Enterntainmet Analysis Project by Mariia Yazepova, Michelle Lie and Mary Kaschmitter

Join the Entertainment Analysis Project to explore the tropes, ideologies, and stereotypes in the TV show Modern Family. They analyze the LGBTQ+ representation, challenge nuclear family tropes, and discuss the portrayal of Gloria as a spicy Latina. The podcast aims to break norms, stereotypes, and ideologies in media and promote inclusivity. They highlight the influence of media in shaping societal perceptions and the importance of media literacy. Modern Family challenges stereotypes and broadens LGBTQ+ representation. It also challenges traditional gender roles within the nuclear family and portrays a nuanced picture of family dynamics. The show also addresses the stigmatization of stepfamilies and the portrayal of Gloria reinforces Latina stereotypes. The podcast aims to contribute to a more inclusive narrative and challenge societal expectations. Join us in the Entertainment Analysis Project, your go-to destination for unraveling the mysteries behind your favorite shows, movies, and more. Explore tropes, often overused and underestimated, which are the hidden threads that weave through the media. Discover how they reinforce stereotypes and challenge the status quo. Interpret ideology, peel back the layers of unconscious influences that shape our beliefs and behaviors. Exploring how they mold narratives and self-beliefs guide our perspectives. Challenge stereotyping. Confront the process of constructing misleading representations of marginalized groups. It's time to question the status quo and engage in inclusive storytelling. Boost your media literacy. Our podcast guides you through a critical process of understanding how media constructs you. Elevate your media literacy with us. Don't just consume entertainment, understand it. Available on your favorite podcast platform. Welcome everyone to another episode of the Entertainment Analysis Project. I'm Michelle. And I'm Mary. And I'm Rhea. Today we're delving into comedic chaos that is Modern Family, specifically focusing on Season 5, Episodes 22-24. We are going to dive deep into those tropes, ideologies, and stereotypes that exist in these episodes. The major events that we are going to discuss are Cam and Mitch's wedding, Claire and Phil's nuclear family dynamics, and the relationship between Gloria and Jay. Today we are going to be talking about three different but interconnected families. We're going to be having a couple of segments that are designated to all of these families. Segment 1 talks about Modern Family's role in challenging LGBTQI plus stereotypes through the characters of Cam and Mitch. In Segment 2, the discussion centers on the show's attempt to deviate from the nuclear family tropes while addressing potential reinforcement of gender roles within the Dunphy family dynamics. Lastly, Segment 3 identifies the portrayal of Gloria as spicy Latina, emphasizing the importance of recognizing individual complexity beyond cultural stereotypes. The purpose of this podcast is to break the norms, stereotypes, tropes, and ideologies of what media has towards minority groups that are presented in Modern Family characters and plots. We aim to eliminate the potential for television shows to contribute to a more inclusive narrative. Talking about Modern Family's portrayal of Cam and Mitch, I think it's important to acknowledge the broader context of how media, like including the shows like Modern Family, plays a central role in shaping societal perceptions. A research written by Chung in 2007 emphasizes the significant role that popular media plays in shaping the perceptions, attitudes, and also beliefs of people with a focus on lesbian and gay stereotypes. This research highlights the popular media significantly impacts the audience's sense of identity and understanding of others. Absolutely, Michelle. I feel like those issues are incredibly important to talk about. The influence of media, as the research we discussed before emphasizes, is particularly powerful in perpetuating over-generalized representation of cultural groups, including harmful lesbian and gay stereotypes. This clearly contributes to the problem we are faced with in our society today, where according to the Medina and Mahold in 2023, more than one in three LGBTQI plus adults reported facing some kind of discrimination. And nearly half of LGBTQI people of color and people with disabilities also reported experiencing some sort of discrimination in the past year. Yeah, and let's not overlook the show's effort to challenge stereotypes. Modern Family introduces gay characters who don't conform to traditional ideas of masculinity. This challenges the outdated notions presenting a diverse range of personalities within the LGBTQI plus community. I think the big moment is when Mitch contemplates walking down the aisle alone to ease his other's discomfort. It's a powerful representation of the sacrifices individuals might make for the acceptance and understanding of others. And it also aligns with the research findings on how media influences perceptions and beliefs as the people are exposed to this narrative from a young age. And the resolution, with gay's acceptance and support, is an incredibly significant step. It highlights the potential for media to contribute to the acceptance of non-traditional relationships, battling the ideologies of heteronormativity, which implies that heterosexuality is preferred, or normal, sexual orientation. Gay finding a venue at a country club for Cam and Mitch's wedding signifies a level of acceptance and goes beyond traditional societal norms. In essence, I think that Modern Family, through the characters of Cam and Mitch, not only challenges stereotypes, but also broadens the spectrum of LGBTQI plus representations on television. This aligns with the call for media literacy and education in the research, emphasizing the importance of critically examining media images to empower. Based on the Ganong and Coleman in 1997 research about societal views on families, also resonates with the dynamics portrayed in the Dunphy household. While the idolization of the nuclear family is clear, it's also important to note that the only sane man trope embodied by Claire. In the midst of the chaos, she appears as the anchor, attempting to maintain order and balance, much like the role of a traditional mother. Absolutely, Mary. I agree, honestly, with everything you say, especially with the portrayal of Claire in the specific episodes we watched. It's interesting to note how Claire takes on the responsibility of the only sane man in the family, especially when set side by side with the goofiness of Phil and the unique quirks of her children. This role not only adds humor to the show, but also challenges the traditional gender roles associated with nuclear family. And talking about challenging norms, that it runs in the family trope becomes apparent