Media And The Family Concept - Case Study Example

Media and the Family Introduction One or two parents that usually co-habit with their children, share the same goals and values and have long-term commitments to one another, is considered a family. This group is the basic social group in a society. A family may be functional or dysfunctional depending on how its members play their roles and interact with other members. In functional or healthy families, "children are consistently treated with respect, and do not fear emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse.(Furthermore), rules tend to be made explicit and remain consistent, but with some flexibility to adapt to individual needs and particular situations(Finally), in healthy families everyone makes mistakes; mistakes are allowed. Perfection is unattainable, unrealistic, and potentially dull and sterile."1 In a dysfunctional family, however, "some parents under-function, leaving their children to fend for themselves. Other parents over-function, never allowing their children to grow up and be on their own. Others are inconsistent or violate basic boundaries of appropriate behavior."2 A number of factors may directly or indirectly affect the functioning of each member or the family as a whole. Parenting styles may be considered a direct factor. One of the factors indirectly affecting its stability and the functioning of its members, on the other hand, is the television. This is based from the fact that among the habitual activities that draw members of the family together is spending time watching the television. Such occur when the perception of the art becomes a perception of the reality. Hence, television is usually secondary to other activities, affecting other activities and vice versa. Especially, nowadays that reality shows such as the "Big Brother" has invaded the TV screens where a dramatic increase of surveillance is present. The Big Brother Show showcases individuals from different localities who are chosen to live in a big house (that of Big Brother). Everything that they do is, in effect, seen on public TV. This is what Yevgeny Zamyatin (2005)3 calls surveillance in the media. Increase in surveillance in the twentieth-century has also been matched by an increase of voyeuristic entertainment, exemplified by the Orwellian titled television game show Big Brother. The entertainment value of voyeuristic surveillance has arguably rendered individuals more accepting of regulatory surveillance in their personal lives. This trend towards increasing surveillance coupled with a citizenry inured to a constant invasion of its privacy has formed the basis for a number of twentieth-century dystopian novels and films. According to Focus on the Family, "television viewing has grown steadily since the first sets were introduced in the late 1920s. American kids aged 2-18 now spend an average of 5:29 hours using media each day, with the lion's share of that attributed to TV.4 This is primarily caused by the number of changes that occurred since the first television sets were developed in the 1920s. The wobbly 24-line picture screens produced by early technology have evolved into today's high-definition TVs with nearly flawless picture quality. And there has never been more programming options available than today, thanks to cable and satellite receivers. Advances in technology opened more avenues for life as reflected on TV be made available to a larger and more complex viewers. Studies show extensive viewing may be to blame for aggressive or violent behavior, poor academic performance, precocious sexuality, obesity and substance abuse." 5 FOCUS This paper aims to establish that though the immense detrimental effects of television is undeniable, a responsible viewers' attitude such as guiding young audience specially when signs of these undesirable effects are present in shows being viewed, may in effect enhance the mental ability of the young viewer by making him more critical of the implications of what is portrayed on TV how he should respond to such manifestations. Such action should, likewise open the lines and communication and, in the process, the value system of the family will be strengthened. To support this argument, an episode from Brothers & Sisters, a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and playwright Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family, will be analyzed. Brothers and Sisters: A Recap Executive producers Ken Olin, playwright Jon Robin Baitz, Greg Berlanti and Mark B. Perry continue to follow the California-based Walker family through the complicated maze of American life today, in Brothers and Sisters. Most of the action is set in the Greater Los Angeles area. The family home is located in Pasadena, California. Seasons I and II, composed of 35 episodes have been aired since September 2006. It is a story about the life of multi-generational Walkers. The Walkers' lives have not been without challenge; romance, parenting, divorce, infidelity, addiction, war and even death have pushed each of them to the limit, but they continue to work toward living their lives as individuals, while loving each other unconditionally (yet barely stand each other) and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy after the loss of their larger-than-life family patriarch, William Walker. It is their blood connection that keeps them together - and keeps them amazed at how things turn out. The main branches of the Walker family tree included father William (who is deceased) (guest star Tom Skerritt), mother Nora (Sally Field), and their five children. Nora's brother, Saul Holden (Ron Rifkin) helps run the Walker family business and is involved in most of the family's affairs. Nora's marriage had more than its share of turmoil. After catching her husband in a lie, Nora found out William was having an affair. William promised to end the relationship, but shortly after his recent and untimely death, Nora discovered he did not end the affair. In fact, William had continued the affair with Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig) for 15 more years. Furthermore, that relationship produced a daughter, Rebecca Harper (Emily VanCamp) - another recent