The Faceted Television Episode Guide-O-Matic Classification Scheme
The
Faceted Television Episode Guide-O-Matic
Classification Scheme, or FTEGOMCS, was created to allow easy cataloging of and access to the plots of individual episodes of television shows. This system is targeted to the fans of these shows, who often wish to view or review a certain episode. In fan-speak, this sort of information usually comes in the form of a "TOW" sentence, with the letters standing for "The One Where/ When/With." This is in fact so prevalent that the producers of the show
Friends have actually given their episodes official (tongue-in-cheek) "TOW"-style names, such as "The One With the East German Laundry
Detergent."
With the advent of FTEGOMCS, fans will now be able to access plot information using a simple alphanumeric code, allowing users from many countries to use the same classification without a language barrier. The system itself is based loosely on schemes such as the
Universal Decimal Classification and A. Cameron's Fantasy Classification, in that it depends on facets and punctuation to produce very specific classification codes. There are four main aspects of the system:
The main classes
These numbers run from 1 to 099 (though not all classes are filled yet) and proceed in a decimal system, e.g.
6 The Paranormal
61 Extrasensory abilities
611 Telepathy
612 Telekinesis
613 Mediumism
614 Precognition
615 Psychometry
616 Enhanced normal senses
617 Enhanced physical strength
610 Other
Any level of number may be used, though the three-digit class numbers have the greatest level of specificity.
Each category has an "Other" section, ending in zero, that may be used to indicate some other item at the same level of specificity.
To illustrate, in the sample section above, unspecified extrasensory abilities would be classed under 61, and a particular ability not already enumerated, such as astral projection, would be classed under 610.
Add-ons
These letters are used to modify existing class numbers, and are simply added onto the beginning of the number that they modify e.g. S232=
Secret Boyfriend; F363
Faked Multiple Personality Disorder; B445
Bad Sex.
When a letter is used to modify a compound number, such as 611.157
Vampire Headquarters, the letter may be affixed to whichever number with which it is most closely associated, e.g. G611.157
Headquarters of Good Vampires, or 611.E157
Former Headquarters of Vampires. If the letter applies to both, the parenthesis may be used, e.g. M(611.157)
Mysterious Vampire Headquarters, where both the vampires and the headquarters are mysterious.
The letters were assigned in a semi-
mnemonic fashion, to facilitate application and interpretation:
A Attractive, cute, sexy
E Ex-, former, previous, old
N New, replacement
R Fancy, upscale, expensive, rich
P Poor, cheap
V Strong, very, more, big, important
W Weak, not very, less, small, unimportant
F Fake, pretend, hoax
G Good, nice
B Bad, evil
M Mysterious, unknown
S Secret, hidden
T Temporary
U Surprising, unexpected
Punctuation
Punctuation is used to indicate the
syntagmatic relationships between items.
+ Simply indicates that two separate items both occur.
Example: 431+444 a job interview and a first date.
. Combines two or more general items to make a more specific item. The most central
idea should be placed first.
Example: 265.414 a judge's funeral, where the judge is well-known to the characters; 414.265 the funeral of a judge, where perhaps the characters work in the
funeral home.
/ First item is in, at, on, with, in the state of, attends, does, etc. the second item.
Example: 262/31 a pregnant nurse; ROSS GELLER/U461 Ross Geller attends a surprise party.
( ) Combines two or more separate items in order to let them act as one.
Example: (MARK GREENE+215)/422 Mark Greene and his daughter attend a
parent-teacher conference.
: Indicates the object of an action.
Example: 241/451:251 a professor proposes marriage to his student; 201/514:217.213 a woman murders her twin brother.
> Causal relationship-first item causes or affects the second item.
Example: 534>503 a
flood causes a
blackout.
Proper Names
When absolutely necessary, it is possible to include names of places or characters that are otherwise too specific to include in the schedule. This should be limited to the names of main recurring characters in the show, e.g.
