the social norms today in American society such as, divorce, promiscuity, and the sense of entitlement that many people have.

Half of all marriages end in divorce today in America and Charlie’s brother Alan is twice divorced and frequently on the show he can be heard making light of the situation. Divorce used to be an extreme answer to marital problems, but over the past 20 years it has become more socially acceptable. This television show helps to make divorce a socially acceptable because of all the humor related to Alan’s situation. Whereas before getting a divorce was considered shameful today it is looked at as something that is part of being an adult.

Charlie is a ladies’ man and has a different woman each nigjht staying with him, and this too is a focal point for some of the humor. His brother Alan is the opposite of Charlie in that his not at all a ladies’ man and struggles greatly with women. This is something that in today’s society we think of two different types of men, those of got it, like Charlie, and those who do not, like Alan. Charlie is seen as the masculine of the two he has the house, cars, and money so that women will naturally choose him over his brother. Alan is the more feminine, and this is shown through the fact he is well read and knowledgeable. Alan is also high maintenance he requires special milk and he takes his time to organize everything, whereas Charlie is a free spirit and a party boy. What this tries to do to society is show that beautiful women are attracted to money and material...