Families in the Media Analysis

Images of families are everywhere in the media, including in movies and

television. What constitutes a family has changed significantly in recent decades,

and much of those changes are reflected in the families we watch on screens.

Some of these images reflect our personal experience of family and some are

very different from what we know and have experienced.

STEP 1: Choose either a television show or movie to do some research from a

sociological lens. Look for a family that is explored in depth. There should be a

strong enough depiction of family members and how they interact to be able to

explore sociological concepts.

STEP 2: Choose one theoretical view of the family identified in the module

(functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism) through which to analyze

your chosen family.

Reflect on how well your family selections support a theoretical view of family.

Your reflection should be 300-500 words. Use your identified families as support

for or an argument against the theoretical view of family in society. Consider the

following questions:

1. What norms are assumed in this family?

2. What roles do family members have?

3. How are the assumptions and points of view in this family

understood through your chosen theoretical view?