All in the Family

The mother in “The Other Family”, by Himani Bannerji, has numerous static traits. Perhaps one of her most dominant traits being affection. It is clear various times in the text that she is affectionate when she felt “sorry that she was putting such a heavy burden on such young shoulders” (Bannerji 2). Before, she had also said that she did not want “frighten [her daughter]”(Bannerji 2). She even manifests panic just from thinking of potentially losing her daughter. Her second most evident trait is loneliness. The mother displays loneliness when she sometimes is “unsettled” with the news contained in “letters that [arrived] from home”(Bannerji 1). This could most likely be that the letters may be about certain people or things she misses from

The television shows from 1950 to the present are connected in many ways. The characters showed in the 1950s television show called Leave It To Beaver all have white coloured skin and portrayed as a happy, perfect family. As the decades increased, the nuclear families turned into blended families, and the television shows started to have coloured characters. The families started to have problems and social situations. The viewer sees the conflicts inside the family begin as the years progress. For example, in the 2000's we examined a television show called Arrested Development. The show portrays the characters as if they are troubled and have problems. The children do not listen to their parents but instead have

Living by the restrictions that society places upon us, humanity is constrained to follow rules. Television writers were forced to write a certain way and were forced to leave out information that society would deem as improper, rude, and even racist. However, in 1971, a groundbreaking American television sitcom broke through societal boundaries and transformed the way that the American audience viewed television. Engulfed by the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, fight for women's right, and the Watergate scandal, Norman Lear persevered through stereotypes and entertainment norms with his show All in the Family. This show approached its audience in a very blunt and crude manner; it made conflict the center of its comedy. It dealt with contemporary cultural issues in a relatable way, which blue allowed blue-collar workers to learn about their current everyday issues and concerns. Through his show All in the Family, Norman Lear highlighted sensitive topics such as racism, bigotry, and sexual relations to prove that they are still alive in our country; thus, Norman Lear is an agent of change by bringing awareness to social issues.

Released in 2001, Disney Channel’s The Proud Family was a Black cartoon frequently watched by children who grew up during its airplay. Not vulgar or satirical, The Proud Family centered around Penny Proud and her family as she grew up through her years. As a child, I innocently watched this show, but picked up on unintended implications based off of the character’s skin color. The main character Penny was a lighter skinned girl, who appeared to possess “more Eurocentric phenotypic characteristics (Steele),” exhibited more intelligence, wealth, and virtue, as opposed to her darker skinned best friend, Dijonay, who was associated with deviance and sassiness, while speaking with a more Ebonic style of talking and possessed a more “ghetto” name. Although the show attempted to provide an accurate representation of a “traditional African American family,” it still regardlessly instilled these stereotypes of the African American community into my mindset, which were not disproved in my mind until later in my life (Steele).

AMC’s 2007 premier of Mad Men coined the beginning of a television revolution. Viewers of the hit program became captivated by every aspect of the show, from the retro designed setting to the verbiage spoken by characters, Mad Men leaves audiences with an intense wonder to observe how the story unfolds. Mad Men portrays the 1960s in a way the current generation has never before seen and for our nation’s elder generations it creates an extreme sense of nostalgia. While the show’s setting portrays the 1960s viewers have gained the ability to unravel many culturally relevant references from both past and present times. Regardless of age, gender, social status or ethnic background Mad Men reflects specific aspects viewers are able to relate

One show that is an American iconic and still watched today is titled “The Rugrats” written by Arlene Klasky (Ebert 1). This show is known for its life filled with rambunctious kids and is made to be watched by kids. All main characters hold traits such as pale skin, and colored hair of primarily European descent. In fact, The Rugrats only have one differently oriented character, who is an African-American girl that rarely is featured. As one can continue to imagine, think solely concerning every colored child's psychological development as they watch this American television show. Begin to picture not being able to see an accurate representation for themselves; it can make a child, that doesn’t know any better, think there's something wrong with who they are. Through what’s displayed on television shows that a majority cannot relate to and has been hurting America in the long run. Many children develop the mentality that they are somehow not normal which leads to mental disorders, and thinking they don't belong. Race doesn’t have to be lost in the media, for example in India. India’s writer Naif Al-Mutawa has written the underappreciated cartoon “The 99” (Crinos 2). This cartoon is in the prime standard for India’s broadcast system. The 99 tells adventures featuring

