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Margie Fargas
Writ 2
4/17/17
Satirical and Theoretical Approaches to the Impacts Friends has on Pop Culture

Friends was a television sitcom from the 1990s that continues to influence present day

pop culture. Various writers, viewers, and reviewers have developed their own opinion on the

show, and two articles from two different platforms discuss the impact Friends has had on its

viewers. David Hopkins of the Medium writes in his article How a TV Sitcom Triggered the

Downfall of Western Civilization about the way in which Friends has assisted in creating a

generation of young adults who reject those who embody intellectual characteristics, such as

Ross Geller, in the show. Hopkins article portrays this message through taking on a satirical

tone throughout its writing in order to convey certain truths in a jokingly manner. Elizabeth

Entenmans article in Refinery 29 titled The REAL Reason 20-Somethings are so Into Friends

is a more realistic article that analyzes the patterns and behaviors associated with those who grew

up primarily in the 1990s and considers why those individuals are more interested in Friends.

Hopkins and Entenmans articles target similar audiences who are around their 20s and both

enlighten their readers with patterns associated with themselves and use nostalgia to their

advantages. Both articles discuss similar topics, however their arguments are presented using

different tones to serve differing purposes and deliver differing messages. Entenmans article is

presented as a research and analytical reflection on the show, and Hopkins article is a satire

whose purpose is to ridicule those who enjoy the show and relate to nostalgic feelings associated

with the show.

Hopkins and Entenman discuss the different impacts the show has made on society, and

their arguments target similar audiences, yet they serve different purposes. Friends is a television
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series that is targeted towards young adults and portrays comedic and exaggerated scenarios of

everyday lives of a group of adults in their 20s. Hopkins article delivers more accusations linked

between various coincidences and trends that rose post 2004the year in which Friends ended.

The article targets those in their 20s and 30s who grew up watching Friends and is meant to

relate to those born in generation y in order to ridicule those growing up in generation z.

Entenmans article targets a similar audience as it attempts to relate to millennials and give an

explanation as to why the show is relatable and popular among those in generation y while also

attempting to justify why it is also being incorporated into generation z culture. Entenman is

attempting to speak directly to a similar audience as Hopkins, however Hopkins rejects the ideas

put forward by the new generation and is accusing Friends for the downfall of the new

generation while Entenman is defending the new and old generations with theories and evidence.

While both articles share a similar idea, the different genres are evident in the way each author

delivers their message. Entenmans article takes on a more realistic and analytical approach

supported by research to the argument as it presents logic and evidence to support her theories.

Hopkins article demonstrates general aspects of a satirical article as it mainly uses opinion,

sarcasm and jokes in order to deliver their argument. Both arguments target different audiences

and have different tones that are reflections of each genre.

The arguments presented in both articles generally relate to the idea that Friends is a

television sitcom that is popular among those born around the 1990s as it brings nostalgia and a

sense of ease to its viewers, yet both authors discuss this impact in different ways. Hopkins

writes in the Medium about the impact Friends made on society in a negative way in that it

discouraged the idea of intellectuals being accepted in society through the character Ross Geller.

Hopkins writes, To me, Friends signals a harsh embrace of anti-intellectualism in America,

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where a gifted and intelligent man is persecuted by his idiot compatriots, (Hopkins).

Throughout the article, Hopkins blames the television sitcom for the rise in idioticy as he

coincidentally acknowledges other forms of media that encourage stupidity over intelligence.

Friends television finale aired in 2004 when various other forms of stupidity are noted such as

the release of iconic song American Idiot and marking the rise of the age of mediocrity. He

returns to the idea that Ross Geller was constantly ridiculed and underappreciated by the other

characters for being smarter than them and this is an educated insight delivered into a satirical

article that refers to anything after 2004 as idiotic. This differs from Entenmans article, which

discusses the various reasons why millennials maintain a strong liking to Friends, including

nostalgia and a sense of simplicity in regards to technology and communication. Entenman

presents facts and ideas comparing life in the 1990s to life in present day;. The Friends story

lines of the mid-'90s are slightly different, but still timeless enough that todays

twentysomethings can understand and enjoy them. Younger viewers even connect with the

nostalgic piece of it all, (Entenman).

The tones within each article indicates the attitude taken on by the authors while also

categorizing each into a different genre of writing. Bunn discusses in How to Read Like a

Writer the various elements of a persons writing that influence the way one takes in

information. Understand someones thought-process in their writing can help someone read to

understand why the writer chose to deliver their message in a certain way and help the reader

understand how they are meant to receive this information. Hopkins article gives off a more

accusational tone that blames Friends for igniting the start of generation Z, and ultimately for the

rise of a youth that praises mediocrity and stupidity instead of intelligence and innovation.

Hopkins writes in a formal yet stern tone that gives off the impression that he is speaking directly
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to his reader with bold accusations of how Friends defined the downfall of a generation. This is

not the case, as this is merely Hopkins opinion based on observations and coincidences he has

made, and the idea of the article is not to indicate any facts but to ridicule the popular show

altogether. Entenmans article takes on a less accusational and more theoretical approach to the

matter. As opposed to blaming the television series for the negative aspects of a generation, it

breaks down and analyzes reasons why the show is popular among millennials and how this

plays a role in pop culture with supporting research and facts. The series aired for a decade and

transcended two different centuries and walked audiences into a change of living and

technological styles that quickly emerged over a short period of time. Entenmans article

discusses the idea of simplicity and nostalgia those born in the 1980s and 1990s enjoy as it

reminds them of a simpler time that ran at a slower pace than present day. She discusses her

theory that the younger demographic is attracted to the nostalgia aspect of the show and inspires

their own ideas of simplicity as well. Her tone throughout the article portrays her opinions in a

less aggressive and accusational manner and lays them down in an organized fashion for the

readers. Entenmans article brings forward ideas that puts forth more research and evidence

behind her claimssuch as her comparison of the 1990s and present daywhile also

incorporating her own experiences watching the show live and rewatching Friends on Netflix.

Friends left a heavy impact on pop culture from the 1990s into present day media as it

relates to those growing up in the 1990s and attempts to recreate nostalgia in new and older

viewers. Hopkins and Entenman discuss in two different articles the different impacts the show

has had on its audiences and how the show defines generations. Although both articles are

centered around the idea that Friends impacted society in some form, both authors deliver their

messages in different ways through two genres. Hopkins article targets millennials and blames
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Friends for inflicting the idea that the show encouraged a more unintelligent society that came

with the rise of generation z. Entenmans article delivers her opinion with evidence that supports

her ideas as to why nostalgia plays a part in why millennials love Friends and how the show has

begun to impact generation z. Entenmans article is less intense and less accusational and her

attitude supports and defends the idea that generation z is being influenced by similar ideas as

those born in generation y. Understanding how to read and interpret these through thinking about

the way they were written reveals truths and intentions about the authors purpose and how one

is intended to receive these messages. This exercise allowed to understand the different ways in

which each article is meant to be received.

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Work Cited

Hopkins, David. How a TV Sitcom Triggered the Downfall of Western Civilzation. Medium.

Mar. 21, 2016.

Entenman, Elizabeth. The REAL Reason 2- Somethings are so Into Friends. Refiner29. Mar.

31, 2016.