HARRY TRUMAN or
LUCY RICARDO. Non-recurring or minor characters should be described, if possible, by their relationship to the main characters, or by some distinguishing characteristic.
Names should be in the form FIRSTNAME LASTNAME unless unavailable, in which case use as much of the name as is provided, e.g. MR HECKLES. Titles should be in the common abbreviated form, without punctuation, i.e. DR, MRS, etc.
Place names should be treated similarly, in that they should be avoided unless the place visited is extremely unusual and central to the plot. For example, in an episode of the
Brady Bunch where they go to
Hawaii, the indexer would be justified in using HAWAII as a index term, as the trip is central to the plot. However, an episode of the
X-Files where they travel to
North Dakota to investigate a
monster would not necessitate putting NORTH DAKOTA in the classification, as the main focus of the episode is the
monster.
Examples:
Friends: The One With Mrs. Bing
(ROSS GELLER/449:CHANDLER BING.211)+(MONICA GELLER>521>A202.352)
Ross kisses Chandler's mother, Monica causes a car accident that seriously injures an attractive man.
X-Files: Beyond the Sea
273.613/F471:DANA SCULLY.212.371
A
prisoner who is a
medium pretends that he can communicate with Dana Scully's dead father.
The Schedule
1 Places These may be combined with other class numbers to describe more specific locations, e.g. 261 Doctor with 151 Office to make 261.151 Doctor's Office.
11 Public Buildings
111
School
112
Medical
113 Place of
worship
114 Community building (
Town hall,
library, etc.)
115 Government (
DMV,
social services,
courthouse, etc.)
116 Station,
port,
depot
110 Other
12 Businesses
121
Restaurant/
Bar/
Coffee shop
122
Store
123 Service (
Repair shop,
laundromat, etc.)
124 Industrial (
Factory,
warehouse, etc.)
125
Agricultural
126
Corporate
120 Other
13 Entertainment Venues
131
Sports
132
Music
133
Art
134
Drama
135
Film
136
Amusement Park/
Carnival
130 Other
14 Residences
141
House
142
Apartment
143
Hotel/
Motel
144
Dormitory
145
Trailer Park
140 Other
15 Rooms
151
Office
152
Kitchen
153
Bedroom
154
Living room
155
Waiting room
156
Conference room
157
Headquarters
150 Other
16 Outdoor Areas
161
Park
162
Garden
163
Ocean/
Beach
164
Mountains
165
Wilderness
160 Other
17 Transportation
171
Car
172
Bus
173
Airplane
174
Train
175
Boat
176
Horse
170 Other
2 People
21 Nuclear Family
211
Mother
212
Father
213
Brother
214
Sister
215
Daughter
216
Son
217
Twin
218 Step- (Use with other family member, e.g. 211.218
Stepmother)
210 Other
22 Extended Family
221
Grandmother
222
Grandfather
223
Aunt
224
Uncle
225
Niece
226
Nephew
227
Cousin
228
In-law (Use with other family member, e.g. 213.228 Brother In-law)
220 Other
23 Peers
231
Life Partner/
Spouse
232
Boyfriend
233
Girlfriend
234
Friend
235
Neighbor
236
Co-worker/
Colleague
230 Other
24 Authorities, advisors, superiors
241
Teacher/
Professor
242
Spiritual Advisor/
Counselor
245
Supervisor/
Boss
246 Head of organization (to specify, add other class number, e.g 246.111=School
Principal)
247
Expert/
Authority
240 Other
25 Students, clients, employees
251
Student
252
Advisee
253
Patient
254
Client/
Patron
255
Assistant
256
Employee (Add location class number for specific types of employees, e.g.
Waitress=256.121. A
Chef, however, should be classed under 246.152 as head of a kitchen.)
