The Role Of Television Show Plays On The Portrayal Of The Modern Family Set Up

In this week’s application project essay, I would like to compare an older television show that projected family life as it was in the 1930’s as compared to how family is viewed from a sociological viewpoint today. “The Walton’s” may not have been an idealistic portrait of family, but the series did portray family as it really was in that era, since it was based on the autobiographical writings of Earl Hamner, Jr.

Since the beginning of time itself, Television has been one the most influential pieces of media that the world has ever encountered. The beginning days of television depicted stereotypical mothers cooking and cleaning their homes for their husbands and children. Yet, as the decades passed, television took a dramatic turn, leaving the days of drama free entertainment as a vast memory. Now a day, however, when one hits the power on button to Bravo, the screen lights expand to ritzy socialites dealing with their everyday lives as “housewives”. Bravo TV’s hit number one reality television show, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, deals with the everyday lives of modern-day housewives. When speaking of these women and their family life, the

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

It is often said that the media and the arts are an accurate reflection of any given community. This is especially true in American pop-culture, where television shows depict the various stereotypes attributed to men and women and the roles they play in society. House, a highly popular medical drama that revolves around Dr. Gregory House and his diagnostic team, is a particularly good example as it represents the true state of the traditional gender roles in American culture today by, both, redefining and reinforcing them over the course of the show.

Modleski argues that soap operas are crucial in understanding women’s role in today’s culture. She claims that in viewing soap operas, the viewer can identify with each of the characters together, and is able to jump between each of the characters instantly, as she sets herself up emotionally with all of them. In the essay, Modleski states that “the family is, for many women, their only support, and soap operas offer the assurance of its immortality” (Modleski 131). The viewer that Modelski is referencing to is the mother, hence carrying out to all plot improvements and new events, although even in this state of explanation she does not, or cannot, create a particular bias or take an interest in just one of her ‘children’ over another (133). She suggests that being in this position of the ‘good mother’ popular culture can change one’s concept of self and one’s identity. In depicting opposed themes such as good

Sitcoms are an American staple, a fantastic pastime, and an in-depth look into current family values and standards. The United States Census Bureau defines the family as two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing in the same housing unit. This definition works well as a marker of internal family status, but it is a very limited definition of a family. Sociologists commonly extend the definition of family to include persons who provide one another with intimacy, emotional support, and love as it is a better representation of the families we have seen in the past few decades. Two beloved sitcoms, Friends and New Girl, each center around the lives of six main characters and how they form family in the late 90s and the

As society has continued to evolve socially, politically and culturally, so has the persona of television. Societal transformations have shape and reshaped television throughout its history. Programs ranging from ethical series to variety shows to family sitcoms mirrored not only the audience taste of entertainment, but also the change of values within society during the increase in television use. Gender roles and a strong sense of family intimacy were among the most prominently highlighted transformations reflected in television. Women and family contribute significantly when analyzing the antiquity of the television. Television programming was designed to emphasize family togetherness through illuminating the importance of domestic household maintenance. Domestic sitcoms, such as The Donna Reed Show exhibited these liberal roles in which women were expected to subjugate to subordinate statuses and confine their

     What role does television play in society? For decades we have seen many parts of our world rapidly going through changes in technology. Today’s society has been transformed by means of communication and the available information through mass media. Most Americans rely on television for news, sports, and entertainment. Television is just one of the many examples of how technology has changed our lives. Since the invention of the television in the early 1900’s, it has played a very important role in our lives. Having a television set in the home has become very essential in today’s society. We depend on it to entertain us with its sitcoms and to inform us about current world issues. The

