Modern Family Modernizing TV's Traditional Point of Views

There are 3 conceptualizations of point of view that are described in Douglass and Harnden's chapter titled, "Point of View"...

1. Camera shot
• 1st person POV shot: camera as character's eyes
• 3rd person POV shot: most common camera position; camera neutral
2. Perspective of storyteller (person)
• 1st person POV: direct narrative from storyteller which allows for commentary and eyewitness perspective.
• 2nd person POV: directly addresses the "you" as the viewer
• 3rd person POV: the audience are seen as "distant" observers and are therefore more detached in this point of view.
• This POV is the most commonly used method
3. Character Point of View: the interests, attitudes, and beliefs associated with a character's or group's perspective are shared in this point of view.

Modern Family is a television series aired on ABC that utilizes diverse point of view shots and perspectives. This is one many newer television shows that use all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person point of views. An example of another television series that practices these techniques is The Office.

The majority of Modern family is shot through 3rd person point of view, in terms of camera shot as well as perspective of the storyteller. This is the most common point of view used in most films and television programs. But the addition of the 2nd and 3rd person points of view add a more informal tone to the program. These points of views take place when the character is talking to the camera as if they are on a reality television show.

The audience is able to connect more to the characters in the show when 2nd and 3rd person point of view is used. I suppose this is why they call it modern family, since the characters are trying to relate to modern day people, by using first and second point of view.