Analysis of the TV Show How I Met Your Mother - Coursework Example

Observation Grid and Assertions How I Met Your Mother (Season Episodes 2 3 4 5 6 What happens to Ted? Ted asks his friend Barney to help him find the ‘one’ Ted invites Robin to a number of parties Barney attempts to help Ted get out more by asking him to go to the airport with him Ted continues to look for his One. Ends up trying to rekindle past relationships Ted gets invited to a club where he meets Robin’s friend Kelly It is Halloween and Ted waits expectantly for the ‘slutty pumpkin’ a girl he had met several years previously Why does he get involved? He does it as a result of his two best friends (Lily and Marshal) getting engaged. He is trying to repair their relationship by pretending to act casual. He goes with Barney after the latter pulls him into his cab His failure with Robin inspires him to move on with his life He is still attempting to get the right woman to settle down with He wants to see her again because he believes she is the One What are the consequences of his actions? He ends up meeting Robin and declares his love for her Ted ends up throwing three parties for Robin. Ted finds out that Barney only took him to the airport to pick up women. They end up in Philadelphia He ends up finding an old flame (Natalie) whom he had dumped on her birthday. She still holds a grudge against him. They start dating again until he dumps her once more He ends up ruining his chances with Kelly He spends the whole of Halloween at the party but she does not show up Can his actions be considered a success? It is not a success because he ends up scaring Robin off His actions are successful because he finds out that while Robin likes him, she is not as ready for a commitment as he is. It is not a success because Ted is not able to pick up a woman His attempt is not a success because after dumping her, Natalie ends up beating him up. He is not successful because he leaves the club still single It is successful because while the slutty pumpkin does not show up, he get to talk to Robin How I Met Your Mother is a television show that attempts to depict the social life of Ted as he does his best to ensure that he meets the woman who he is going to marry. It is a journey full of trials and numerous adventures. The six episodes analyzed above are based on the different ways through which he tries to woo the different women in his life while at the same time showing the diverse problems that he has to undergo with each one of them. Despite his numerous attempts, Ted ends up being disappointed because each attempt becomes a disaster since he makes the wrong moves all the time. The failure in his relationships, especially with Natalie, can be considered to be an aspect of social conflict where, although he is well intentioned, he utterly fails in when he chooses to leave Natalie and gets beaten up as a result. Ted is seen to be extremely vulnerable in the way that he handles his love life as seen through his tendency to rely on his friends in order to get dates or to help him find his ‘One’. Furthermore, as a hopeless romantic, he is an individual who believes in ideals which do not exist in real life hence his ending up alone despite having numerous opportunities to make his romantic life worthwhile. Human beings are social animals who need one another in order to feel comfortable in their environment and this is the reason why they often form societies (Ebstein, et al, 2010). This is exemplified through the development of a friendship between Ted, Marshal, Robin, Barney, and Lily. It is this circle of friends which help Ted through the various crises that he goes through as he attempts to find a companion with whom to share the rest of his life. The analysis of observation data was conducted through the development of an objective view of the subject within the series, namely Ted. This individual’s life in the episodes dealt with above is analyzed through an approach that seeks to show him in the context of his social life. Through the development of an understanding of his character as well as the different ways through which the environment around him, especially his friends, work, and the places where he spends his time, affects him. His attempts to develop relationships with three women are carefully studied in order to develop a better understanding of the way his own character might be at fault for being a failure in having the stable relationships that he desires. Moreover, in making the assumptions, it was also essential to study the influence that Ted’s friends have on him (Ebstein, et al, 2010) and this to such an extent that they agree to aid him in any way to make sure that he gets to meet the love of his life. This study was conducted using qualitative methods where samples from the subject areas were used to come up with conclusions (Onwuegbuzie, et al, 2012). The use of qualitative methods was seen as the best way through which the subject could be better studied and understood because these methods allow for the study of individuals in their own terms rather than those that are imposed on them. The lack of generalizations also allow for the development of better assumptions concerning the subject involved and the way that he conducts his life. The trustworthiness of the assertions made above can be determined through closely watching the episodes that have been mentioned. Close observation of these episodes will enhance the viewer’s understanding of the series while at the same time enabling the viewer to come to the same conclusions as the assertions made. It should be noted that it is as a result of making sure that the assertions are verifiable that the study was made using qualitative methods because these methods allow the researcher to study the television show in its own terms rather than based on broad generalizations that would essentially make the assertions irrelevant (Sinkovics & Alfoldi, 2012). The need to make sure that the assertions are trustworthy led to a close study of the subject and the failures in the relationships that he had during the observation period. It is through