American pop and social culture seem to always have its basis deeply embedded in trend-setting television shows of its times. These are the shows that most often dictate the social issues and matters of utmost importance to families and society at the time. Fifty years ago, the show that best depicted the status of families and the problems affecting them was best exemplified in the shows such as “Father Knows Best” and “Leave It To Beaver”.
In these modern times though, “Desperate Housewives” seems to best depict the trials and tribulations facing the American family on the same comedic tone as the shows of fifty years ago. In order to understand how much the American family has changed over time, it would be best to study the similarities and differences of two shows in particular, in this case, the shows are “Leave It To Beaver” and “Desperate Housewives”.
Leave It to Beaver was a 30-minute comedy family show that revolved around the lives of the Cleaver family composed of (mother) June, ( father) Ward, and (sons) Wally and Beaver. Since the 1950s was a time of innocence for America, the Cleaver family was the quintessential American family. As the all – American family, this sitcom dealt with light-hearted stories and only very slightly dealt with social issues such as alcoholism due to censorship issues of the time. Seen from a propaganda aspect, the show painted an unrealistic view of the American family that was accepted as truth in all the countries where the show aired.
The storylines for the show were not really meant to educate the viewer or make them think about anything too seriously. Considering the impossibility of the scenarios presented in the show, it was highly impossible for events such as a boy getting stuck in enormously large coffee cup signage of a restaurant, or for brothers to have such a seamless and problem-free relationship. Even the parenting style of the show leaves a lot for wonderment as the parents never seem to actually get mad at any child in particular and no actual punishments are really dealt out because of the light-hearted approach to situations.
The show itself is set in early suburban America wherein neighbors are so neighborly they are almost like extended family members, strangers who come to the area are embraced and helped, never feared, and it seems, there are no real problems troubling their residences so that everyone can live peacefully and sleep securely at night.
In stark contrast to Leave It To Beaver, Desperate Housewives, is a modern-day look at the American family. Although considered a parody of the travails of the American family of the 21st century, it uses a light-hearted approach towards dealing with family and marital-based problems whenever possible. Developed as a dark comedy by Marc Cherry, the show is shot on the same backlot as Leave It To Beaver. However, the similarities between the two shows end there. Indeed, the story plots for both shows are unbelievable and a far stretch in terms of reality, Desperate deals with the modern makings of an American family.
Since we have less strict censorship rules these days, Desperate Housewives is allowed to push the entertainment and comedic envelop a lot further because it is allowed to deal with formerly taboo topics such as sex, infidelity, divorce, and other topics that would not even have touched the lips for mentioning by the characters during the time of Leave It To Beaver.
Between the two, Desperate Housewives can be considered as the parody of modern American culture. Everybody who watches it knows that the situations cannot manage to exist in real life and if they did, the resolutions would never be as smooth and fast as portrayed on the show. Viewers of the show consider it to be a heavily cliche-ish show that never takes itself too seriously. Only on this kind of show will you find the mistress of a husband openly meddling with the real wife’s household, or have a situation wherein a hurricane can devastate a town in one night and have everything back to normal in one week.
While Leave It To Beaver promoted idealism in young America, Desperate Housewives caters to the cynical, desperate, often sad existence of the typical American housewife and their families. Beaver showcased American families living at their best. With every hair in place, every T crossed and I dotted. Desperate Housewives portrays 5 women in various states of life dysfunctionality stemming from insecurities or plain ineptness towards everyday life.
In the end, the biggest difference between the two shows is also what sets them apart in age. 50 years of evolution within the American family and way of life. America has changed a lot as a country and so have the foundations for family and way of life. Leave It To Beaver was an innocent time that showcased simpler times and problems. Desperate Housewives depicts albeit unrealistically at times, the problems that modern families have to deal with. One common theme between the two shows that have not changed over the past 50 years, however, is that the family is the nucleus by which all positive and negative aspects that happen in the lives of family members and friends in life becomes worthwhile and learning exercise.
Work Cited
Acord, Deb. “Old Wives Tale”. The Colorado Springs Gazette. (2004). Web.
“Desperate Housewives”. The Internet Movie Database. N.A. 2008. Web.
“Leave It To Beaver”. The Internet Movie Database. N.A. 2008. Web.