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Within this show the family experiences an unexpected pregnancy of a daughter, two divorces--one in which the female has been through many boyfriends and the other is working on mending their relationship--a couple that has a son with Aspergers, a racially mixed marriage, and a father/grandfather who experiences multiple heart problems that have caused the family to live on edge about what the future has in store for them. Although some of these conflicts or issues may seem a little extreme, these conflicts let the viewing audience know that the family in the show isn't perfect. But at the same time, what is the likelihood that all these issues would take place at the same time. Don't get me wrong, it could be possible. But what is the likelihood?
"Parenthood" is an excellent example of fake reality when it comes to living within reality. The issues that they are going through are actual everyday problems that everyday people experience which is why its audience is so drawn to the drama of the show. The family does such a good job at acting like they don't know that all this was coming which allows that audience to feel sorry for them. (Them as in the make-believe family that is supposed to resemble an average family in America.) Don't get me wrong, I believe I come from an average American family: But what exactly is an average family? How do they act? What do they do?
This particular show sets up a subliminal message to its viewers that projects the image of what an average American family looks like and how they behave. So in order to be average, a family has to go through all these issues, right? What is the family if these issues never arise? Ultimately, although I love watching this show, this show should be more aware of the kind of oppressions it is creating between what the viewing audience is seeing and how they are interpreting what they are seeing.
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For example, the oppression of powerlessness is shown through the families ability to only focus on themselves. Over the past six seasons of this show, not once has the family encountered a lesser family either because the writer never thought about that or the family is supposed to resemble the fact that when things go wrong, everyone should turn their focus towards you and forget their own level of power within the same community. Along those same lines, the show encounters another level of oppression when it comes to cultural imperialism. The more viewers this show obtains, the more reality starts to sink in for those viewers. The fake reality that is seen on television not only impacts the way that we see ourselves, but it impacts our cultural. It seems as if when something goes wrong in a family everyone has to know about it. Why is that? What ever happened to being scared of telling other people the faults in your family? Just because a created family on television does it, doesn't make it culturally acceptable for everyone else.
Even though the show "Parenthood" presents multiple problems when it comes to actual reality and its image of an average American family, it still has received many positive comments that have to deal with the fact that although one may be faced with unexplainable circumstances, there is always an alternate path that leads to a happy ending. And after watching it for six seasons, I believe there must be some truth to what a family actual is.
"Parenthood" is an excellent example of fake reality when it comes to living within reality. The issues that they are going through are actual everyday problems that everyday people experience which is why its audience is so drawn to the drama of the show. The family does such a good job at acting like they don't know that all this was coming which allows that audience to feel sorry for them. (Them as in the make-believe family that is supposed to resemble an average family in America.) Don't get me wrong, I believe I come from an average American family: But what exactly is an average family? How do they act? What do they do?
This particular show sets up a subliminal message to its viewers that projects the image of what an average American family looks like and how they behave. So in order to be average, a family has to go through all these issues, right? What is the family if these issues never arise? Ultimately, although I love watching this show, this show should be more aware of the kind of oppressions it is creating between what the viewing audience is seeing and how they are interpreting what they are seeing.
http://www.nbc.com/sites/nbcunbc/files/files/images/2014/9/16/Phood_S6_DDKA_horz.jpgFor example, the oppression of powerlessness is shown through the families ability to only focus on themselves. Over the past six seasons of this show, not once has the family encountered a lesser family either because the writer never thought about that or the family is supposed to resemble the fact that when things go wrong, everyone should turn their focus towards you and forget their own level of power within the same community. Along those same lines, the show encounters another level of oppression when it comes to cultural imperialism. The more viewers this show obtains, the more reality starts to sink in for those viewers. The fake reality that is seen on television not only impacts the way that we see ourselves, but it impacts our cultural. It seems as if when something goes wrong in a family everyone has to know about it. Why is that? What ever happened to being scared of telling other people the faults in your family? Just because a created family on television does it, doesn't make it culturally acceptable for everyone else.
Even though the show "Parenthood" presents multiple problems when it comes to actual reality and its image of an average American family, it still has received many positive comments that have to deal with the fact that although one may be faced with unexplainable circumstances, there is always an alternate path that leads to a happy ending. And after watching it for six seasons, I believe there must be some truth to what a family actual is.
I thinks that this post is really interesting view on family television. I completely agree with you that the way families of TV deal with the outside community isn't the way families interact with each other in reality. Most people don't expect others to drop everything and pay attention to them and then never help other in need. I think it also is interesting that you and I chose shows from NBC. You chose Parenthood and I chose Hannibal which are completely different shows but both shows display qualities of oppression and are well received by audiences.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite shows! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE FINAL SEASON! And what the heck with that cliff hanger last week with Grandpa Braverman and Hank's impromptu proposal?! I can't take this madness!
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, one of the questions you ask is "what is the likelihood of all these problems happening at once?" In my experience, that is how problems always happen. All of the good things and the bad things come at the same time. For example, my brother was born, my grandma died, my dad got a better job, and I was forced to move to Iowa all in the same year. In the midst of grief, there is new life. And I think that is what I love about this show. As Haddy is moving off to college, Kristina gets cancer. While Joel is thriving in the construction business, his marriage is failing. And, I think, the most poignant example of this is this last episode, which so clearly juxtaposes the death and rebirth. As Zeek struggles for breath in the hospital after his heart attack, Amber, all of her aunts, and Grandma Millie celebrate the life of a new baby. This is how real life is. A mash-ups of endings and beginnings, our deepest joys and sorrows, all at the same time.
However, the Bravermans do set some lofty expectations for family life. The fact that they always pull through, no matter what, is not true to life. A lot of the things that happen to them would tear many families apart. As we watch to see how Joel and Julia's relationship will end, I cannot help but look at my own family tree, which is stained by divorce. There isn't always a happy ending. Parents of kids with Asbergers don't start their own schools, mom's with cancers sometimes die, the insurance company doesn't always pull through and save the family from disaster, grandpa doesn't survive 2 heart attacks, unhealthy relationships--especially those that end in a baby--are not resolved so neatly, fathers like Crosby don't always accept their illegitimate offspring with open arms, and nobody plays baseball with the family that often. Nobody.
But I think that Parenthood is, therefore, not a reflection of American family but rather, a hope for American family. And I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing.
I'm sorry I wrote a novel.
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