Family-Comedy+and+Drama+Activity

__ **Family Perspective Activity** __ Watch the following scene from //Parenthood//.

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1. Write a one-page reader response to the scene in your journal. 2. Choose two of the following characters: the grandfather, the father, the mother, and the son. 3. Write a journal piece from the perspective of each of your chosen characters as if they were reflecting on the event. Make sure to include each character's feelings and judgements.

__ **Non-Traditional Family Activity** __ After reading //The Outsiders//, watch this clip from //Party of Five//. Start the clip at 19 mins. and stop watching at 24 mins.

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1. Compare and contrast the family dynamics in both texts. 2. Write your responses in your journal and be ready to discuss.

Questions to Consider: What happens to sibling relationships when the parents are gone and older siblings have to step into the parental role? Can you draw any equivalents between specific characters in each text? Which siblings tend to have the most conflict? Why do you think that is? Is there a difference in family dynamics when there are sisters in the family? How does gender affect family responsibility? What text offers the most "realistic" picture of this scenario and why?

__ **Feminist Critical Lens Activiy** __ Watch the following clips from //Baby Boom// and //Who's the Boss?// Analyze them through a feminist critical lens.

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What are some of the issues the female protagonists face? How do they respond to these challenges? What does this say about the social climate at the time? Compare the female protagonists to one another. How are they similar and/or different? What roles to the females carry out that are traditional and non-traditional? How do they reinforce gender stereotypes? How do they resist gender stereotypes? How are the expectations different for working women than they are for working men? Compare the female protagonists to female protagonists in //Little Women//. How have the roles of women changed over time? Consider the women in //Little Women//, these clips, and those of today's society.

__ **Portrayal of Black Families Activity** __ After watching the clips from //The Cosby Show//, //Fresh Prince of Bel Air//, and //Family Matters// get into groups and discuss the similarities and differences between the three families. What challenges do each family face? What commonalities do you see?

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Next, watch the clips from //Step by Step and// //Growing Pains.//

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In your group, determine if the white families are portrayed differently. What are some challenges that black families or white families face that are different from the other race? Do you think the portrayals of black families fair? Are they stereotyped? How, if at all? Do you think anything is missing from these portrayals? What do they say about the larger issues that each community may be facing?