During the 1950’s the culture, trends, and demographics had a huge impact on television production.Leave it to Beaver, a popular sitcom during the 1950’s portrayed family life as it was during that time period. A period of elegance,family significance,and refinement. While watching an episode of Leave it to Beaver I quickly observed the difference

Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the

The television show Black-ish has caused many controversial discussion and opinions. The sitcom features three generations of an African American family, the Johnsons, which includes a successful executive Andre; his wife Rainbow, who is a doctor; their four kids: Andre Jr., Zoey, Jack, Diane, and Andre’s parents Pops and Ruby living in a predominantly white suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles. The theme centers around how Andre came from a poor black neighborhood and his kids don’t seem to realize their culture. With this being the basis of the show, it has caused an uproar, with just its name alone being said to perpetrate racial stereotypes, leaving some with feelings that the show should be canceled (Peyser). The sitcom has even received tweets from Presidential candidate Donald Trump about being racist. This is as far from the truth as possible. Black-ish is not only non-racist it, but it is also a great show, providing laughs, life lessons, and diversity. Therefore, Black-ish is a good family sitcom and meets several aspects to be judged as one.

In Marlon Riggs’ documentary Color Adjustment, the viewer is asked to reexamine and recognize the amount of racial subliminal subtexts were present through the popular shows of the time, such as Amos and Andy, The Nat King Cole Show, I Spy, Good Times, Roots, and The Cosby Show. The documentary outlines almost half a century’s worth of race relations by analyzing the racial myths and stereotypes perpetuated on prime time entertainment. To explain it in brevity, Color Adjustment attempts to show how African Americans were slowly allowed to join in the various portrayals of the American family and American Dream that were prevalent and central to the networks’ agenda of keeping viewers entertained in between commercials, only so far as their presence adhered to the strict ideals already in place of a wholesome, nuclear American family and their pursuit of the American Dream. However, one cannot overlook how prime time television networks managed to absorb and integrate divisive racial commentary and conflict into a more conventional and auspicious mode as a nightly

Ever since 1997, South Park has revolutionized the cable TV scene as a profane and obscene program that isn’t afraid to mock religious, political, and cultural topics and not get away with at least offending somebody. Throughout its twelve seasons, some of the most prominent events in pop culture have suffered the wrath of ridicule from the show’s creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and succeeded in making millions of Americans laugh until they cry. The creative genius behind these cultural and controversial statements has exalted the series to iconic status in our entertainment industry for its satirical voice in each episode. Throughout its ten years on air, South Park has broken multiple political,

While President Lyndon B. Johnsons “Great Society” program was battling racial inequality and poverty in the 60s, a small group of friends gathered and discussed the idea of manipulating the technology television to do the same, to have a show that promoted racial tolerance and compassion through education. When most parents sit their children in front of the television and turn on child education programs, they have a sense of gratitude, children’s shows would teach their children the alphabet and how to count while they could handle their grown-up stuff. For years, my parents sat me in front of the television and turned on Sesame Street and so did my grandparents when my parents were little. Sesame Street was a daycare in a box, my Father used to joke, but even though Sesame Street had lessons on colors, numbers, and shapes, I doubt my grandparents or parents thought about the greater lessons that Sesame Street aimed to teach children beyond the ABCs— to teach children about diversity and inclusion and other sensitive issues regarding health, safety, and cultural awareness through catchy jingles, diverse casts, special guest stars, and of course our furry little monster friends. In many ways, Sesame street took children’s programing father than it ever had gone before and it set the tone for entertainers, artists, and educators to embrace a sense social responsibility to American youth.

Family sitcoms have been the most popular and positively influenced television shows watched since the 1900s to today. Many of these shows have consisted of African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic families who all play a role that we as watchers look up to or perceive as the right way to run our household. Over time there has been an addition to biracial shows and family role changes throughout these sitcoms. For example, now observing single parent homes, homosexual guardians and even the changing of social interaction has both positively and negatively impacted real families who are watching.

not be as good as we imagined. We are shown quick little images of all

Additionally, television shows on the late 80’s through the middle 90’s, present the same family concept but with a different topic. Comedy shows like “Married with Children” which illustrates a “white” family of four members living in a Chicago suburb area with an antisocial personality disorder, is a typical example of