Modern family gays
An easy response to why no one’s that offended at Modern Family is that, while Cameron and Mitchell are gay, they aren’t that gay. Sure, they talk about theater, they enjoy themed brunches, and they gesture with limp wrists. But they’re not … y’know. Fa-LA-ming.
This sort of critique is, of course, dismissive to a wide swath of gay culture. Not every gay male needs to fit a particular, constricted stereotype. To insist on that – or to act surprised when someone steps outside it – reduces identity to a series of signals. And what’s worse, they’re rather blunt signals. Not every gay guy has to be a loud, gossipy Liza Minelli fan.
And yet it’s worth considering, at least from the standpoint of cultural critique. Prior to the late 00s, gay characters on primetime television were primarily about their gayness. Their reason for existing was to be gay in a place. Some of them are simply neurotic and uptight (Will of Will and Grace); some of them are spastic and emotional (Will’s friend Jack, also of Will and Grace). But their sexuality was a defining highlight. The point of Will being gay in Will and Grace is so the two title characters can have a long-term friendsh
‘Modern Family’ Finale: How Cameron and Mitchell Forever Changed Same-sex attracted Families on TV
When “Modern Family” premiered in 2009, the mockumentary-style family sitcom was an instant hit, one that would forever adjust the fabric of the television landscape. At the moment, it seemed liquid cooler discussion of primetime television had gone the way of the radio, but — much like that other medium — it came roaring advocate . While Sofia Vergara’s Gloria waltzed her way into the hearts of queer men and lesbians for wildly alternative reasons, it was Cameron and Mitchell’s loving relationship that made LGBTQ viewers feel truly seen and represented.
Played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, seeing a loving (and bickering) lgbtq+ couple on primetime was a uncovering. Without downplaying the strides made by “Will & Grace,” “Modern Family” was the first age a major network had shown a long-term, committed homosexual relationship — and with two of its leading characters. That the reveal was funny, clever, and inclusive in other ways was the cherry on top.
To fully grasp the monumental innateness of this milestone, it’s im
THE POPULAR TV SERIES Modern Family, which debuted on ABC in 2009, is a comedy presented in mockumentary style in which the characters often talk directly into the camera to interject their perspectives. It details the lives of three families, one of which is a gay couple, Mitchell and Cameron, who have an adopted daughter, Lilly. Modern Family is one of the few shows in sitcom history to incorporate a homosexual couple, one that is charming, lovable, and no more dysfunctional than its heterosexual counterparts, to embody, and perhaps help redefine, modern American family values. (It is important to write down , however, that the couple’s display of romantic intimacy is curtailed and almost exclusively in the form of kind hugs.)
In a wise, thoughtful and exceptionally comedic episode, the show depicts the struggles of new queer people when faced with heteronormative cultural traditions, love Mother’s Day, while simultaneously stereotyping what it means to be gay in American society. By strategically typecasting Mitchell and Cameron as a “normal” couple whose lifestyle is uncannily similar to that of customary heterosexuals, the reveal creates a brand-new space f
Dispelling Gay Stereotypes in Family Television: Modern Family’s Cameron (Cam) Tucker and Mitchell (Mitch) Pritchett
Ariana Romio
After tracking Modern Family (2009) for the past several years and touching on themes and analysis in class, I felt that the show both challenges and displays traditional gay stereotypes and serves as a strong subject for analysis. While the general exhibit is not solely focused on LGBTQ characters, as there is a mix of all distinct positionalities throughout the series, the characters I will focus on are Mitchell (Mitch) Pritchett and Cameron (Cam) Tucker.
About the Show
Created in 2009 by co-creators and producers Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan and aired on ABC, the show follows an untraditional family through their daily lives. Jay Pritchett is the patriarch of the family; father to Cam and Claire, husband to Gloria and step-father to Manny. Claire is married Phil Dunphy and together they acquire three children: Haley, Alex and Luke. At the beginning of the series Cam an