Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Degree Granting Department

Communication

Major Professor

Chris Noland, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Travis Bell, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Artemio Ramirez, Ph.D.

Keywords

Adult Animation, Death Attitudes, Magical Realism, Death

Abstract

This study examined whether brief exposure to a death-themed episode of the adult animated show Family Guy could prime viewers to adopt less serious attitudes toward death and dying. Drawing primarily from priming theory, with supporting insights from cultivation and framing theories, the research focused on the show's unique use of magical realism and irreverent humor, particularly the personification of Death as the sarcastic Grim Reaper, to explore potential shifts in death-related attitudes. Participants (N = 100) were randomly assigned to view one of two clips from Family Guy Season 2, Episode 6 ("Death is a Bitch") with one clip featuring conceptual discussions of death without the Grim Reaper, or one including the comedic portrayal of the character. Immediately afterward, attitudes were measured using the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-r), which assesses five subscales: Fear of Death, Death Avoidance, Neutral Acceptance, Approach Acceptance, and Escape Acceptance. Results showed mixed effects. Exposure to the clip without the Grim Reaper showed statistical significance with higher Death Avoidance and Escape Acceptance scores compared to the Grim Reaper condition, suggesting that abstract death references primed greater avoidance and viewing death as relief from life's hardships. No significant differences emerged for Fear of Death, Neutral Acceptance, or Approach Acceptance, indicating that deeply rooted attitudes remain resistant to short-term media priming. These findings highlight the nuanced role of humorous, absurd portrayals in adult animation for subtly influencing certain mortality perceptions while underscoring the limits of single-exposure effects. Implications for media theory and future research on animated content's psychological impact are discussed.

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