Earlier this week, the animated sitcom Family Guy aired an episode titled “Family Goy,” which centers around Lois Griffin discovering her Jewish ancestry. This episode, as expected from a show known for its often edgy and offensive humor, has garnered significant attention. While Family Guy tackling Jewish themes isn’t unprecedented, this particular episode, focusing on Lois From Family Guy, highlights a broader trend of Jewish culture becoming increasingly mainstream in American pop culture.
As someone who observes pop culture, the immediate reaction to “Family Goy” is perhaps less about shock and more about recognition. While I haven’t personally watched the episode yet, reviews from sources like the Forward, JTA, Jewish Journal, and Idol Chatter provide a clear picture of its content. The episode is readily available online for viewing, and these reviews offer sufficient insight to discuss its themes and implications.
The episode reportedly relies on familiar tropes and stereotypes when depicting Lois’s newfound Jewish heritage. According to the Jewish Journal, Lois, who was raised Protestant, learns that her mother is a Holocaust survivor who concealed her Jewish identity to facilitate her husband’s social climbing, quipping, “It was the right thing to do, dear.” A subsequent exchange involves Lois’s surprised question, “So Grandma Hebrewberg is actually Jewish?!” and the response, “Yes, when she moved to America, her family changed their name. It was originally Hebrewbergmoneygrabber.”
It’s important to state that offensive humor, when done thoughtfully, can be a powerful tool. Shows like South Park have demonstrated the capacity of such humor to challenge societal norms and prompt critical reflection on cultural assumptions. However, “Family Goy,” based on initial accounts, seems to fall short of this potential. Instead, it appears to recycle well-worn Jewish jokes that lack originality or insightful commentary. This arguably makes it a less impactful Family Guy episode than one might anticipate, especially given the potentially sensitive subject matter.
My own reaction to “Family Goy” also reflects a personal shift in perspective regarding Jewish representation on television. Recently, I expressed excitement about the Jewish character Rachel Berry on Glee. However, a growing sense of fatigue has set in with the constant stream of Jewish characters and references in contemporary TV. Despite making up a small percentage of the US population, Jewish individuals and cultural markers seem disproportionately present on screen.
EstherK, in a post on Urban Kvetch titled “Who is a Jew? This week everyone…”, aptly notes this phenomenon. She points out the pervasive Jewish references in shows like House, The Simpsons, and South Park, culminating in Family Guy‘s exploration of Jewish identity. This “Jewiness everywhere” trend in pop culture suggests a significant shift in how Jewish identity is perceived and portrayed in mainstream media.
This trend extends beyond just characters and jokes. American culture itself seems to be absorbing elements of Jewish culture. Stereotypical Jewish mother traits are becoming normalized parenting styles. Yiddish phrases are integrated into everyday language, often without speakers even recognizing their origins. Hebrew words like “mazel tov” and “l’chaim” have even permeated pop music, exemplified by the Black Eyed Peas’ hit “I Gotta Feelin’.” The widespread popularity of this song has introduced these Hebrew phrases to a new generation, broadening cultural understanding, particularly in the context of Jewish-influenced media like Judd Apatow films.
Historically, Jewish humor, particularly Yiddish jokes, served as a subtle nod between Jewish creators and audiences, often lost on mainstream America. Now, these cultural nuances are widely accessible, signifying a form of “reverse-assimilation.” Jewish culture isn’t assimilating into the majority; instead, elements of Jewish culture are being adopted and integrated into mainstream American culture. This raises questions about cultural identity and preservation. Has something been lost in this mainstreaming? Are unique aspects of Jewish identity being diluted as they become more broadly adopted?
These are the types of questions that naturally arise when considering cultural assimilation and identity. The “Family Goy” episode, by making even Lois Griffin potentially Jewish, prompts reflection on this phenomenon of reverse-assimilation. In a cultural landscape where even quintessential non-Jewish characters can have Jewish roots, what remains distinctly and uniquely Jewish?