When one thinks of the myth of the model family, the shows of the past come vividly into our minds. During the 1950’s alone, television was inundated with images of the “perfect” family. Shows like “Father Knows Best”, “Leave it to Beaver”, and The Ozzie and Harriet Show” showed how wonderful it was to be an ideal family. The myth itself is the ideal that a model family consists of a married couple; man and woman, with two children. This family lives a wonderful suburban home and for the most part there is no major conflict in their lives. In the myth, dad is the money maker and mom stays at home tending to the household. Even though the example of the model family that the 50’s made so popular, it does not exist. Even though the truth is out, the myth stills is in existence today even with all the new definitions of family that are evident today. Of course it still holds on; it is still apart of the American Dream. The dream that having the

For this paper, I have chosen to analyze the sitcom That 70s Show. This show follows the lives of a group of teenage friends: Jackie, Donna, Hyde, Kelso, Eric, and Fez. The show addresses many social issues of the 1970s, including: Sexism, sexual attitudes, drug use, and the recession. It also highlights many of the inventions and developments of the entertainment industry, such as the remote control and Star Wars.

As early as 1950, television families have depicted not only the way we live today, but also the way we ought to live (Tueth, 2003). Hence, television has continued to present comedies about family life that ranges from the didactic model of domestic conventionalist and gradually to non-conventionalist ways of life. By conventionalist, I mean the depiction of the “nuclear” family that consists of clear roles, responsibilities, and gentle lines of authority that flow from the wise dad and understanding mom to the obedient children (Kutalas, 2005). Examples of these types of shows between 1947 to 1990 that constructed more than 60% of family sitcoms included: The Cleavers, The Cosby Show, Father Knows Best, Family Ties, and Growing Pains

We have decided to conduct this study with the focus on three sitcoms from the 1980s which are Fresh Prince, The Bill Cosby Show, and Full house. In addition, focusing on three sitcoms for comparison in todays time, 2000s which are Full House, George Lopez and Family Matters. Each of these research samples display a variety of roles played, race, gender and change in family perception. There will be significant differences in the family structures as a function of time and race/culture of sitcoms aired in the 1980’s versus in the 2000’s. More specifically, it is expected that there will be a significant differences in the portrayals of family size, social class, locations, origin, and gender roles.

Nowadays there are numerous sitcoms about the life of typical American families. Family Guy sitcom about Griffin family, is broadly known to be focused on satirical humor which is not just about fun at political figures or stereotypes, yet is meant to realize the issues in today's general public. Talking about Griffin, they may be seem as typical family for the first sight, but in fact, Griffin break typical American family’s stereotypes. Thus, the sitcom about Griffin’s atypical American family touches everyday values and beliefs, such as gender and sexuality, in a very outright manner.

In the last decade, television has converted from scripted based programming to reality based programming. Although the content is largely contrived, it’s intent is to portray each character in his or her own element. Historically, television and virtually every other form of media have used stereotyping to appeal to a certain demographic. But the use of subtle and more subliminal messages has become less and less common over the years. Furthermore, the blatant differences between scripted television shows and reality television are unparalleled. For example, scripted television’s mission is to recreate a reality from the average Americans point of view. Show’s that are set in hospitals, fire departments, police departments, or in corporate settings, usually illustrates the diversity and racial equality that exists in those industries. In contrast, reality shows are vastly different in its approach. Titles, for instance, reveals much more about the casting, it’s storylines and its overall objection. For instance, Basketball Wives, which is a popular reality show that airs on VH1, it’s intent is to reveal the day to day lives of the wives of NBA basketball players. However, the show very rarely focuses on any positive aspects of their daily endeavors, like raising children or promoting charities. But rather, the show promotes alcohol-fueled disputes, merciless and materialistic African American and Latina women. Conversely, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reflects a vastly

The television show, This is Us has been a personal engagement for me which has given me different perspectives on family engagements and family dynamics, based on the television show’s characters and the sibling rivalry in their adolescence, then on to each of their personal growth and establishing healthy relationships as they become adults. This television show also portrays to the viewers, how the American culture views parental figures, their trials and successes, during the course of the family’s growth throughout the years. While watching this show, it reminds me of how difficult family relationships can be