In this exercise, you will be analyzing how the mass media (specifically television) has portrayed families over time.
1. Family sitcoms from the 1950s to the 1970s differ greatly from the programs offered from the 1980s forward. Identify a family sitcom from before the 1980s and watch an episode. Programs such as Leave it to Beaver, Bewitched, The Partridge Family, and The Brady Bunch are some examples of popular shows that fit the criteria. You should be able to find old episodes of these shows online or as reruns on television.
2. Now identify a family sitcom that you either currently watch or watched from the 1980s or later. Examples include: Everyone Loves Raymond, Modern Family, Black-ish.