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Mingling with the Modern Family

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Episodes end with a simulacrum of a group hug, an acknowledgment that even though they don’t always get along, this ‘modern’ family loves one another. Running on ABC since 2009, this prime-sitcom has not failed to entertain the audience with crisp, farcical, and kind values of the Modern Family. The fun family mockumentary is about the family of Pritchetts and Dunphys. It takes an honest and often hilarious look at the composition and complexity of modern family life of America. The series is presented in mockumentary style, with the fictional characters frequently talking directly into the camera. In the spotlight is Jay Pritchett’s family wherein he is the patriarch of the Pritchett family. He is the father of Claire, Mitchell, and Joe, and is married to a much younger Columbian, Gloria, and is stepfather to Manny. Additionally, he is also a veteran of the Vietnam War and former owner of Pritchett’s Closets & Blinds. Feisty and confident, Gloria thinks Jay is her match, which makes her attracted to him. Jay continually struggles to cope with Gloria’s insistence to preserve their Colombian traditions so they tend to compromise with the rest of the family. Claire is Jay and his former wife, DeDe’s eldest daughter. Claire gets her competitiveness and tough attitude from her father encouraging her into sports and becoming daddy’s girl. She is married to Phil Dunphy and mother of Haley, Alex, and Luke. Though antagonised, Phil always tries really hard to gain approval from Jay. Jay’s son Mitchell is gay and got married to his long-term partner Cameron Tucker and adopted a Vietnamese baby girl, Lily. Life, it seems, is neither tidy, politically correct, or in any way predictable. For these three families, it turns out, are not three but one big, blended family, with Jay, the patriarch and Claire & Mitchell his grown kids. Yet, it’s just such surprises that make things so interesting in this window into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted embrace of the modern family. As the show started, Phil and Claire, two parents, who wanted to have that open, healthy, honest relationship with their three kids. It’s not always easy, especially with their teenage daughter who was growing up a little fast, a too-smart-for-her-own-good middle daughter and a rambunctious son. Phil wants to be the “cool dad”, while Claire is always trying her best to run a tight ship, determined not to let her kids have the rebellious childhood she had. Gloria is that constantly supportive mother to Manny, who is a hopeless romantic – preferring art and praising poetry. Having Joe at a later age, both Jay and Gloria have a hard time in his upbringing. Both Mitchell and Cameron are constantly working on their parenting skills as their daughter Lily is growing up. From the very first episode titled “Pilot” to the 200th episode last month, along with the kids of this family, the entire sitcom has grown a lot- an extra dose of laughter, affection in a family, and so much more. With such heterogeneity within a family: inter-cultural and homosexual marriages, different preferences of each and every member; be it books for Alex, poetry for Manny or fashion for Haley – a family as the Pritchetts and Dunphys are so accommodating and respectful towards each other. This is what is Modern ‘Family’.   Feature Image Credits: Spoiler TV Radhika Boruah [email protected]]]>

A voracious reader of Mythology, embedded in a passionate Economics student who is also fanatically involved in Hindustani Classical Music. Tattoos and baking cakes are her muse. Ever reach out to talk at [email protected]

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