Narrative Analysis on Modern Family

Choose any episode of Modern Family for this essay.

Length: 500 – 1000 words, including APA format title page and APA format References page. No abstract is necessary.
Format: APA 7th edition (see general format instructions here, follow directions for Student Paper in APA 7)
Structure: Your essay should have an APA formatted title page and references page. The content of your essay should include: (1) an introduction, where you state the name and episode information of the show and your objectives in this narrative analysis; (2) a body section in which you write about the required topics, demonstrating how required theories from the course helped you understand something important about the story, and offering evidence (examples) from the story to support your points; and explaining why the narrative of this episode (how the story is told) will produce various effects for the audience (3) References page with correctly formatted reference to the textbook and the television show episode you wrote about, in correct APA format.

You must correctly use more than five concepts from the theories of narrative listed below. These include but are not limited to: narrative, genre, equilibrium, disruption, recognition, repair, Producer’s Ideology, flashback, flashforward, foreshadowing, parallel action, Taxonomy of Character, psychological traits/habitual behaviors; physical traits/appearance; speech patterns; interactions with other characters; environment (the places the character inhabits).

Section 1. Introduction and story summary

This is an essay about HOW the story is told, NOT WHAT THE STORY IS. However, it’s a good idea to start off with a 100 word (maximum) summary of what happens in the story Your main focus, however, will be a narrative analysis and a character analysis of one episode of the show that you chose. Finish your introduction with a thesis statement about which narrative techniques we learned about were used in the episode that you analyzed most effectively. Suggested length: 1 paragraph.

Section 2: Narrative Analysis
Describe the narrative progression in terms of Todorov’s Narratology Theory. When using Todorov, say what events in the episode correspond to:
Equilibrium
Disruption
Recognition
Repair
New Equilibrium

If the narrative is not linear, look at the way time is manipulated in the telling of the story. Are there moments when time is interrupted by flashbacks (or flash-forwards?). Are there multiple story lines that are intercut to produce simultaneous parallel action? If not, don’t mention this.

Evaluation: Looking specifically at the period of Equilibrium in the story, what Producer’s Ideology is expressed? What Value or Ideology is behind the thing in the story that causes the disequilibrium? Are they opposed to one another? (See the video above for more explanation)

Suggested length: 2 paragraphs

Section 3. Character Analysis
Choose the most interesting character in the program (in your view). Demonstrate how the character is created using meaningful signs by discussing all categories of Pearson’s Taxonomy of Character, “a six-part taxonomy of elements that construct the character:

• psychological traits/habitual behaviors;
• physical traits/appearance;
• speech patterns;
• interactions with other characters;
• environment (the places the character inhabits);
• and biography (character’s backstory).

Evaluation: What were the most important techniques used to define this character? What techniques were used to encourage ‘identification’ with the character? (This can be particularly interesting if the character has some offensive qualities).

Suggested length: 2 paragraphs

Section 4: Conclusion – summarize the more interesting ways that the episode / show told its story and represented the character that you analyzed. In your view, was the show effective?

Suggested length: 1 paragraph

How to write your References section
On a final, separate page, write the title ‘References’ and follow instructions below. You must cite the production information from your chosen show & episode completely in APA format.

For Todorov, use the following reference:

The Media Insider. (2019, June 9). Todorov’s Narrative Theory Explained! Media Studies Theory [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/f7AfnJd55PI

For Pearson’s Taxonomy of Character use:
Lotz, A. (2013) House: Narrative Complexity. In Mittell, Jason and Thompson, E. (Eds). How To Watch Television (pp. 23-34). NYU Press.