The American Family
In the U.S we have this image of what the ideal American family should look like, America has different ways of showing it's people what they should believe in and what they standers should be. For years the American family in movies and TV shows always looked the same, you have Mom, Dad, two kids son and daughter and you can't forget the family pet.
In 2014 the image for the ideal American family still look the same, There is a cartoon called "American Dad" this cartoon sends out an image of what the American family should look like. You have the dad who works for the CIA, then you have the mom that don't work and just stay home and does house work, you also have the son and daughter and also the pet goldfish.
This show has a lot of invisible narrative in it. Like for example why does the mom have to be a house wife it shows that America feel that the stander wife should not work and should stay at home and clean all day as if she could do nothing better with her life. Also the way that they made the mom look in the cartoon shows what people feel the ideal women in America should look like they gave the mom long blond hair and she tall and skinny.
As for the dad in the show they made him look very manly and he always have on a suit, in the cartoon the dad works for the CIA and in the show the dad has a problem with being wrong the invisible narrative in this is that the stander for the American dad is he should have a high class job and also be in good shape and that the man is never wrong when it come to his decision making and when it come to what he knows.
As for the daughter the show made her not like the job that the dad has working for the CIA and like most daughters in movies and shows the daughter don't get along with the dad. The cartoon put out that the American daughter is someone that don't get along with there father.The cartoon has messages in it thats not only about what the American family should look like but also the show has some race jokes in it and the show really don't do a good job of hiding. Invisible narrative is every where and its sad that it's in cartoons and young people are being told at a young age what the ideal American family looks like and how a women should look like and also what the American man should look like.
I enjoyed reading your blog, I find that American Dad, does not portray a realistic family. Not all wives are stay at home moms, but because it is the norm these cartoons are made that was so then it will please the majority of their viewers even though it is a misleading and degrading. Why must the male figure take on the bigger role of making money? The females can make just as much money. Lastly, as expected in all movies and cartoons most of the teenage girls are portrayed with bratty attitudes since they are at their "teenage phase" which leads them to not get along with their parents and try to be rebellious.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your opinon on American Dad. In this show alot of invisible narratives present. I find it crazy how an "American Dad" is portrayed to be a white man who has a great job, good income and a "perfect" family. First of all the U.S is so diverse for a white man's face to be plastered as an "American". Were all american. Not only that but his "perfect" family , 1 boy, 1 girl, and a stay at home mom. really? its 2014 living cost are crazy now in days and women work to help their partners and it shouldn't be seen as a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteyou could also go in more details with how the character compared to the modern american family. i do agree with you. the show is very deeming. thought you give great point in the effect of this show, i have to mention it is show the world view of america, and they are making fun of that.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. It was very straight forward and the show really does describe how the US wants to make the family. I agree with you that this is not a real family and its just a norm. By the way great pics in the great location.
ReplyDelete"The man is always right" is such a prevalent narrative. We even have an underlying prejudice about it; when a man says "my wife is 'always' right", what he means is "I'm always right, but I don't want to fight about it so I don't argue". Very interesting. Also, is the daughter not getting along with her father about girls and fathers, or teenage rebellion in general?
ReplyDeleteBTW, this is structured very academically (Intro, support, conclusion). Go ahead and let loose a little on your next post.
ReplyDelete