When I was doing the readings for this week, something stood out to me more than any other topic in popular culture. The topic of Modern Family, the television show. Modern Family came out in 2009 and ended in 2020, with 11 seasons. This stood out to me because I was reading a textbook about one of my favorite shows that I grew up watching.
Modern Family is most known for its modern approach of showing a gay couple on mainstream television, the characters Mitch and Cam. At the time this was very controversial because gay marriage was not allowed in every state yet. The show was so popular when it first came out because it depicted many different types of family lives within the bigger family as a whole. People could relate to a certain family or a certain character to themselves, this is why the show was such a big hit.
There are three families within the bigger family. The first being a more traditional family with a mother, father, and three children, this is the example of the nuclear family. The second family is a gay couple, who adopted a Vietnamese daughter in the third season of the show. The third family is the grandpa of the family, and his new wife from Columbia with her teenage son. All of these families come together to make one whole Modern Family.
Modern Family uses humor to address social issues like immigration, aging, and same-sex marriage, and its portrayal of these topics helped shape the bigger conversation in pop culture during its run. This show aired for many years, and there are many pop culture references and jokes within the show itself. When watching the show people felt like the cast grew up with their families. Modern Family was unlike anything the public had seen on mainstream television in 2009, making it one of the most talked about pop culture topics for many years to come. Have you seen Modern Family? And if so, how do you feel like your own family can relate to it and learn from the show? Do you think it is an accurate depiction of modern families?
Here is a link to an interesting New York Times article about the show Modern Family: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/fashion/23THISLIFE.html
I’m a fairly new fan of Modern Family, having avoided watching it for years, so your blog really caught my attention. One can certainly argue that Modern Family has had a significant influence on American society. I remember when it first premiered, and NBC’s affiliate in Utah refused to air it because it didn’t align with traditional family values, particularly due to its portrayal of a homosexual couple raising a family. You’ve done a great job highlighting the impersonal aspects in the show, which could be expanded even further considering the interracial relationship between Gloria and Jay, as well as their significant age gap. Jay’s character is particularly compelling, as he often holds onto his past beliefs while also resisting and adapting to the “modern” world. I especially like how you noted the way the show uses humor to address social issues (sometimes to the point of discomfort). To answer your questions, yes, I agree the sitcom is very relatable. Families today are more diverse than ever, and for a lot of people, the show offers a pretty accurate reflection of modern family life. It’s clear Modern Family pushed the boundaries while offering humor and heart, which is why it still resonates today. I’m looking forward to watching the last couple of seasons!
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