Representation

Modern Family - Representation

In Episode 2, Season 8 of Modern Family, producers make choices in how people, places, and events are shown. In sitcoms, these representations often exaggerate traits for comedic effect.

Representation of gender

Gender roles are shown and challenged in the show:
- Phil - childish “good cop” dad; comedy from lack of authority
- Claire - business leader and “bummer”; powerful yet juggling work and motherhood
- Jay - traditional patriarch learning tolerance
- Luke - lazy teen archetype
- Alex - “geek girl” in STEM → progressive female role
- Gloria - loving mother, but also fits the Latina female stereotype (struggles with technology, fiery)

Representation of sexuality

The show portrays progressive LGBTQ+ identities:
- Cam & Mitchell - married gay couple, loving parents
- Their relationship is normalised, not mocked
- Contrasts with older sitcoms (Friends, etc.) that used gay jokes
- Episode theme: confronting prejudice through comedy (Jay’s misunderstanding of Tom’s gender identity)

Representation of ethnicity

Modern Family portrays diversity and stereotypes:
- Gloria (Colombian): fiery temper & accent jokes = ethnic stereotype but affectionate portrayal
- Lily (Vietnamese): adopted by gay dads → explores multicultural family
- Miles (Jay’s Black friend): a token character used to highlight Jay’s fear of being labelled racist
- Jay’s neighbours subplot: challenges racial bias while exposing Jay’s own prejudices

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines - Vogue

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Vogue - Context

2.1.3Vogue - Narrative

2.1.4Vogue - Representation

2.2Magazines - GQ

2.2.1GQ - Context

2.2.2GQ - Narrative

2.2.3GQ - Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements - Quality Street

2.4.1Quality Street - Context

2.4.2Quality Street - Narrative

2.4.3Quality Street - Representation

2.5Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can

2.5.1This Girl Can - Context

2.5.2This Girl Can - Narrative

2.5.3This Girl Can - Representation

2.6Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111

2.6.1NHS 111 - Context

2.6.2NHS 111 - Narrative

2.6.3NHS 111 - Representation

2.7Film Posters (Marketing)

2.7.1The Man with The Golden Gun

2.7.2The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.8Film - No Time To Die

2.8.1Context

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Representation

2.9Newspapers

2.9.1Ownership & Regulation

2.9.2News Selection

2.9.3Media Language

2.9.4Genres

2.9.5Newspaper Conventions

2.9.6Representation

2.9.7Audience

2.9.8Theories

2.9.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.10The Sun

2.10.1Context

2.10.2Narrative

2.10.3Language & Images

2.11The Guardian

2.11.1The Guardian

2.11.2Narrative

2.11.3Language & Images

2.12(2028 Exams) The Sun

2.12.1The Sun - Context

2.12.2The Sun - Narrative

2.12.3The Sun - Representation

2.13(2028 Exams) The Guardian

2.13.1The Guardian - Context

2.13.2The Guardian - Narrative

2.13.3The Guardian - Representation

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Video Games - Fortnite

3.2.1Fortnite (2017) - Media Industries

3.2.2Fornite (2017) - Audience

3.3Film

3.3.1The Big Six

3.3.2Technology

3.3.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.4Radio

3.4.1The Radio Industry

3.4.2Categories of Radio Station

3.4.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.4.4Theories

3.4.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.5Radio - The Archers

3.5.1Production

3.5.2Media Industries

3.5.3Media Contexts

3.5.4Audiences 1

3.5.5Audiences 2

3.6(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs

3.6.1Media Industries

3.6.2Audiences

3.6.3Media Contexts

4Component 2: Section A

4.1Television

4.1.1The Television Industry

4.1.2Types of Broadcasting

4.1.3Media Language & TV

4.1.4Representation & Audiences

4.1.5Theories

4.2Sitcom

4.2.1Sitcoms

4.2.2Friends

4.2.3Friends 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Sitcoms & Friends

4.3Sitcom - Modern Family

4.3.1Media Language

4.3.2Representation

4.3.3Media Industries

4.3.4Audiences

4.3.5Media Contexts

4.4Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen

4.4.1Media Language

4.4.2Representations

4.4.3Media Industries

4.5(2026 Exams) Luther

4.5.1Context

4.5.2Media Language

4.5.3Representation

4.5.4Audience

4.5.5Industry

4.6The Sweeney

4.6.1Context

4.6.2Media Language

4.6.3Representation

4.6.4Audience

4.6.5Industry

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'

5.2.1Context

5.2.2'Good as Hell'

5.2.3Media Language

5.2.4Representation

5.2.5Audience

5.2.6Industry

5.3Taylor Swift - 'The Man'

5.3.1Taylor Swift

5.3.2Media Language

5.3.3Representation

5.3.4Audiences

5.3.5Media Industries

5.3.6Media Contexts

5.4Stormzy - 'Superheroes'

5.4.1Stormzy

5.4.2Media Language

5.4.3Representation

5.4.4Audiences

5.4.5Media Industries

5.4.6Media Contexts

5.5Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'

5.5.1Justin Bieber

5.5.2Media Language

5.5.3Representation

5.5.4Audiences

5.5.5Media Industries

5.5.6Media Contexts

5.6TLC - 'Waterfalls'

5.6.1TLC

5.6.2Media Language

5.6.3Representation

5.6.4Media Contexts

5.7Duran Duran - 'Rio'

5.7.1Duran Duran

5.7.2Media Language

5.7.3Representation

5.7.4Media Contexts

5.8Online Media - Lizzo

5.8.1Media Language

5.8.2Representation

5.8.3Audiences

5.8.4Media Contexts & Industries

5.9Online Media - Taylor Swift

5.9.1Media Language

5.9.2Representation

5.9.3Audiences

5.9.4Media Contexts & Industries

5.10Online Media - Stormzy

5.10.1Media Language

5.10.2Representation

5.10.3Audience

5.10.4Media Context & Industries

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