Friday, November 8, 2013

The Big Bang Theory (TBBT) follows Leonard and Sheldon, two physicists, as they deal with living across the hall from a pretty, blonde wannabe actress whom Leonard inevitably has a crush on. The show also features their two friends Raj and Howard. 

TV, while often exaggerated, can be considered a representation of the norms in our society. So like many other sitcoms, most of the characters are extroverts on TBBT. But there is one surefire introvert on TBBT, Sheldon. However, many people have often mistaken Raj to be introverted too. This is likely due to societal misconceptions about introverts, which can be understood by considering Wallace and Cooper’s idea of Queer Rhetorical Agency and the affects of discourse on a subject. 

The Huffington Post correctly states, “Being an introvert doesn't simply mean being shy, rather it refers to those who are energized by alone time.” Then they list out “8 TV Characters Who Explain What It Means To Be An Introvert.” One of their chosen characters is Raj Koothrappali. Except, he’s not actually an introvert. In the same post as their accurate description, they fall into the stereotyping that society often does to “introverts.” 

They explain that “he hides from social interaction with a hefty does of selective mutism. Unless there is alcohol involved, Raj is most comfortable whispering into his BFF Howard's ear.” Raj actually enjoys social interaction, but because he is shy, the Huffington Post considered him to be an introvert. His trouble interacting isn’t because he doesn’t want to speak with people, it is because he has difficulties speaking around pretty girls, a point Huffington Post failed to clarify. In several episodes, Raj is actually the one throwing parties for their friends and helps throw a party at the comic book store. If he were introverted, he would not relish in this kind of large environment. In the video below Raj talks about setting up a scavenger hunt with his friends. 



The above video is just one example of Raj's need for social interaction that he doesn't always get. He is certainly not the introvert he is mistaken to be. 

Sheldon Cooper, however, is a true introvert. He is uncomfortable having more than four friends and, like many introverts, likes to avoid large social gatherings and small talk. He thrives from being alone. When the group is invited to Penny’s Halloween party in Season One, Sheldon sits on the couch the entire time not quite understanding the people around him. Without the purpose of a costume contest, he doesn’t see the point in having the party. Also at the beginning of Season One, Leonard is interested in getting to know Penny and Sheldon explains, “Chat? But we don’t chat. At least not offline.” He is content with his small social circle and doesn’t want to disrupt this. As an introvert, it would be exhausting. 

This understanding of introverts can be related to Wallace and Alexander’s description of the misrepresentation of queer students. They critique rhetorical agency’s inability “to grapple substantively with queerness and queer theory.” Their two main problems are that it doesn't consider the needs of queer students, nor is it able to recognize how queer theory is understood and replicated in public discourse.

Like queer students who deal with these problems, many introverts have their fair share of problems and stereotyping as well. Just as the Huffington Post mistaken categorized Raj, many people are unable to identify if someone is an introvert or just shy. These two qualities can overlap, but more importantly, they don’t have to. 

Wallace and Alexander go on to discuss the intent behind “discourses that erase, marginalize, and pathologize others.” There isn’t always intent. But because it is ingrained in the way we talk and grow up that people who are not as social are wrong, introverts become misrepresented. 

In elementary schools teachers often try to get kids to “come out of their shell,” because they are uninformed in the difference between shyness and introversion. They also do not realize the toll it takes for an introvert to put a much greater effort into something that is natural for extroverted students. They see the student as the problem, instead of realizing they are the problem. Then as the teachers regularly ask the student to become more vocal and to make more friends, other students begin to think that the quiet kid has a problem. 

While Sheldon, unlike Raj, does accurately represent an introvert, the writers did not make his character merely introverted. They describe him as “Sheldony,” but many people with Asperger’s have noticed some uncanny similarities between themselves and Sheldon. The writing of his character stems from the idea that if someone is not extroverted (the societal “norm”), there must be something wrong with them, much like the elementary school teacher. 

The writers could have written Sheldon with some quirks and made him a relatable character to all introverts, but instead they went over-the-top with exaggerated stereotypes. By denying that Sheldon is actually someone with Asperger’s they further the misunderstanding that any person who doesn’t always want social interaction, doesn’t understand it. It adds to the discourse that introverts are social awkward and rude. And that they can’t understand social conventions. 

In this video we see Sheldon struggle with understanding sarcasm, a trait of Asperger's, not introversion.


Much like Wallace and Alexander suggest that teachers need to be better informed about the effects of heteronormativity, they also need to recognize the ingrained personality types within our society. They must consider that students who just don’t feel like talking in a large group, don’t have something wrong with them. By breaking down the understanding of what it means to be an introvert versus someone who is shy, the characters on TV will also be a more accurate representation of the types they are portraying. People won’t continue to consider all introverts as cold and won’t label all shy people as introverts. 

1 comment:

  1. Shaila,

    I'll give you a full response next week, but I just wanted to let you know that I really like this work. Well done! Really thoughtful and thought provoking.

    ReplyDelete