Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 03:2 (Spring 2013)
Article: The Portrayal Of Fathers In Popular Media
Author: David A. McGee

JDFM 3:2 (Spring 2013) p. 36

The Portrayal Of Fathers In Popular Media

David A. McGee

And

Bryce F. Hantla

David McGee (Ed.D. cand,, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the husband of his summer-camp romance and father of three uniquely God-designed children. He is a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute, and he has earned a B.S. in Accounting from State University of New York College at Old Westbury and a Th.M. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He serves as an adjunct professor for Trinity College of Florida and as an instructor of religion for Liberty University Online.

Bryce Hantla (Ed.D. cand., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the husband of his college sweetheart and father of three fun-loving young children. He earned a B.A. in English from Mississippi College and an M.A. in British Literature from North Carolina State University. He serves as an adjunct professor for The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, works as a managing editor for American Journal Experts. His dissertation is concerned with the effects of implementing a critical thinking rubric in theological education contexts.

“Honey, what area am I in charge of in this house?” said the dad in Good Luck Charlie, a Disney Channel show we watch with my kids. Bob’s words were addressed to his television wife Amy, after she had corrected him in front of their daughter about not having the right to ground her because of her deception. Mom belittled Dad (albeit in a humorous way) and made sure he knew who the real boss of the family was: the mother. Sitcoms play out this scenario on screens all across America at an increasingly alarming rate. Buffoonish, ignorant, self-centered, and inept television dads must be shown their proper places in the home. At best, television dads are nominal or figurehead leaders of the home, but at worst, they are relegated to the intellectual level of the family pet.

This farcical portrayal of dads on television has deteriorated to the point that to not see the role of men belittled or ridiculed would seem ironic or nostalgic, harkening back to the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s where father figures were generally portrayed from positions of wisdom and authority.1 Contrary to this ridiculous portrayal, another extreme is often represented in which men are depicted as being physically aggressive, violent, and power-hungry. In the past, however, men on television were generally depicted as leaders, problem solvers, confident, and athletic.2

Given these observations, this article seeks to answer two main questions: Was ...