this close study that the assertions can be verified based on the evidence that is prevalent throughout the episodes analyzed. Another way of determining the trustworthiness of the assertion is through comparing these assertions with those of other individuals (preferably peers) who have seen the series (Ray & Ray, 2008). These assertions can be verified by peers through a process of examining the fact behind them because through the study of the facts, there can develop a clearer perspective of how they were developed. However, the best way to determine the assertions made above would be through the development of an analysis of the episodes in the context within which they were developed (Sinkovics & Alfoldi, 2012). In this way, it becomes possible to find out the trustworthiness of the assertions without getting into generalizations that might end up distorting their meanings and intentions. There are diverse differences between watching a television show and observing a real-life situation. The first of these is that in television programs, everything is often choreographed to ensure that the audience has a full perspective of what is taking place within it. This is not the case in real life where individuals tend to hide their emotions while at the same time developing certain personalities which ensure that they are likeable to the rest of society hence finding social acceptance (Ray & Ray, 2008). In contrast, from the beginning of a television show, there is a hero whose character is developed as the program progresses. Not only does the audience have an opportunity to gain an insight into what the character in a television show is thinking as well as the motivations behind the actions that the character takes, but he also comes to make constructive conclusions about the entire situation. This is not the case with real life situations where the motivations behind the actions of individuals are often hidden from their observers. In order to find out what motivates an individual, it is essential for him to be asked and this creates a scenario where he will either tell the truth or a lie yet the audience will most likely not be able to realize it (Black & Wright, 2000). It is essential to note that in real life, an observer in encumbered by the need to have analytical skills necessary to make sure that they study the subject under observation in order to determine whether what they are seeing is the real thing or an act that has been put up in order to impress. Camera angles had an immense influence on enhancing the observations made in the television show above and this was mainly because it focused on the main issue that the director wanted the audience to see (Zebehazy, et al, 2005). In order to show such emotions as anger, the cameras were brought closer to the characters involved so that the audience could be able to see the anger that was being depicted. Furthermore, the camera angle made it possible for the various social events depicted within each episode to be developed in such a way that the observer has an opportunity to see the different circumstances that were the main objectives of the director. From the beginning of each episode, the different angles taken by the cameras kept all the events taking place open for analysis by the observers and this helped in ensuring that only the most accurate observations were made (Zebehazy, et al, 2005). Without the cameras showing each scene from different angles, it would have been difficult to decipher the objectives of the director as well as the intentions that the characters had and this would not only have ruined the observation results, but it would have led to a situation where the show was not interesting. Observational skills are extremely important when it comes to making analysis concerning different situations. These skills can only be applied effectively through knowing body language and this in such a way that when certain movements are made, they have a certain meaning (Black & Wright, 2000). For example, among the most important observational skills that were acquired during the above task and can be transferred to real life observation is how to notice when individuals are giving their full attention. This can be done through observing them constantly nodding, showing that they are not only following what they are being told, but that they are also in agreement. However, in situations where the individual being observed begins yawning, doodling, or staring vacantly, it means that they are not paying attention and that they are bored by the topic under discussion (Ray & Ray, 2008). The ability to read body language in the above television show was developed through the way the different camera angles were applied to enhance the physical movements of different characters as they spoke or when they said something that was not true. Therefore, observational skills can be transferred from the assignment above to help in observing real life situations; hence ensuring accuracy. References Black, C. B., & Wright, D. L. (2000). Can observational practice facilitate error recognition and movement production? Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 71(4), 331-9. Ebstein, R. P., Israel, S., Chew, S. H., Zhong, S., & Knafo, A. (2010). Genetics of human social behavior. Neuron, 65(6), 831-844. Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Leech, N. L., Slate, J. R., Stark, M., Sharma, B., Frels, R., Combs, J. P., et al. (2012). An exemplar for teaching and learning qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 17(1), 16-77. Ray, J. M., & Ray, R. D. (2008). Train-to-code: An adaptive expert system for training systematic observation and coding skills. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 673-93. Sinkovics, R. R., & Alfoldi, E. A. (2012). Progressive focusing and trustworthiness in qualitative research. Management International Review, 52(6), 817-845. Zebehazy, K. T., Zimmerman, G. J., & Fox, L. A. (2005). Use of digital video to assess orientation and mobility observational skills. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 99(10), 646-658. Read More