Irony and Sincerity in Contemporary Television : Playing Nice in Aesthetics and Politics

In the wake of the contemporary Golden Age of Television and political polarization in the United States, this collection argues that the tension between sincerity and irony in nicecore television is crucial to understanding its aesthetic and political aims. An interdisciplinary range of both established and emerging scholars analyze shows like Schitt’s Creek, Ted Lasso, Jury Duty, and The Bear to highlight how creators are responding to audience demands for sincerity in the contemporary television landscape. Placing the concept of ‘niceness’ in relation to queerness, class, unlikability, traditional gender norms, and the comfort of sincerity, contributors demonstrate how even across genres and individual creators, these seemingly lighthearted shows each have unique and important messages and goals beneath the surface. As a whole, this collection presents a clear picture of how the 21st-century political landscape has shaped both manifestations and interpretations of the New Sincerity aesthetic in televisual media. Ultimately, Irony and Sincerity in Contemporary Television argues that the 21st-century political landscape has shaped modern manifestations and interpretations of the New Sincerity aesthetic in televisual media.