Does ABC's 'Modern Family' Hate Mexicans?

Was all set to blog about the dreaded Texas Rangers (the police force, not the baseball team), when I came across a scathing review of the new ABC TV show Modern Family. Seems my fellow raza in New York didn't like the new sitcom as much as I did, in fact they absolutely hated it, articulating their reasoned position and thoughtful critique with lines such as "fetid shitstorm," "loathsome," "oh Jesus Fucking Christ," and not just one "Ugh!" but two, the second in all caps. Wow. Were we watching the same show?

For those without TiVo and who, presumably, spend their cultured evenings reading books and going to the cinema, Modern Family is a single-camera sitcom, faux doc style, a la The Office, about three contemporary suburban families: one "traditional," one gay, the last a second marriage between an older white guy and a younger Latina with a kid named Manny. Seems the depiction of Manny's father, Javier the Latino (Guanabee.com's words, not mine), the "deadbeat dad" who didn't take his kid to Disneyland (pobrecito!), really upset the folks in New York. Setting aside the fact that Javier the Latino is actually Javier the Implied Latino Who Is Only Talked About And Never Actually Seen, their main beef with the show seems to be offensive stereotypes and what they see as boring, one-dimensional characters. I disagree.

To cherry pick and then highlight the so-called faults of only the Latino characters ("deadbeat dad") while not acknowledging equally offensive faults given to white characters (being racist, for instance) misses the point of the show entirely and makes for a disingenuous review. EVERYONE is held up for scrutiny, ridicule, and, consequently, complexity. Gays, cranky old gringo grandfathers, infantile white dads, Colombian trophy wives: they all receive, with equal opportunity of offensiveness, the same satirical treatment. What makes the show interesting, besides the funny writing, great acting, and the innovative way the writer's use and then subvert stereotypes, is including a Brown element to what has pretty much been a white depiction of what it means to be an "American" sit-com family. It's an organic inclusion, so far, that doesn't relegate Latinos to second-tier status, nor condescend to them with sappy PC reverence (you know, where their humble, hat-in-hand, immigrant asses get saved by the white guy).

Latinos-Who-Care-About-Such-Things complain when we're cast in movies and TV as maids and gangbangers. Fine. I do too. But to then complain that the few attempts at complex depictions are characters not all noble and without blemish is trying to have it both ways.

Sofia Vergara in particular, should be singled out for her performance as Gloria, the hot Latina trophy wife. Vergara takes the usual and tired depictions of TV Latinas, knowingly embraces the cultural stereotypes, and then spins them on their head in, yes, brassy assertions of power and pride. Very badass. And regarding Vergara's part in the abysmal Chasing Papi? All is forgiven. 

Go here for a review that applauds the gay representations in the show, for positive industry review go here, and for the Metacritics view go here.

Comments

[Bracho]

Agrees, Sofia es genial and the NYT is already talking Emmy. And I can't wait to watch the transracially adopted asian baby age and resent the gay white dads.

[Caro]

Whoa, I had totally skipped this. Well, I'm skipping a lot of shows since I don't have a TV these days, but it's on hulu, q no? Will take a look and let you know where I stand. lay. sit. whatever.

[La Cindy]

Haven't seen episode two, or more than five mins of episode one, but I liked what I saw.

[Caro]

Saw the two episodes. It was funny. And I'm so happy Al Bundy has a job. Sofia Vergara does what she can with the spitfire character, but I actually love smartass Manny. So cute!

[J]

Just what I needed more "ammo" to give America to stereotype everytime my wife tells someone she is a Colombiana

[sildenafil]

I enjoyed these characters I still a boy, he enjoyed seeing how "saved the world of evil '(I forget their names) excellent blog hahaha.!

[sildenafil]

I enjoyed these characters I still a boy, he enjoyed seeing how "saved the world of evil '(I forget their names) excellent blog hahaha.!

[Nike Shox Rivalry]

Only the people's social practice is the criterion of knowledge for people outside the standard. The standard of truth is only social practice.Do you think so?

[Titus77]

I've watched MF several times, mostly because I like some of the actors on the show. I have yet to enjoy one real laugh. It's a complete train wreck in my opinion. First, the faux-doc style simply doesn't work for a weekly series. In a movie like 'Spinal Tap' it has a reason to be used, but I simply can't buy the concept that a group would be subject to being interviewed constantly, for no apparent reason, for years on end (yes, I hate 'The Office', too). Second, the characters are either completely clueless or just plain mean without a trace of a genuine sense of humor. NBC's 'Parenthood' is similar in structure but has mostly engaging characters who actually talk to each other like normal people And, even though it's a drama, it has real humor based in the relationships between the characters. MF sounds like it should be funny, but it's utterly depressing.

[Supra NS Footwear]

One's sin will find one out.