FRESH PRINCE OF BEL- AIR By: Tiauna Walker, Da Quan Lee and Greg Babikian
Opening theme song
What is the Fresh Prince of Bel Air Fresh Prince of Bel Air is a comedy tv show series about The Banks, a wealthy African American family in North California. Family member, Will from urban West Philadelphia is sent to live with the Banks with hopes that he would learn about good old-fashioned morals from his successful relatives. This early 1990s comedy takes you through on a journey of difference: different cultural backgrounds, upbringings, morals and values, different perspective - but through the same race.
Main Characters in the Show The main characters of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are the following: Will Smith as Will Tatyana Ali as Ashley James Avery as Uncle Phil Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Joseph Marcell as Jeffrey Janet Hubert as Vivian Karyn Parsons as Hilary Jenifer Lewis as aunt Helen
Who watched the show? Fresh Prince of Bel Air s targeted audience were teenagers and young adults. Typically, High school students related more to the show because they were closer in age to the actors.
Things happening in the 1990s at the time During the early 1990s African Americans were gaining more career opportunities > which meant they were able to make more money. Actors started receiving larger money opportunities > resulting in the start of successful and wealthier African American tv stars. American s were also just now somewhat getting past racism going on throughout the country. Influence the show had at the time The show had a great success airing: The typical everyday problems made it easy for the show to be relatable for everyone. It well addressed serious issues in the show that America was facing at the time. It helped build careers and popularity of African Americans sitcoms.
Breaking Barriers with the Banks The Fresh Prince of Bel Air not only incited laughter, but also educated people and addressed serious societal issues that were prominent during the early 1990 s such as: Stereotypes Interracial Dating Education Family Values
You Can t Control Who Love The Fresh Prince of Bel Air addresses Interracial Relationships Guess who s getting married?
When the Classes Clash Stereotypical urban at the dinner table with stereotypical suburbans.
Impact Fresh Prince of Bel Air left on television: Crippling of Stereotypes Introduced the African American family in a positive light Dispel the myth of the dysfunctional Black family Emphasized that Black families were not exempt from economics, social class, education, wealth, etc. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air displayed how society was slowly evolving for the better and becoming more understanding and accepting to difference(s)
CITATIONS Batchelor, Bob. "Television Comedy in the 1990s." Pop Culture Universe: Icons, Idols, Ideas. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. Maghbouleh, Neda. "Television Shows and American Culture." Pop Culture Universe: Icons, Idols, Ideas. ABCCLIO,2015. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. Evans, Elizabeth. "Will Smith." Pop Culture Universe: Icons, Idols, Ideas. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. "The Impact of African-American Sitcoms on America's Culture." 123HelpMe.com. 14 Nov 2015