discovery. Growing up, Rebecca and Holly were very close, as it was just the two of them, but their relationship began deteriorating during Rebecca's late teenage years. At 16, Rebecca had an affair with an older, married man, and followed him to Chicago. But tragedy brought Rebecca back home to her now estranged mother. Sarah, the eldest, balances her career with being a wife to husband, Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson), and a mother to their two children. Tommy, the oldest son, is the president of his father's company. Kitty (Calista Flockhart) is a communications director for Senator McCallister (Rob Lowe) and is working to mend her strained relationship with her mother. Kevin (Matthew Rhys) is an openly gay lawyer whose political beliefs often clash with Kitty's. And then there's Justin (Dave Annable), the youngest of the Walker family who enlisted in the army days after 9/11 and after a tour in Afghanistan, he became addicted to drugs. An American Family, Season 2, Episode 2 of the Brothers and Sisters showcased the transactions that transpired while Kevin, Kitty and Nora are on the road to pick up Justin. In this episode Kitty balances personal and political issues with her future husband, Republican presidential candidate Senator Robert McCallister who is also her boss. In this particular episode a number of themes are depicted. One of these is the contrasting male-female role in single and married life. Notice Kitty's statement while conversing with her fiance at a hotel. Kitty is a right-wing political commentator who later became the Director of Communication in McCallister's Office. Kitty: The minute the press found out that we were engaged I went from being a key player in your administration to your fiance. What makes any relationship all the more intriguing is the presence of a third party. The third shot of this episode closes with a clip of that fateful kiss between Rebecca and Joe from last season. Until this point, Rebecca has not confessed to Sarah that she was the one who initiated the kiss. In the latter part of the episode, the viewer will learn how the latter reacted when the former found the guts to finally disclose the truth. Rebecca: The thing is, I kind of wanted to talk to you about Joe and the kiss. Sarah: Oh, please we are so past that. Rebecca: Yeah, I know but it's because I kissed him back. It wasn't just him. I may have even led him on a little bit. And Rebecca's response Rebecca: I'm so sorry, Sarah. I talked to Justin about it and I wanted to tell you and I promised him I'd tell you before he got back. And, I don't know. I thought it could make a difference. Sarah: It might have made a difference if you'd told me then. Now you're just telling me to make yourself feel better which is the worst kind of selfishness. Another worth mentioning is the siblings' acceptance of the third sex. In this episode, Sarah converses with Kevin, the gay lawyer and the fourth in the Walkers' siblings, about her divorce with her husband, a sensitive issue which the former discusses openly to one of her siblings who might have a different view of relationships considering the fact that he is gay. Still another discussion on the third sex was while Nora, Luther, Kevin and Kitty (who were still on the road) were debating whether Abraham Lincoln is gay. A discussion that ensued just to past the time, since the light exchanges of conversation transpired. Kevin: It wouldn't be the first time. Luther: What was that Did you just say Abraham Lincoln was gay Nora gets in on the act at this point and grabs the phone. Nora: Just pick up a recent history book. Luther, if you can read! Luther: Well there you go America. The McAllister campaign thinks Abe Lincoln was gay. and when Kevin and Sarah was discussing about opening a stuck window. Kevin: This window's stuck. I can't get it open Sarah: No, no, wait. I want you to try again, but this time imagine your adorable Reverend Jason all hot and sweaty from the jungles of Malaysia. And you have promised to be true to him, which means you won't have sex for months and months and months. Also prominent in this episode, as well as in the other episodes is the equal footing accorded to women. That not only men but women as well may instigate the action, (e.g. Rebecca initiating the kiss, Sarah opening up the discussion about the divorce, that men may sometimes be lame as opening up windows and taking pain relievers [as in the case of Justin]. Viewers see open lines of communication most of the times, direct and intentional lines spoken without any disguise. A reflection of what the viewers of today are-free-willing and liberal yet open-minded (willing to learn); inquiring and logical. CONCLUSION The television evolved through time, not just in the technology that creates and controls it, but the presentation of family and society as well. We may say that these developments, either beneficial (e.g presenting life as should be) or detrimental (deviating from the norm of a "perfect family and society") is necessary for the viewer's critical mind to understand what is and what should be. It empowers, to some extent, the viewer, as it opens avenues for debate, primarily aimed at cultivating a deeper understanding of the complexities of a human being as it interacts and is affected by the family. The TV reflects life (with all its undesirable characteristics), as they say; life is not perfect-it cannot and will not be. To sustain these imperfections is to learn to live with it. Promoting responsible viewing habits may take time to achieve, but with the help of the family it is far from impossible. References: 1 Division of Student Life (01 August 2007). Dysfunctional Families: Recognizing and Overcoming Their Effects. The University of Texas Woman's University Counseling Center. Accessed on 09 April 2008 from http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/counseling/SelfHelp018.html 2 Ibid. 3 Amey, Michael(2005). Living Under the Bell Jar: Surveillance and Resistance in Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, p 22, in Berghann Books: Critical Survey, Vol 17, no.1 4 Focus on the Family (c 1998-2002). TV and Today's Family. Accessed on 09 April 2008 from 5 Ibid. Read More