Marxist Review of Suit Life of Zack and Cody
Within the fantasy world of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, teenage twins Zack and Cody Martin spend their adolescent years living in the Tipton Hotel where tricks and pranks are part of the everyday occurrence. Though at first glance, it may seem as if this Disney Channel sitcom is nothing more than the rambunctious activities of two teen boys, if we take a closer look, parts of the Marxist theory is intertwined in this slapstick comedy.
Examining the episode, A Suite Smell of Excess, Zack and Cody grow tired of being told what they cannot do by adults and enter into a parallel universe in which they are allowed to do whatever they want. However, within this parallel universe, several stereotypes of the characters are perpetuated and reinforced in alliance with the Marxist theory. For example, in the original storyline, lies characters such as Maddie Fitzpatrick, a smart blonde, London Tipton, a dumb Asian, and Esteban, a male housekeeper. These characters are given physical and mental traits that if one were coinciding with society's stereotypes, would not match up to the expectations. Yet, as Zack and Cody enter into the parallel universe, the audience is introduced to the same set of characters but they now fit the mold of their conventional standard. For example, Maddie Fitzpatrick is now a dumb blonde, London Tipton has become a smart Asian, and Esteban has transformed into a female housekeeper. Because of society's expectations on how women with blond hair should act, the audience automatically assumes that Maddie will be dumb. The same conclusion is reached with London Tipton, we as a civilization, have placed Asian people into the intellectual box, that to see any other type of behavior is abnormal. Esteban's character is subsequentialy reintroduced as a female because according to society's expectations of the role of the housekeeper, a woman has always been at the forefront.
Stereotyping is separated into four different categories consisting of appearance, behavior, constructed to fit into a particular medium, and comparison with normal behavior. Maddie, London, and Esteban are reconstructed into their traditional selves based upon how we as a culture typically view those certain types of individuals. Studying this episode through a Marxist lens, it is evident that the parallel universe is reinforcing the stereotypes and ideals that society is accustomed to viewing through the means of media.
Examining the episode, A Suite Smell of Excess, Zack and Cody grow tired of being told what they cannot do by adults and enter into a parallel universe in which they are allowed to do whatever they want. However, within this parallel universe, several stereotypes of the characters are perpetuated and reinforced in alliance with the Marxist theory. For example, in the original storyline, lies characters such as Maddie Fitzpatrick, a smart blonde, London Tipton, a dumb Asian, and Esteban, a male housekeeper. These characters are given physical and mental traits that if one were coinciding with society's stereotypes, would not match up to the expectations. Yet, as Zack and Cody enter into the parallel universe, the audience is introduced to the same set of characters but they now fit the mold of their conventional standard. For example, Maddie Fitzpatrick is now a dumb blonde, London Tipton has become a smart Asian, and Esteban has transformed into a female housekeeper. Because of society's expectations on how women with blond hair should act, the audience automatically assumes that Maddie will be dumb. The same conclusion is reached with London Tipton, we as a civilization, have placed Asian people into the intellectual box, that to see any other type of behavior is abnormal. Esteban's character is subsequentialy reintroduced as a female because according to society's expectations of the role of the housekeeper, a woman has always been at the forefront.
Stereotyping is separated into four different categories consisting of appearance, behavior, constructed to fit into a particular medium, and comparison with normal behavior. Maddie, London, and Esteban are reconstructed into their traditional selves based upon how we as a culture typically view those certain types of individuals. Studying this episode through a Marxist lens, it is evident that the parallel universe is reinforcing the stereotypes and ideals that society is accustomed to viewing through the means of media.
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