For years, Modern Family (2009) has been a staple in households, offering a comedic lens into the complexities of family life. Having followed the show and explored its themes in media studies, it’s clear that Modern Family, particularly through the characters of Mitchell (Mitch) Pritchett and Cameron (Cam) Tucker, both challenges and perpetuates traditional gay stereotypes, making it a compelling subject for analysis. While the series encompasses a diverse cast, reflecting various modern family dynamics, this analysis will focus specifically on Mitch and Cam’s portrayal and its implications for LGBTQ+ representation.
Created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, Modern Family, broadcasted on ABC, centers around the extended Pritchett-Delgado-Tucker-Dunphy clan. Jay Pritchett, the family patriarch, is father to Claire and Mitchell, husband to Gloria, and stepfather to Manny. Claire is married to Phil Dunphy, and they navigate parenthood with their three children: Haley, Alex, and Luke. At the series’ outset, Mitch and Cam are a committed couple of five years who have just adopted their daughter, Lily. While each character faces individual trials and tribulations, they coalesce to form the titular “modern family.”
Modern Family’s Mitch and Cam: Redefining or Reinforcing Gay Tropes?
From a viewer’s perspective and through media analysis, Mitch and Cam’s relationship stands out for its attempt to redefine gay representation in mainstream media. Notably, their relationship directly counters the stereotype of gay men as promiscuous. From their introduction, Mitch and Cam are depicted as deeply loyal and committed to one another. It’s significant that the showrunners chose to present them already in a long-term relationship and as new parents. This deliberate choice immediately establishes their commitment as a defining characteristic, bypassing the typical narrative of exploring their individual single lives before coupling. This portrayal of a homosexual couple in a committed relationship actively works against the long-standing media trope of gay men being perpetually single with insatiable sexual appetites (Rodriguez, 2017).
This deviation from normative gay representations is powerful because media significantly shapes societal perceptions of acceptability. When audiences witness the stability and happiness of Mitch and Cam’s family life, especially in contrast to depictions of more stereotypical, promiscuous gay characters like Connor in How to Get Away with Murder (2014), it underscores commitment as a viable and fulfilling foundation for gay relationships and family life. Mitch and Cam’s relationship, therefore, serves as a noteworthy and influential departure from stereotypical gay portrayals in media.
Another way Mitch and Cam challenge stereotypes is through their adoption of Lily, a Vietnamese baby. As a gay couple choosing to raise a child without a maternal figure, they inherently challenge heterosexual norms and open themselves up to societal scrutiny. Sociologist Brian Powell notes, “If same-sex marriage does disadvantage kids in any way, it has nothing to do with their parent’s gender and everything to do with society’s reaction toward the families,” (Pappas, 2012). Modern Family acknowledges this societal lens. In the pilot episode, Mitch’s immediate protective paternal instincts are showcased when he confronts a woman who he thinks has made a derogatory comment about them being “creme puffs” while holding Lily (ABC). While the situation turns out to be a misunderstanding – the woman was actually commenting on Lily holding creme puffs pastries – the scene effectively highlights the capacity of homosexual parents to embody both paternal and maternal protective roles. Furthermore, Lily’s racial identity, different from her parents, further complicates and enriches the representation of a modern homosexual family. The fluidity with which Mitch and Cam navigate parenting roles broadens the scope of gay diversity in media by demonstrating that gay parents cannot be easily categorized or confined to stereotypical maternal or paternal boxes.
The Affluent, White, and “Acceptable” Gay Couple?
However, while Mitch and Cam break down some stereotypes through their actions and relationship, their character constructs arguably reinforce another set of stereotypes. They embody the stereotype of the “‘white, affluent, trend-setting, Perrier-drinking, frequent-flyer using, Ph.D.-holding consumer citizens with more income to spend than they know what to do with’” (Ross, 263). The show subtly, and sometimes overtly, leans into this image, particularly with Cam’s character, and their lifestyle choices. Their attire, mannerisms, speech, and activities often align with this affluent gay stereotype.
Given that Modern Family airs on ABC, a traditionally family-oriented network, this portrayal likely represents a calculated “safe” approach to introducing gay representation to a mainstream audience. Considering the broader media landscape, societal norms in America, and evolving attitudes towards LGBTQ+ inclusion, this approach becomes understandable. Media inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters is relatively recent, and these characters are still often marginalized or “othered” in contemporary film and television (Ross, 263). Therefore, it’s plausible that ABC and the show’s creators intentionally crafted Mitch and Cam in this manner to appeal to a wider, more traditional audience.
While their committed relationship and adoption of Lily represent progress and challenge certain norms, the very fabric of their characters inadvertently reinforces other, more palatable stereotypes. In aiming for broad appeal, the show might be inadvertently compromising the representation for a younger generation grappling with their identity who may not fit the mold of these character descriptors. The Pritchett family’s acceptance of Mitch and Cam, while heartening, reflects a specific type of “(white) modern family.” A more diverse representation, perhaps featuring an interracial gay couple or a couple from a different socioeconomic background, while potentially less relatable to a “traditional” ABC audience, could have a more profound impact on viewers navigating similar identity complexities.
Conclusion: Modern Family’s Modernity – A Qualified Success
So, does Modern Family truly reinvent the concept of a modern family? While the show’s creators undoubtedly advance gay representation and dismantle some outdated stereotypes, inherent limitations remain. Nevertheless, Modern Family undeniably shines a light on LGBTQ+ issues in an accessible and entertaining way.
References
ABC. (n.d.). Modern Family: Pilot – Watch Season 1 Episode 01. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family/episode-guide/season-01/101-pilot
Pappas, S. (2012, January 16). Gay Parents Better Than Straight Parents? What Research Says. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/gay-parents-better-than-straights_n_1208659.html
Rodriguez, N. (Ph. D). Queer Media Analysis. Lecture. March 22, 2017.
Ross, K. (2014). The handbook of gender, sex, and media. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell
