As we were talking about gender and the stereotypes that are presented in the media I thought about a lecture I had almost 2 years ago in Larry Nelson's 210 class. We were talking about gender and family and how roles and stereotypes are presented in the media. He asked us to find an ideal family in the media. The first one I thought of was from Modern Family. Other people came up with examples like Everybody Loves Raymond and Home Improvement. Of course Dr. Nelson shot us down and brought to our attention that all of our shows included "dumb dads." It's a very relevant theme in media today. It's like the gender stereotype from women is trying to overcompensate and switch to men. As much as I love Phil Dunphey he is definitely in the category of a dumb dad. They have jobs and still function in society, but mom seems to be cleaning up their messes. Mom is the competent adult.
The one more modern example he brought to our attention was The Cosby Show
While Mr. Huxtable is silly and funny, he is also taken seriously as a person and teaches values sternly to his children. He and Claire, his wife, work together to solve issues and teach. Claire is a lawyer and Cliff is a doctor. Both have stable jobs and they try to promote a stable home. They are respectable characters that are taken seriously while still being fun loving and making a good TV show
It's interesting how the media thinks they have to make this humor of the dumb dad and do sort of a role reversal when The Cosby Show is one of the best out there and they maintained the balance.
I've never noticed that! It's so true though. So many of shows now do have the "dumb dads."
ReplyDeleteWow didn't realize that. It probably explains when guys do dumb things we just use the excuse that they are a guy.
ReplyDeleteTrue that. Count on the Cos to change the world.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true! I don't know why dad's have to be dumb because I feel like in real life, most dad's are the smartest people.
ReplyDeleteMy family watched The Cosby Show all summer long! It is the only show we could find that is appropriate for all ages, and that is always uplifting. I love how it deals with real family issues, and shows them solving them together. Sometimes it's a little cheesy, but I will take the cheese any day over all the junk that comes with shows these days. And Cliff Huxtable definitely isn't a dumb dad. (Neither is Bill Cosby, from the sound of his stand up.) Love that show!
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