Abstract

Representations of queer families in popular media today are few and far in between. The purpose of this study is to analyze the portrayal of the queer, transracial, international adoption that takes place on the family sitcom Modern Family. To conduct this study, I used queer theory and ideological criticism to analyze the portrayals of the Tucker-Prtichett family, consisting of two fathers, Cameron and Mitchell, and their Vietnamese adopted daughter Lily. In this research, I found that more important than being queer or adoptive parents, Cameron and Mitchell are shown as new parents who are figuring out how to be dads as they raise their first and only child. I also found that what kind of person Lily grows up to be will determine how audiences see her fathers’ parenting abilities. My final finding was that the Tucker-Pritchetts are beneficial to the queer community as a healthy representation of queer families. While they may seem one-dimensional, upon further inspection it becomes clear that Modern Family is a very simple show, and that the Tucker-Pritchetts are no more or less one-dimensional than any other characters on the show.

Advisor

Atay, Ahmet

Department

Communication Studies

Disciplines

Critical and Cultural Studies | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Speech and Rhetorical Studies

Keywords

Modern Family, queer, adopt, transracial, ideology, unconventional

Publication Date

2016

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2016 Madeline S. Lipkin