Representation and Postmodernism

Jay Pritchett: “Closet? You’ll Love It!” S6, E17

The award-winning sitcom was also hugely successful due to the way in which traditional family dynamics such as the nuclear family is challenged, and the development of character’s mindsets and attitudes are transformed. For example, the character of Jay Pritchett. The entire family is rooted to this specific character, as Jay has two children – Mitchell and Claire; Both whom are products from his first marriage. Jay’s character is shown as an old-fashioned patriarch who calls the shots and would never break from his stubborn ways and views. Some could argue that Jay’s character is a metaphor of modernism and progression as; In season 5 episode 22 titled ‘Message Received’, the episode includes the storyline of Jay and his son Mitchell having an argument over Mitchell and Cameron’s wedding. This is centred around the fact that Jay isn’t comfortable or fully accepting of the fact that his son is gay. Including dialogue such as “I don’t think I’m out of line suggesting that my friends don’t want to see a father-son dance at a big gay wedding…Fine I admit it this whole wedding thing is weird to me”. However, as the season comes to an end, the father and son make up as Jay walks Mitchell down the aisle and states that he is fully supportive of his son and son in law. This specific storyline was so moving and powerful as it was filmed and aired before gay marriage was legal in all states of America. It also grew attention as it showed the journey in which Mitchell and Jay’s relationship had gone through.  In addition to this, the character of Jay Pritchett is shown to grow and become more understanding as he is transitions from being an arrogant, old, white man to a supportive and accepting family man. This is due to many other factors, such as; his second wife is a young, Columbian immigrant to whom he falls in love with, his granddaughter being adopted from Vietnam, and finally the fact that his son in law Phil Dunphy and stepson Manny are not stereotypical rough and tumble men/boys – whom of which he later admits he always wanted. Each of these factors come with issues of acceptance and understanding, particularly with the character of Jay Pritchett. Yet, all issues are overcome through the plots and storylines with each episode. This example critiques the theory of postmodernism by (Lyotard, 1924). Lyotard speaks in his book – (The Postmodern Condition, 1979), about how credible knowledge is and the use of metanarratives as he critiques the idea of modernism. Lyotard states that society now ends the subject of ‘grand narratives’ or ‘metanarratives’ in which he considers a feature of modernity. Lyotard originally introduced the term ‘postmodernism’. This concept was previously used by art critics into philosophy and social sciences. Lyotard stated “simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives. Some may agree with Lyotard and argue that society may not be able to flee from the progression in which was made in past history. This is an example of how postmodernism is illustrated in the American TV show – ‘Modern Family’.

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