Teaching Kids About Culture While Removing Generational Gaps | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Keeping Cultures Alive Through Generational Differences

A look into television and how through generational differences, families can work to keep cultures alive.

55
Keeping Cultures Alive Through Generational Differences
https://unsplash.com/photos/i4W8OINLI_I

Television has the unique ability to portray relatable situations and struggles that many people are going through to connect the viewers to the show. This ability allows television shows to gather a larger audience to provide relief for them in that another "family" may be dealing with similar difficulties as them and allow them to be entertained while escaping their reality for a short time.

Television shows can connect people who associate with the show by utilizing certain elements throughout the episodes that evoke emotion and a deeper sense of connection between the audience and the show. An example of these elements would be quick flashback shots, the shot angles of the camera, as well as voice-overs and background songs. The third episode of the hit ABC television show, "Black-ish" demonstrates that African-American families want to keep their culture alive because generations have different priorities.

The stereotype of acknowledging another African-American person in a certain way when in passing aligns with the suggestion that the show is making regarding that it is difficult for the older generation to teach the younger generations certain mannerisms. This is due to the society in which each generation grew up being significantly different from each other. In the opening scene of the third episode of "Black-ish," Zoe, the oldest daughter is seen walking into school talking on her cell phone, dressed nicely, and making a clear effort to dissociate with her brother, Junior.

The framing of the shot has Zoe centered in the middle walking ahead of her brother and her father, focusing the center of attention on her in the shot and representing how she is far more popular than her brother. The shot pans over to her father, Dre, struggling to carry in a project with Junior, when a young African-American boy and his father pass by. The shot zooms in on Dre as he notices the father of the boy and slows down the shot to emphasize the nod that he gives. The camera then pans over to the father, maintaining a close zoom as he returns the nod. The shot quickly pans out and shows Junior who is completely oblivious to anything that is happening.

The shot framing and angle shift to show Dre's confusion and anger as to why Junior did not give "the nod" to the young boy that was passing and realizes that Junior is unaware of "the nod" and abruptly drops the project and walks away. The specific camera angle and shot formatting emphasize how Zoe and Junior are in a high-class society and act completely different from each other. It also focuses in on how Dre is extremely disappointed in Junior for not doing "the nod," something that is commonplace for him but was never taught to Junior.

Societal differences make it difficult for a culture to transcend between generations and provide a challenge for the older generation when raising the new one. Throughout the opening scene, various film elements highlighted key moments in the episode. Sound effects also play a large role in staging a scene to convey the exact meaning that it is intended to. Background songs, as well as voice-overs, are key elements that are help convey the message and the meaning.

In the opening scene when Zoe, Junior, and Dre are walking into the school when you hear Dre's voice over talking about how Zoe and Junior are so different. In the background, "Hard Knock Life" from the musical "Annie" is being played. Throughout the opening scene, Dre is dealing with a conflict over the stark difference between his son and his daughter as well as Junior's inability to understand "the nod." This song exemplifies the conflict that Dre is dealing with how generational differences have created a rift between him and his children.

Connecting important cultural mannerisms to different situations throughout life and history are important when showing how generational differences have affected families in keeping their culture alive. When discussing with his father regarding how Junior did not know to do "the nod," Dre's discussion with the family quickly shifts into a flashback and voice over in which both sound effects and camera framing are utilized. The voice over puts emphasis on how much this problem is bothering Dre and how it truly is something he is dealing with as a parent.

The quick shots of different scenes such as President Obama giving a speech, babies in strollers, two people meeting on a ski slope, etc., show them all giving each other the nod. These quick and comedic shots emphasize how far back and how commonplace "the nod" truly is in their culture and how Dre is concerned that if Junior doesn't know the nod, how much else does he truly know about his culture.

Sound effects, camera framing, and camera angles help convey messages and meaning of television shows to the viewers. Using different camera angles and shots, different perspectives are provided to the scene which allows insight into every character's perspective. Sound effects stimulate the sense of hearing of a viewer when they are watching the show and allow messages to be sent subliminally. In this episode of "Black-ish," these elements worked together to convey the message that it is difficult for African-American families to keep their culture alive due to generational differences.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

155
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1740
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

3071
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments