For starters, it breaks barriers. There are many different dynamics to the family portrayed in the show. One of the couples, Cam and Mitchel, in the show is a gay couple. Already they reach into that area of things not traditionally shown on TV. Being gay has only recently begun to be excepted. Likewise in TV shows they appear very rarely and even if they do appear they normally follow the stereotypes that surround gay people. They are usually portrayed as flamboyant, happy and with a great sense of fashion. This gay couple on modern family is not like that. They have these traits at times but it is not their identity. They are more than that gay model. They are loving fathers to their adopted daughter, Lily, and both are hard working at their jobs.
Another one of the couples is multicultural. The father of Mitchel, Jay, divorced his wife and married a young Latino woman, Gloria. Now at first this is annoying because it seems like she is just a trophy wife to Jay. But in reality she is not. She is a very independent woman and doesn't let any of the characters in the show stop her from what she wants to do. She also brings a very important topic about multiculturalism. In one episode she is upset over the fact that her son, Manny, is forgetting his Spanish. She spends the whole episode making sure that he does not forget his heritage. This is an important idea for viewers to take away from the show. It isn't just about fitting into the American society you also have to remember what you come from.
The family is very close in the show. They are always doing something together as a family. Whether it is just having dinner or going on vacation together this family is always connected. I think this strong family connecting is really lacking in our modern society. With all of our so called technology it is easier to pick up the phone and call your grandparents rather than driving to visit them. I am happy to see how close this family is. That's why my family likes to watch it together rather than when it is most convenient for the individual.
Some of their episodes center around sensitive subjects. They solve the problem throughout the episode with humor and lots of laughs, but there is always a deeper meaning viewers find in these hilarious episodes.
My family likes to watch Modern Family because it is different then other TV shows and isn't afraid to talk about sensitive subjects.
I never really thought about Modern Family that way, but they do break a lot of common stereotypes! But at the same times, I feel like at the same time, they have a lot of stereotypes in the show too like the all white family (Dunphys and Cam and Mitchell) but at the same time, defy those stereotypes. Their families are almost like weird impossibilities; defying yet using stereotypical families. I like the points you brought up!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed as well the different sterotypes that Modern Family touches on while watching the show. I really think that they go about it well, in a way that pokes fun at stereotypes but also proves that stereotypes aren't completely true. They play on the "more than meets-the-eye" factor, like Gloria, seeming like a trophy wife but is actually a very independent woman, as you said. I really like that you wrote about this because I think Modern Family really does play well with stereotypes while making people laugh.
ReplyDelete