Media Project

The purpose of your media project is to provide an opportunity for you to analyze types of family systems dynamics that might not be evident in your own family and to enhance your sensitivity to the ways in which popular media portrays families and family systems.  Choose one of the following:

1.  Families in Film. Select a film from the list below and analyze the family dynamics that are critical to understand in order to understand the experiences of the main characters.  Define and describe the family in its cultural and historical context.  Identify any relevant intergenerational influences.  Select some key scenes to share in class as you present your analysis of the family. 

You will present in class and hand in a written paper the following week.  In both presentation and paper, you must include family systems concepts in your discussion. You can do that by either taking a specific framework (e.g., Family Life Cycle, McMaster, etc.) or employing a broad range of constructs from across theoretical frameworks.

2. Families over Time and on TV. Select two comparable (same genre, same level of popularity) television programs from the list below (or get approval for your own suggestions).  Each show should be from a different era in American history post WWII, e.g., the 50's and the 90's.  Compare and contrast not only the families portrayed, but how they reflect their time and the historical lens through which family life occurs and ideals are portrayed.  As above, you will define and describe each family in its cultural and historical context.  Present key scenes to illustrate differences in ideas about the families and about how families should be portrayed by the popular media.

As with the film option, you will present in class and hand in a written paper the following week.  In both presentation and paper, you must include family systems concepts in your discussion. You can do that by either taking a specific framework (e.g., Family Life Cycle, McMaster, etc.) or employing a broad range of constructs from across theoretical frameworks.

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Beginning List (2/22/04)

Films

Fried Green Tomatoes
The Joy Luck Club 
Life is Beautiful
On Golden Pond
Ordinary People
A River Runs Through It

The Grapes of Wrath

Chocolat

October Sky

Secrets and Lies

Billy Elliot

Hoop Dreams

Mississippi Masala

Joy Luck Club

Capturing the Friedmans

A Raisin in the Sun  

My Architect:  A Son's Journey

Mystic River

The Truth about Tully

TV Animated

The Simpsons

Fred Flinstone

TV Sitcom

Father Knows Best

Leave it to Beaver

Ozzie and Harriet

Donna Reed

My Three Sons

The Honeymooners

King of Queens

Everyone Loves Raymond

TV Drama

The Sopranos

Bonanza

The Waltons

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As always, please type your summary, using 12 point font, double spacing and 1" margins.

The paper length will probably vary. I assume that 5-7 pages will be typical.

Again, do the systems thing but have fun too!