Media Analysis on Two Television Shows
The majority of American families show a high interest in genealogy. Genealogy has allowed families to unearth other members of their family tree, as seen in the various Television shows. These media analysis focuses on two shows Black-ish, and This Is Us, which depict the issue of family and, cultural and gender identity in America. Black-ish refers to a comedy centered on what it means to achieve the desired notion called the American dream while preserving the sense of cultural identity. These series revolves around Anthony Anderson’s (as Andre Johnson) family, which has to adapt to the middle upper-class family life. Johnson grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Los Angeles, something that makes it challenging to guide his family through this transformation. As a result, Johnson struggles to reconcile his and his nuclear family’s racial identity and culture with their predominantly white, upper-middle-class, and suburban surroundings.
The second Television This Is Us refers to an American Television Show about family, love, tragedy, cultural identity, and self-identity. This Is Us Television show revolves around the Pearson family’s generational story, which unfolds in this emotional drama. Revelations emerge from parents Jack and Rebecca’s past in moments of joy and heartbreak. Additionally, the triplets Kate, Randall, and Kevin discover deeper meaning in their modern lives. The three characters strive to find happiness and meaning from different aspects of life. Randall becomes a successful businessperson who embarks on discovering information about his biological parents. On the other hand, Kate finds love and self-acceptance while she battles obesity. Kevin pursues a more meaningful career. This paper looks into the typical American family context through comparing Television shows from specific episodes 2 and 4 seasons 1from Black-ish and This Is Us episode 1 in season 1.
Kenyan Barris has precisely demonstrated the issue of gender and gender roles in Black-ish. In season episode 4, Johnson strives to get recognition from his wife, Rainbow Johnson, as a modern husband. Johnson wants his wife to give him credit even for peculiar tasks such as arranging the dishwasher (Barris, 2014). However, Rainbow laments of her responsibilities, which consist of cooking dinner, correcting homework, and making tomorrow’s lunch for her kids as a mother and wife (Barris, 2014). Additionally, Rainbow has to work her day’s job as a doctor – saving lives. Later she comes home and shifts to a whole new world of family responsibilities. The show, This Is US, depicts the issue of gender and gender roles through Rebecca. Rebecca lives as a homemaker to Jack, whom she gives birth to triplets (Fogelman, 2016). One of the children dies during delivery. However, the couple takes in Randall, a black infant left at the doorstep of a fire station. Rebecca later devotes her life to looking after the children until teenagerhood, where she feels unwanted and desires to find meaning in her life.
References
Barris, K. (Director). (2014). In Black-ish. ABC.
Fogelman, D. (Director). (2016). In This is us. NBC.