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Significance
M*A*S*H, a popular comedy-drama, released on CBS in the years 1972-1983, should be discussed as a part of the course for several reasons. Becoming one of the most popular shows on CBS, M*A*S*H presented a different outlook on comedy and appealed to a more socially aware audience with its dark humor and political subtext (Hilmes 252). This TV series was set in early 1950s Korea during the Korean War and depicted the lives of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH).
While the unit that was shown in the series was fictitious and the story was focused not on the war itself but the individuals working in the MASH, the portrayal of war events also contributed to the series’ influence on the history of television. Although the setting of the series was not familiar to the audience’s culture and experience, its poignant discussion of the issues surrounding the US in the 1970s and 1980s attracted viewers with different political and social views.
M*A*S*H examined problems and concerns of the nation that were relevant at that time, often focusing on such matters as the public’s knowledge of the Vietnam War, its unstable relationship with the government following the Watergate Scandal, and its thoughts about various rising social activist movements (Harvey). The discussion of various war sentiments, including patriotism and eagerness to participate in military actions was also present in the series, being sarcastically viewed by some characters.
Moreover, the series did not attempt to address these issues in a serious tone, using dark comedy and dramedy instead. While the show had started as a situational comedy, it gained a more moralistic tone near the middle of the series’ seasons, using comedy as a way to teach the audience about serious and pressing issues.
Themes
This TV series corresponds to the theme of social commentary present in many shows of the same period. In the context of the audience’s interest in people’s rights and the growing influence of the feminist movement, M*A*S*H could be seen as a way to present the viewers with some questions and open them for a discussion. While shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Maude offered a case for equality and women’s rights and the sitcom Good Times dealt with racial issues, M*A*S*H focused on political, military, and civilian conflicts.
It may be assumed that such an approach also revealed M*A*S*H as having anti-war sentiments, with the series’ refusal to portray wars less frighteningly and seriously (Freeman). Therefore, the concepts of the series directly correspond to the theme of social movements and issues being presented to the audience in the comic form to encourage discussion and entertain the public at the same time.
Aside from showing the “horrors of war,” the series also mentioned such themes as life and death, trust, bureaucracy, patriotism, masculinity, and humanity (Freeman). While injecting these themes into the plot, the series attempted to avoid explicit debates. In this case, the use of humor to support social commentary and make it more understandable for the audience became the primary source of inspiration for the writers (Freeman).
This approach was used by many other TV shows of the period, including the examples mentioned above. The method of using jokes to reduce the seriousness of the situation was and continues to be an effective tactic of many series and programs. Thus, M*A*S*H can serve as an example of a TV show with a mix of dark comedy and social commentary.
Works Cited
Freeman, Mark. “’M*A*S*H’ Finale, 35 Years Later: Untold Stories of One of TV’s Most Important Shows.” The Hollywood Reporter. 2018. Web.
Harvey, Lucy. “Looking Back on ‘M*A*S*H,’ the Show and the Exhibition.” National Museum of American History. 2017. Web.
Hilmes, Michele. Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States. 4th ed., Wadsworth Publishing, 2013.
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