Veronica Valdez

 
 
Blood is Thick than Water
          Modern Family is a well-known American sitcom that airs on Wednesday evenings on ABC at 9 p.m. Written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Llyod, Modern Family is a story of a genuine and honest family. I chose this media text because it reveals the love of a family despite their major and minor daily dysfunctions. In a way, this “Modern Family,” sort of reminds me of my own crazy, dysfunctional, and awesome family. We aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we sure do love each other. Nonetheless, because of our immense love for each other, we help each other out as much as we can with as much love as we can. This effects the audience consumption because it is relatable, raw, and humorous.
Representation of Characters: Patriarchal vs. Matriarchal
          Furthermore, in this popular American mockumentary sitcom, Modern Family, there are two characters I will highlight. Mitchell “Mitch” Vincent Pritchett and Cameron “Cam” Tucker are two males who bond over their common love of the 1942 American romantic drama classic, Casablanca. In the show, the two men eventually fall in love and marry each other, and their love for each other is expressed throughout the show. Cam plays a flamboyant, bubbly, and fun music teacher, while his partner is a Type A, uptight lawyer. Cam is emotionally sensitive and loves to share his big personality by constantly having to be the center of attention. Conversely, his partner Mitch is a preppy, highly critical, and generally professional at avoiding confrontation. Although these two characters are distinctly different, these two characters both highlight the terms of “patriarchy” and “matriarchy” and the depiction of an LGBTQ same-sex couple as explained in “The Handbook of Gender, Sex and Media.” For example, asserting to Ross’ interpretation of “patriarchy,” that would identify more with Mitch. Additionally, as Ross defines, “matriarchy,” that would identify more with Cam. Nevertheless, my analysis will argue against the popular sitcom and “The Handbook of Gender, Sex and Media’s” interpretation of what masculinity is, and also emphasize how it plays a pivotal role in our society.
Same-Sex Attraction/Loss of True Patriarchy
          For example, in “The Handbook of Gender, Sex and Media,” Karen Ross asserts that the role of the patriarchy is oppressed in today’s society. In part, Ross’ assertion is correct. Masculinity is at a detriment and needs to be supported amongst all males across the board today. Yet, I want to acknowledge the role that television plays within that. In Modern Family, Mitch and Cam’s relationship correlates well with what Ross describes as what an LGBTQ couple embodies and represents. However, throughout the text, Ross’ rhetoric on masculinity explains that, “men have been removed from a supposedly authentic sphere of action and purpose and have thus been forced to reassert their identity” (Ross 2014, p. 127). With that, I would argue that men have lost their identity in true masculinity because of television shows which promote a certain type of masculinity. Furthermore, Mitch and Cam serve as a prime example of this. Ross continues to proclaim that “Male roles have been assigned where role norms are understood as culturally constructed expectations about behavior” (Ross 2014, p. 127). However, evidence of this is false through John Eldredge’s book, “Wild at Heart.”  Eldredge asserts throughout his text that men need to rise up and be warriors. “I wasn't mean; I wasn't evil. I was nice. And let me tell you, a hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs. She needs a lover and a warrior, not a Really Nice Guy” (Eldredge 2006, p. 89). Through this text, Eldredge challenges men to rise up and act like men.
True Patriarchy and Matriarchy
          This is significant because our world today is muddled at what it means to be a true man or a true woman. As a society, we look towards the media, culture, and anything “trending” to satiate our thirst for what is factual and authentic for example, a television show. This is not to say that this show does not resonate well with a niche audience. That is by the contrary. This television show resonates well because of the bona fide family dynamic. However, the relationship between Mitch and Cam can confuse a young viewer. As well as give the audience one specific view of what is truly “patriarchal,” and “matriarchal.”
Conclusion
          Overall, Modern Family is an American sitcom that deals with family drama, confusion, and cultural dynamics. The significance of this program in relation to my stance on male and female relationships does not overlap and is dichotomous. Nevertheless, the family dynamic and love is something I can definitely resonate with and connect to. Like I mentioned previously, family is very important to me. It is imperative to look at shows like Modern Family with an open eye. Yet, just because you examine a show and relate to it slightly, does not mean you agree with it one hundred percent. Furthermore, this goes back to the biggest lesson this class has taught me this past semester: You cannot put any one person in a box. We all have a story to tell, share, and spread to the world. Although my opinions differ from this television shows, I do respect the creators for producing a fabulous hit sitcom that resonates well with so many viewers across the nation.


References
Ross, K. (2014). The handbook of gender, sex, and media. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
 
Modern Family, Cast, Characters and Stars. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2017, from http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family/cast
Roberts-Douglass, K. , Curtis-Boles, H. , Levant, R. , Rochlen, A. , & Wade, J. (2013). Exploring positive masculinity development in African American men: A retrospective study. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 14(1), 7-15.
 
Eldredge, J. (2006). Wild at heart. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
 
 
 

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