essay

Media Analysis Paper: Marriage Ideals and Myths SOC 2500: Marriage and Family

Directions: Popular culture and the media provide a format for understanding cultural values and norms in

a society. These are transmitted to us through the representations of various aspects of social life

including marriages and families. As you have learned in chapter 1, there are several myths

surrounding families which are rooted in ideals that never really existed for most families.

For this assignment, you will be required to critically analyze popular television, identifying

whether these myths are perpetuated or defied. In other words, you will be trying to understand

if popular culture continues to present these myths or if it works to recreate the ways in which

families are presented.

You are to watch 1 episode of two separate television shows (So you will watch 2

episodes total). You will select episodes from these show options: Black-ish, Modern Family,

Fresh Off the Boat, or The Goldbergs. You should be able to access these shows for free through

their network website: abc.com. If you would like to use an alternative show, please contact me for approval.

Paper requirements: 1. Briefly outline the 4 myths established in Chapter 1 of the text. These should be a

short description using your own words rather than copied directly from the

textbook.

2. Use specific examples (instances, scenes, or dialogue) from the episodes to

demonstrate how some of the myths are portrayed in the show. If you don’t feel

they are, provide specific examples (instances, scenes, or dialogue) of the ways in

which the myths are being defied. Be sure to make clear connections between the

myth and the example. Discuss at least 2 myths per show. One myth can be used

twice (i.e.: Myth of the Universal Nuclear Family can be used for Show 1 and

Show 2).

3. What overarching ideas or meanings about family are being portrayed in these

shows? 4. Conclude with whether you think that overall, contemporary television is

breaking with the myths of ideal families. Why or why not?

Paper formatting: • 3-4 pages

• double-spaced

• 1” margins

• 12-point Times New Roman font

• Citations should be included for any material that is not your original thought