Media Analysis Repot

Caitlin Estlow

7.16.2019

COMM 1021

Modern family vs The Brady Bunch TV Shows Codebook

TV Shows: Modern Family vs The Brady Bunch

Research: Family norms and family structures.

Has society become more accepting of new family lifestyles?

Collection of Data: With this codebook I am going to look into the two specific TV shows the Brady Bunch (1969-1974) and Modern Family (2009 to current).

Characters: On the Brady Bunch we see the pattern of white blonde hair blue eyed kids and a few brunette children. There is the husband, his wife, their maid, and of course the kids. Carol Brady has three daughters she brought to this family while Mike, the husband had three boys of his own prior to meeting Carol. This was the first step in blended families. Families outside of the traditional Mom, Dad and biological kids.

On Modern Family we have a much more diverse/blended families. Just on the main characters alone we have Mitchell and Cameron (a gay couple) who have adopted Lily. Claire and Phil have two girls and a boy. And then there is Jay and Gloria. Jay and Gloria were both previously married. Gloria has a son (Manny) from her previous relationship with Javier. They also had a child together, Fulgencia. Jay and Gloria seem very opposite but have come together to create a blended family.

Cast:

The Brady Bunch:

· 1 Main characters

· 1 Mike Brady

· 2 Carol Brady

· 3 Greg Brady

· 4 Marcia Brady

· 5 Peter Brady

· 6 Jan Brady

· 7 Bobby Brady

· 8 Cindy Brady

· 9 Alice Nelson

· 2 Notable recurring characters

· 1 Sam Franklin

· 2 Cousin Oliver

Modern Family:

· 1 Main Cast

· 2 The Dunphy family

· 1 Phil Dunphy

· 2 Claire Dunphy

· 3 Haley Marshall

· 4 Alex Dunphy

· 5 Luke Dunphy

· 3 The Pritchett-Delgado family

· 1 Jay Pritchett

· 2 Gloria Pritchett

· 3 Manny Delgado

· 4 Joe Pritchett

· 5 Stella

· 4 The Tucker-Pritchett family

· 1 Mitchell Pritchett (Mitch)

· 2 Cameron Tucker (Cam)

· 3 Lily Tucker-Pritchett

· 4 Larry

· 5 Other family members

· 1 Overview

· 2 DeDe Pritchett

· 3 Frank Dunphy

· 4 Javier Delgado

· 5 Barb Tucker

· 6 Donnie Pritchett

· 7 Merle Tucker

· 8 Pilar Ramirez

· 9 Sonia Ramirez

· 10 Pam Tucker

· 11 Dylan Marshall

Race: While the Brady bunch had more of a “white” American early 70s vibe. The Modern family cast is much more diverse. You can see the transition in family blending between the two shows. While The Brady bunch was white American while the Modern family has a majority white cast but has sprinkled in some Hispanic cast members and even a few season in there are African American and Asian characters.

Life Style: The Brady bunch was two heterosexual people (Mike and Carol) who found each other and remarried. They have Alice the maid, who you really cannot pin down her sexual preference and seems to be single as their live in maid. Not the norm for 1970 but still pretty normal in family structures. Husband, wife and kids.

Modern family looks more into blended family. I mean this by the gay couple who adopted a little girl. The divorced couple who finds each other and has a child together all while still dealing with exes and step children. And then the regular Dunphy family (husband, wife and kids). One thing is for sure all of these families might be different but all have something in common that has brought them all together.