in the Dunphy household. Like Phil's goofy nature is not confined to him alone, like it's a trait that seems to run in the family, manifesting in various ways in each of their children. And the researchers' insights about societal views influencing family functioning can be seen here, as the show subtly suggests that certain family traits, whether perceived as positive or negative, may be inherited or learned. I think the researchers also point out the ideal nuclear family, and the Dunphys do challenge this notion by portraying a family that doesn't quite fit into this mold. The show goes beyond the stereotypes associated with family roles, like presenting a nuanced picture where each member, despite their quirks, contributes to the overall functioning of the family. Despite this though, it's clear that Claire's role of essentially holding together her family is representative of a stereotype of the tireless, self-sacrificing mother. Yeah, and I think that the show tries to overcome certain stereotypes like this that are typically portrayed in family sitcoms. Because stereotypes such as this do uphold certain dominant ideologies that can be harmful. Despite this attempt by Modern Family, I think that Claire's self-sacrificial character is upholding typical gender roles and patriarchy. Still, Modern Family contributes to breaking down societal expectations of family norms. It challenges the idea that there's a single model for healthy family functioning, introducing humor through the It Runs in the Family trope, and acknowledging the complexities of family life while having Claire play the role of the only sane man in chaotic but yet lovable family. Yeah, and it's also interesting to compare the Dunphys and the Pritchett households. Because both families, despite being fictional, do serve as mirrors reflecting broader societal attitudes and challenges. The often misrepresentation of the families that are portrayed as bad, usually, in the society, Modern Family explores this and challenges these norms. You know what, friends? When we consider the research on societal views impacting stepfamilies, it makes me think about how Modern Family talks not only about the idealization of the nuclear family, but also this entrenched societal perspective on family dynamics. That's a great point, Michelle, and I think this is why it's so important to compare these two families. Jay and Gloria's stepfamily dynamic somehow plays into the idea of stepfamilies being stigmatized and overall dysfunctional families. Especially in the episode where Jay can't figure out how to make a sandwich for Manny to eat it, since he doesn't know that his stepson doesn't eat pickles. Which Gloria then talks about like common sense. Yeah, it's incredibly important to battle the stereotype of stepparents neglecting their co-parenting responsibilities. According to Jen Teal, in 2021, 1,300 new blended families are formed every day in the U.S., and 70% say they're not getting resources to navigate these new domestic situations. This lack of resources, I think, is due to many people thinking that they will never find themselves as a part of a blended family. As we step into the Pritchett household, we're greeted by Gloria. She represents a trope of the spicy Latina, which represents a temptress with a fierce temper. She embodies and reinforces the stereotypes that are connected to the trope about Latina women. She is fiery, and sometimes maybe a little bit ill-tempered, as she was stating in one of the episodes where she was saying that she has low exposure around the day. She wears tight and sexual clothing, and speaks with a thick accent. You know, while watching that episode, I could not help but think about the research by Lopez and Chastney Lindt in 2014 regarding the self-perception of high-race Latina girls. It dives into the dissonance between how these girls perceive themselves and the negative stereotypes that they believe society contributes to them. Yeah, and I also think it's interesting to think about how Gloria, despite her very positive self-perception, might also be facing similar challenges with societal stereotypes. The study highlighted the disparity between internal narratives and external perceptions. Absolutely. This is incredibly important to think about. The girls that were discussed in the study showed resilience and strength in their identity, much like Gloria, but the belief that society views them through negative stereotypes suggests a significant internal struggle. It is interesting how society frames the Latina women's behavior as solely stemming down from the Latina culture. It's like they were oversimplifying and stigmatizing their actions, also neglecting the nuanced explanations rooted in their personal histories. Yeah, it's definitely reminiscent of how Gloria's fiery and emotional personality in the show neglects the trauma and complexities that are maybe in her own personal lives. The show's creator may be contributing to the perception of these stereotypes. Exactly, I definitely agree with that. And it's fascinating that the girls that were discussed in the study were willing to discuss matters related to abuse, trauma, violence, and poverty that are often reinforced in the stereotypes associated with Latina cultures. It was interesting to hear Gloria add on to these stereotypes, saying that her relatives shot their husbands. Like, it's something ordinary, even though it may be rooted in deep internal trauma. Yeah, so in a way, both the study and the show highlight the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors influencing these women's lives. Recognizing and addressing individual histories can contribute to, I think, a more effective support and intervention strategy. Absolutely. I think it's crucial to move beyond the superficial characterizations and societal stereotypes, both in media and in research, to truly understand and also support individuals. Because according to the Pew Research Report, about a quarter of Latinos say someone has discriminated against them or treated them unfairly because of their background. About 20% of them say that they have been told to go back to their home country. And about 16% said they have been called offensive names. Which stems directly from the white supremacy ideologies and stereotypes perpetuated in the media to support it. The show, Modern Family, both challenges and upholds typical stereotypes, tropes, and ideologies. While it is clear that the show has good intentions of dismantling themes that are often presented in the average family sitcom, they are met with varying amounts of success. The show compares and contrasts the different family dynamics and relationships, which contributes to some stereotypes being upheld and others being deconstructed. The white representation of what family and love look like, however, is incredibly endearing and positive. And I think that is what makes the show so well-loved.