257 Business
owner
250 Other
26 Professionals
261
Doctor
262
Nurse
263
Mental health professional
264
Librarian
260 Other (For Lawyers, see 276)
27 Legal system
271
Victim
272
Perpetrator/
Criminal
273
Prisoner
274
Police officer
275
Judge
276
Lawyer/
Prosecutor
277
Accused/
Defendant
270 Other
20 General
201
Woman
202
Man
203
Girl
204
Boy
200
Person
3 Physical life
31 Pregnancy
311
Morning sickness
312
Sonogram
313 Baby moving
314
Moodiness/Unusual behavior
315
Labor
316 Naming the child
317
Fertility problems
310 Other
32 Infancy
321
Breastfeeding
322 Changing
diapers
323 Waking up in the night
324 First steps
325
First word
326 Other first
320 Other
33 Puberty/Adolescence
331
Menstruation
332
Breas development
333
Voice changing
334
Facial hair
335
Discovering sexuality
336
Rebellion
330 Other
34 Aging
341
Midlife crisis
342
Biological clock
343
Menopause
344 Getting
wrinkles
340 Other
35 Illness or injury
351 Minor
352 Serious
353
Chronic
354
Fatal
350 Other
36 Mental illness
361
Bipolar disorder
362
Depression
363
Multiple personalities<br />
364
Schizophrenia
365
Paranoia
366
Phobia
367
Dementia
360 Other
37 Death
371
Death (For funerals, see 414.)
372
Burial
373
Autopsy
374
Kill (for murder, see 514)
370 Other
4 Social Life
41 Rites of passage, ceremonies
411 New baby (
Christening,
bris, etc.)
412 Coming-of-age (
Bat mitzvah,
quinceañera, etc.)
413
Wedding
414
Funeral
415
Religious service
410 Other
ceremony
42 School
421 First day of school
422
Parent-teacher conference
423
Studying
424
Test
425
Grades
426
Assembly
427
Graduation
428
Reunion
420 Other
43 Working
431
Job interview
432
Get a job
433
Meeting/
Conference
434
Project
435 Get promoted
436 Get
fired
437
Quit
430 Other
44 Dating
441
Crush/
Infatuation
442 Ask for a date
443
First date
444
Blind date
445 Have
sex
446 Move in together
447
Break up
448
Come out (as gay)
449
Kiss
440 Other (For
homosexual dating, marriage, etc., use 44, 45, 23)
45 Marriage
451
Proposal
452
Engagement
453
Honeymoon (For Wedding, see 413)
454
Anniversary
455
Affair
456
Separation
457
Divorce
450 Other
46 Events
461
Party/
Celebration
462
Contest
463
Performance
460 Other
47 Actions
471
Communicate
472
Visit
473
Make
474
Give
475
Take
476
Learn/Find out
5 Misfortunes (For injury resulting from any of these, combine with classes in 35)
51 Crime
511
Theft
512
Vandalism/Destruction of property
513
Assault
514
Murder
515
Arrest
516
Trial
517
Prison
518
Investigation
510 Other
52 Accidents
521
Automobile
522
Airplane
523 Other transportation
524 At home
525 On the job
520 Other
53 Natural Disasters
531
Weather
532
Earthquake
533
Fire
534
Flood
535
Volcano
536 Attack of
animals or
insects
537
Epidemic
530 Other
54 War
541
Invasion
542
Terrorism
543 Getting
drafted
540 Other
50 Miscellaneous
501 Destruction
502
Bad luck
503
Blackout
504 Stuck in
elevator
500 Other (For Death, see 372.)
6 The Paranormal
61 Extrasensory abilities
611
Telepathy
612
Telekinesis
613
Mediumism
614
Precognition
615
Psychometry
616 Enhanced normal
senses
617 Enhanced physical strength
610 Other
62 Monsters
611
Vampire
612
Werewolf
613
Demon
614
Zombie
615
Sea monster
617
Ghost
610 Other (For Aliens, see 642)
63 Magic
631
Witch
632
Wizard
633
Spell
630 Other
64 Space
641
Spaceship
642
Alien
643
Star
644
Planet
640 Other