This Is Us

Your analysis should be based on the episode This Is Us Season 1 Episode 16 Recap: William Dies in Memphis and Master of None Season 1 Episode 1: Plan B and Episode 2: Parents. I’ve attached a file with all the specific guidelines. Your essay should be a critical analysis of the shows, not simply summaries, and must answer the following questions in 4-5 pages.  Specific questions to address in your essay:   a. Briefly identify and describe your two selected shows. Discuss how each show portrays families and their structures – i.e., ‘nuclear family’ as ideal? Are other family structures presented in positive, negative, or neutral ways?  b. Compare and contrast how the shows portray issues of gender. To what extent are gender roles presented as traditional or egalitarian? In what ways are gender expectations discussed or reinforced? Be sure to provide specific examples. c. Compare and contrast how the shows portray race-ethnicity and social class. How diverse, inclusive, and realistic are these portrayals? – compare with information in the textbook on American families. To what extent are these portrayals positive, negative, or neutral (i.e., do they reinforce positive or negative stereotypes)? What particular groups or experiences are emphasized, and what is missed?  d. How are the shows’ depictions different in the drama compared to the comedy? How might these shows influence their audiences?  *** Note that production and broadcast dates vary – you should take into account the time period of the production (when it was made and released) and the time period portrayed in the shows (i.e., in the present or set in an earlier era). You should discuss the historical context and its relation to the images of families, gender, race-ethnicity, and social class.