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The Plugged In Show, Episode 76: What Hollywood Says About Family and Parenting

Family watching TV

LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 76

Ever since the first motion-picture camera started rolling, the entertainment industry has been fascinated by the family. It’s introduced us to fathers that know best and mothers who know better. It’s given us kids that play by the rules and kids that play with fire. Sometimes storytellers seek to hold up a mirror and show us what families actually look like. At others, they tell us what they think a family should look like—or what it shouldn’t.

And just as the family has influenced countless storytellers over the years, those storytellers sometimes influence real-life moms and dads and kids. And while that influence can be a good thing, it’s not always so positive.

The Plugged In team sits down to talk about movies, television and the family. Listen to this lively conversation, and you’ll get a little insight into how Hollywood can reflect, reinforce and even undermine cultural values—and why moms and dads need to be especially aware of those messages.

And as you listen, think about our takeaway question: If you had to script your family’s life together as a show, would it be a comedy, drama, or both? What would the main conflicts be?  

Be sure to check out the links to everything we talked about this episode, as well.

paul-asay
Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.