TV Families and Real Families

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 (Morgan & Signorielli, 1990). The original nuclear families portrayed in shows such as Father Knows Best, were also defined as having a father who was the breadwinner, the rule maker, and the mediator of disputes, a mother who was sociable, witty, and good natured, and an average of 2.2 children that mostly consisted of boys that were obedient, and when confused, they would find out that father did know best, even about their personal childhood problems. These conventional sitcoms worked as a formula that changed the expectations of viewers who would find these families not only amusing, but instructional and taught moral lessons each episode (Tueth, 2003). And by non-conventionalist ways of life, I mean families which were “non-nuclear”, such as single parent families and gay families. These types of families made up 40% of the family sitcoms and included shows such as: Who’s The Boss, Kate and Allie, and Modern Family (Morgan & Signorielli, 1990).

Making up more than 80% of the dramatic ...

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...thin 22-minutes, but they may also view it in a way to learn how to handle certain family or marital problems (Morgan & Signorielli, 1990).

Works Cited

Bartlett, K. T. (1994) Rethinking Parenthood As an Exclusive Status: The need for Legal Alternatives when the Premise of the Nuclear Family has failed. (pp. 879)

Kutulas, J, (2005) Who Rules the Roost?: Sitcom Family Dynamics from the Cleavers to the Osbournes (pp. 49-58)

Morgan, M., Sinorielli, N., (1990) Television and the Family: The Cultivation Perspective (pp. 333-347) Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.

Skill, T., Robinson, J., (1994) Four Decades of families on television: A demographic profile 1950-1989, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Vol. 38, Issue 4

Tueth, M. V., (2003) Back to the Drawing Board: The family in animated television comedy (pp. 133-146)