Modern Family, you've heard of it right? If you're on my blog, I'd hope so, but I accept your apology if not of course. However, I would give it watch, and if you have watched and don't like it, still stick around to see what I have to say, maybe we can debate or simply create discussion.
One might ask, how does this sitcom communicate our culture's dominant ideology about family?
As your lead into some posed reasoning, I would say through gender roles, relationships, and nationalities does this series portray a variety of scenarios for typical households and families seen today.
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For today's blog that will analyze a media text with understanding of communication theory, there will be discussion on textual exploration, political economy/ context of production, and audience reception/use, of course with some not so subtle hints mixed in between about why I love and recommend this comical and comforting show.
Textual Analysis
I have chosen televised media for my desired text for analyzation. This cultural text is Modern Family, one of my favorite shows. It is one I would consider to be a classic in a sense of its everlasting impression on its audience; for some that can be in a good way or a not so hot way, but I can't see why in a bad way. But of course everyone has their opinions... and I have mine... strong ones at that... I'll continue.
For me, it is a go to show, a comfort series, one I don't need to follow strictly from season to season or give my full attention to at all times for it to be an enjoyable watch. In other words, I can click it on at any time amongst feelings of being down, off, or alone, and feel a sense of joy in its presentation and safety within its actors. This is similar to how I feel about the hit series F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I find amongst its die hard fans who know every line and actor's personality (myself to a degree), there is much backlash for its plot and sarcasm that doesn't read as a good storyline or comedy act for all.
HOWEVER, while I won't get into that right now, this specific media text, Modern Family has 11 seasons in which the characters in real life are growing up through the course of the show's running. This creates an interesting dynamic knowing, and getting to see that these actors experience aging through this false reality of acting. With that said, these TV families come to feel truthful from all the times shared, experiences gone through together, and memories made via a recording. Moreover, the sitcom highlights a variety of people and relationships that all come together as a loving and jokingly family that lightens the mood of viewers, makes people feel included, and allows for real life experiences to be acknowledged and understood.
This text can be studied, as I am doing so, mostly through a variety of reviews that can be found online as my own opinions can only tell so much, and maybe someone different has other to say that can spark further pondering of my own thoughts. Therefore, desired information from research of formal formatted opinions is how people who resonate with the same nationalities or sexualities feel about words/phrases and personalities shown on screen. This information will help me determine how strong communication lines are from screen to person about overlying principles that are portrayed about the typical family today.
Concepts I will use to analyze my text include socio-cultural tradition, critical tradition, and semiotic tradition. This will allow for discovery about the context, culture, and social practices of the show, what critics find ideology to be reagrding in this case, and the signs that provide meaning but could be misinterpreted.
Political Economy/Context of Production
In knowing the who, where, when, and how of my text's production, I propose researching through watching episodes of the show formulating my own observations and opinions. Then, like mentioned before, mostly through reviews, articles, and general web searches that can lead me to an answer or assumed answer to any of my questions.
Audience Reception/Use
I find the audience, at the least the readers of my blog, to respond well to this text, and if not there will be my research which can be read through. Majority of this information will be other opinions that don't always agree with mine. There is always going to be some disagreement or eye squints, but with that promotes conversation and a sharing of thoughts, feelings and ideas. Different people will respond in their own way based on who they are, what they like and respect, and how they perceive a story told through a screen. I am able to identify these different audiences by knowing everyone is their own individual and I cannot speak for those who resonate more with a character than I do.
