Javier Gonzalez

ENC 1101/Massey
11/16/15
Compare and Contrast Family and Sitcoms
We have loved family sitcoms for decades because of their relevance to our families. If I
think back to my favorites, I must admit that the popular sitcom, Modern Family closely relates
to my family. The idiosyncrasies of our daily lives parallel to the witty television spectacle.
The Dunphys are the ideal marriage who have children; the family includes Haley the
beautiful, popular, and oldest child in the family; she gets by on her looks, not her brains. Alex is
the middle child, often neglected, and the brains of the family. Luke is the third child; he is the
oblivious, clumsy, and youngest of the three. Claire, the mother, is not only intelligent and classy
but also beautiful. She has it all together and keeps it all running smoothly. Phil, the father, is
goofy, spirited, and controlled by his wife.
My family, like the Dunphys, is composed of many different personalities. My brother,
TJ, is the profound one in the family, fixated on his looks and his iPhone; in school, he was
always popular with the girls and loved to party. I closely relate him to Haley from Modern
Family. My mother, like Claire, is the brains with all her Masters Degrees and always reading
books. My father, like Phil, is always concerned with the football games and the Miami Heat's
latest trade. I relate to the middle child, somewhat of a bookworm and at times misunderstood.
In contrast, my family shares a variety of cultures. We come from a Cuban background,
and we have a little of "Que Pasa USA" in us. My Cuban grandparents have a hard time

assimilating the American culture and enjoy teaching us the Cuban ways. They always remind us
how Cuba had the best food, music, and even the best moon. Through all the difficult times, both
the Dunphys and the Gonzalezs have one thing in common: the love that is shared by all the
members of the family.
Families have changed throughout the years, and sitcoms have also adapted to make these
changes relevant. Sitcoms have been popular for decades because we can relate to them, and we
can find humor in these similarities.