User:ChelseaCom/Cult of Domesticity

Still from the film, “Le Repas de bebe” a 18895 family centered short.

Domesticity and media have always been interconnected. One of the first films ever shown was a family centered piece entitled, “Le Repas de Bébé” or “Baby’s Meal”. This 1895 Lumière brothers film depicted a french couple feeding their infant breakfast. Older content including domestic themes, often served to represent white, nuclear, families and female centered tropes. The “women’s weepie” being one common trope, in which mothers sacrificed their own personal identity and well being in order to provide for their children. This is a drastic difference from the “femme fatale” trope which demonstrates a rejection of domestic life and family connection in favor of romance, sexuality, danger, and drama. There are more inclusive representations of domesticity in today’s media versus the more limited, heteronormative examples of the past.

Domesticity has long served as a home base for discussions on polarizing subjects. Sexuality, politics, gender, race, all are seen in domestic centric content. It is also seen across every genre. Comedy, drama, talk, reality, horror, all are well represented. Family life, relationships, in addition to other domestic themes are amongst the most popular with consumers as well. Proven by programming such as Modern Family, which was one of the highest grossing shows during its run on air. Media of the past gave us shows like, Leave It To Beaver, a very cliché example of the nuclear family. Working dad, devoted mother, and a couple of kids. With the entrance of women into the workforce, increased divorce rates, and rise of single parents, those themes became less widely applicable. Shows like The Fosters, which highlight blended families are becoming more common.

With less societal expectations of nuclear families, we have made way for the depiction of “chosen families” or non-biological groups who provide support in a familial type way. More common but not limited to LGBTQ+ centered programming. Examples include the friend group on Friends, or even in science fiction show, The Mandalorian. Where the main character takes in a foreign creature as his own. The genre of science fiction is far from removed from including its own domestic themes. Shown in series like, Buffy The Vampire Slayer where the main character of Buffy is framed as a tough, strong, action hero but also values the domestic feminity of being a young woman.

In another contrast from the outdated nuclear family structure, there is much more representation of people of color in modern domestic media content. However, we still often only see limited and often stereotypical presentation of particularly women of color. Today, more powerful, successful, black families are at the core of some of the most popular modern programs such as, Empire.

LGBTQ+ themes are also expanding the present media displays of domesticity. Programming such as, Queer Eye demonstrate this through a blend of typical domestic representation such as home design, self presentation, and interracial queer representation.

The heteronormative qualities seen in early domestic values were also challenged in the show, Transparent. Where one parent reveals they are transgender and decides to transition whilst managing a family life. Representation of transgender identities are becoming more frequent in media. Even family lifestyle network, TLC airs a popular show, I Am Jazz about a transgender teenager and her family. Though the introduction of a transgender lead may be a relatively new idea, the themes discussed are no different than seen in most family programming. Such as dating, crushes, school, and dealing with sibling relationships.

Workplaces are another common setting in which similar themes are seen. Coworkers often behave in a familial manner and have unique interpersonal connections. This interpretation of domesticity has become permanently embedded into popular culture with cult favorites like The Office, Parks and Rec, Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men. With households working more combined hours than ever before, workplaces sometimes serve as social support. Especially when home life is less than ideal. Classic domestic themes like relationship disputes or love do not have to be limited to the biological family.

In a large departure from the traditional domestic value of purity, modern media has shone a light upon the traditionally taboo topic of teen pregnancy. The emergence of this theme was seen in films like, Juno. Or the controversial MTV series, 16 and Pregnant; which amongst the topic of teen pregnancy also discussed safe sex and adoption. The show, whilst modern in its nature, also connects to traditional domestic themes such as purity. It promotes the importance of young women patrolling their bodies and the notion of being a good mother as most important over education or social activities.

Within the intersection of domesticity and media, traditional domestic values are not erased, but rather expanded to include modern representations. Home life, sexuality, and independence are now being reflected by the diversity in media rather than restricted to limited representation.