Question

Consider the role of the media plays in constructing people’s images of families and their problems. Identify your favorite television shows that portrays families, marriages, or relationships. How are families, marriages, or relationships portrayed on this TV show? Are these accurate portrayals? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Show: Modern Family

This show as the name suggests talks about the unconventional patterns of relationships that are found in the family. This show represents the modern and positive aspects of the family. It breaks all the norms of society and provides a new or fresh image in the dynamics of the family.

This show represents three families. Every family has children and adults who have their own difficulties and strengths. They go through various ups and downs but remain together as a family. Every character has its own story of development. The children's and adult's various aspects are being talked about. The different aspirations, professions, academic achievement, past history, and dating relationships. You can find a kid who is a nerd, other is a party-holic and one is too mature for his age. Adults carry on different professions like being a businessman, lawyer, football coach, property dealer, etc

Relationships are defined in a different manner. There are relationships that break all the barriers of the age difference and gender identities. One couple is straight, one is homosexual and the third one involves young women and old men. The dynamics are very different. Children and parents have their own conflicts, fights, and moments of love and admirations. Uncles love their nephews, grandparents love their grandchildren, cousins take care of each other, aunts are there for the family kids, etc

Marriages are fun to watch. These go through a lot of struggles and finally people find love. The last thing that shows ats to represent is love. The love which bonds the family together. Young people are getting married and having children. These young kids do not have any family planning or financial security but their elders are very supportive in their decisions.

Analysis

The portrayal is very nice when it comes to knowing the journeys of different characters. It highlights the individual aspect very well. Every individual has its own personality and they have their own weakness and strengths. When it comes to the family aspect- it is a bit exaggerated in the sense that these relationships usually don't exist in general terms. A young woman marrying a very old man is very unlikely to see. In another case, very few people open up about their homosexual identities.

The love and bond are very positive. There is no sense of jealousy and hatred towards each other. In reality, families do have much more conflicts and jealousy with each other. Relatives are not usually too involved with other people's lives.

The families belong to upper-middle-class society. They don’t show any constraints related to finance, their living style is good, and the reflection on the various problems that families go through. The majority of the families do not come under the rich section or class. The representation of a high-class family cannot be generalized in real sense.