The family based sitcom has been around since the beginning of television. It has served as a medium for comedy as well as compelling social commentary, as seen from the shows "All in the Family" and "Modern Family." Set decades apart, the two shows still touch an enduring societal issues, but contemporaneous issues as well.
The screening of "All in the Family" brought about the issue of homosexuality in the 70s. Archie is disturbed by one of his daughter's friends, who he repeatedly referrers to as a "queer" and "fag" on the basis of his appearance. He is then floored to find out that not only this man is straight, but one of his friends--who he considers to be the pinnacle of manliness--is in fact gay. The episode revealed how uncomfortable society was by the emergence of
homosexuality from underground to acceptable lifestyle.
Conversely, the show "Modern Family" touches on the acceptance of this lifestyle in the 2000s. Mitchell and Cameron are a gay couple with an adopted daughter. They face the issues of their sexuality in multiple episodes, as they are concerned by what others will think of them, such as when they attempt to act straight at their daughter's playgroup and when Mitchell does not want to publicly show affection to Cameron.
Both shows confront the difficulties that arise from homosexuality, one, the issue that comes from discovering a friend's sexuality, and the other a couple trying to live with theirs. The approach is very different between the shows, but both touch on the same issue as it applies to their target generation.One of the most apparent differences is that "All in the Family" only deals with Archie and his immediate family. Whereas "Modern Family" shows the interrelationship of three families, though they are all related. The family dynamic provides different types of issues to be brought up. "All in the Family" is limited to the relationship Archie has with his wife, daughter and her husband. However "Modern Family" can explore the relationship between father/adult child, parents/young children, brother/sister; essentially, they can explore greater familial relationships, where
"All in the Family" cannot. Both shows provide excellent social commentary despite the fact that they are set decades apart. Surprisingly, they also touch on some of the same issues, which illustrates that some family issues are enduring, while others are strictly limited to the time period in which a show is set.
This is a promotional video for "Modern Family"
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