Kardashian Families In The 1950s

Throughout the years, the structure and definition of the word family has change in many households. Families and societies have evolved since the 1950’s and the images society has on families today are notably different than the ones Norman Rockwell envisioned back then. Families in the 1950’s were represented to society in the form of groups of people from the same ethnicity, the same religion, values, and vision. Today, some modern families are multiracial, multicultural and in some cases couples from the same-sex. The information people are receiving about families is presented to consumers by media kings. Media kings are icons of society and media who play a role in the culture and people’s minds. The Kardashian’s reality show, the Modern

Family sitcom, and Ellen Degeneres talk show are great examples of today’s icons. These media kings are the ones giving people the images Americans consume daily. They are the Rockwell’s of today. Today’s popular culture of families are represented by multiracial, same-sex and multicultural families. Americans watch in today’s mass culture representing the idea of modern families in: TV, social media and advertising. These images represent today’s family picture with some exceptions like the advertising campaigns where the old “perfect family” still represented.
Reality TV is showing the world a lot cultural changes. Current families are deeply rooted not just in the portrayal of fictional families but also in the world of reality TV. Reality TV is the most popular genre in the United States according to Nielsen because according to them it is the most entertainment. Reality TV is giving the world a hard but entertainment reality as James Hibberd, television editor for The Hollywood Reporter explains in an interview by Lisa Respers for CNN in 2010:
We have moved from what’s most ideal to what’s most entertainment. During the golden age of television, the focus was on these families that everyone would like to have that were also amusing and entertainment. With the advent of reality television, we introduced the dysfunctional family in the 1990’s.
This makes reality TV stars the most famous and influential. A great example is the reality showsKeeping up with the Kardashians. This reality show is about a big daily with kids from different marriages, races and cultural backgrounds. Sex change, drug abuse, and violence are some of the factors this family faces everyday, and that it are why are so popular. A lot Americans and people around the world relate to these problems. This family shows a real picture of the modern family with all their flaws.
The American sitcom has changed in terms of the roles each character plays.

Modern Familyis an American sitcom that has three different but related families. It is the story of a blended family in California; it includes stepparents, adoption, a gay marriage, and an interracial couple. In this sitcom the audience can see how gay families are brought and accepted into the modern family portrait. The idea of legalizing and accepting same-sex marriage brings the audience to the subject of American Principles. In the book Rereading America, there is an essay “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage” by Theodore B. Olson he writes, “ Legalizing same-sex marriage would also be a recognition of basic American principles and would represent the culmination of our nation’s commitment to equal rights. 67 ” Another factor that makes this show so successful is the fact thatthe characters use media in the show. For example, in many episodes, they use tools like face time and social media t interact between their family members, which is how today’s families communicate. This makes this sitcom a real representation of today’s families and their dynamics. This sitcom also helps the way consumers perceive society. Even if some Americans may not support same-sex marriage, they are still able to fund enjoyment in characters such as the gay couple Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett on Modern

Family.
Social media is a great indicator of what is trendy and up to date. Facebook, instagram and snapchat ate the most popular social media apps people are using today. In this social media world, the images consumers are receiving are the ones the media kings post. In this case, they will be Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West, who are from different ethnicities and cultural background, but are the most popular couple in the media. Their images are everywhere. Kim Kardashian currently has 27.7 million followers on instagram, which gives her influence, power and it also gives the media consumers, a mental picture of the ideal family portrait.
Talk shows are also giving the world a new image of the modern family portrait. Americans and the rest of the world watch talk shows and get information from them daily. Ellen degeneres has one of the biggest talk show worldwide. Her lesbian status has given her a lot attention and success. In her show the guest talk about modern family issues and express their thoughts in an open environment. Talk shows give the modern society a free space to talk about topics that used to be taboo back in the 1950’s. Topics like gay marriage, adoption, drug use, and more.
Advertising plays a big role in today’s society, and it is also responsible for the information the consumers receive daily. The commercial consumers are watching show a diverse family with different cultural backgrounds, races, and different points of view. Ikea and the advertising they use are great examples of modern family. Ikea campaigns include same-sex couples, multiracial families, and single parent households, which represent today’s modern family picture. Advertising companies give the consumer information base on reality so they can get closer to the consumer and relate to them once the achieve that the consumers feels like home. Basically, marketing wants their consumers to see themselves in their advertising campaigns so they can buy their products.
Some advertisingcampaign like the ones from Tommy Hilfiger had to change a couple of years ago. They were showing the stereotypical white family, which was causing a negative effect on their sales and the way consumers perceive the brand. Some consumers were feeling left out, creating media noise that affected the brand. To solve the problem, their marketing department had to include models from different races in their new campaigns, giving the brand a rebranding. Today, this brand shows in all their marketing a multiracial family portrait, which is more appealing to the consumer and reflects a better idea of the modern American family.
Others argue that the information consumers get from the media is a completely lie. The modern family portrait it is the same as the one in 1920’s. The perfect family idea hasn’t change, what has change is the number of families able to play this role. This role is a difficult one to play because of today’s distractions and temptations. The idea of the perfect family is something will never change even if media and the media kings present the consumer a completely wrong idea of how a perfect family should look like. Besides how hard is to play this role, economic factors do not let the masses follow this pattern. Natalie Angier a writer for the New York Timesmakes this situation clear saying: “At the same time, the old-fashioned family plan of stably married parents residing with their children remains a source of considerable power in America — but one that is increasingly seen as out of reach to all but the educated elite”. The family portrait the masses had back in the 1920’s is the same one that the masses have today but only a small part of the world can play this role.
Today’s modern families are not the same as the 1950’s idea of the perfect family.

Back in the 1950’s, the media content was unrealistic. Today’s family media is harsh, violent, and real. The majority of the Americans can relate to what they see on the media. CNN reporter Lisa Respers France believes that “Modern Familyis a bit of a throwback because it’s both gently flawed and idealized”. She said. “The characters on there aren’t perfect, but at the same time there are people that the average viewer would love to have in their win family.” This means the concept of the perfect family changes every couple of decades. Today, our perfect family portrait is one with multiracial, multicultural and same-sex couples. Media is responsible for giving the consumer certain images and information. The fact they all are different gives the consumer a big picture about reality. Today, the society is a multiracial one. Everywhere the consumer goes will see families with same sex parents, adopted children, and many more variations. They are the truth representation of the modern American family. Media is showing a less idealized family idea with some extremes making all this information friendlier to the consumer. Basically the masses can find a family on the media that can relate to everybody. What is different from today than from the 1950’s is how honest we

are.