Angelina Gutierrez

WMST 205: Mondays 2:30 to 5:20 pm

Blog # 3: The Brady Bunch/Montano Bunch

The Hero Episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_LeTfK_yXk&t=27s   

The Broken Vase Episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF9eBObPW20\

The cultural artifact on which I am reflecting is The Brandy Bunch; this television program is one of the first programs I could relate to as a child.  My mother and father had six children between them three girls and three boys.  My mother was married before and had four children and then she married my father and had my sister and me.  I am the youngest of six children.  As a child, I remembered watching The Brady Bunch with my older siblings.  I would ask my oldest brother Sam, “Why he likes this show so much” and he said, “It reminds him of our family”. He would call us the Montano Bunch.

 

As I got older and understood more of the television show, it did remind me of our family.  My father worked and my mother was able to stay at home and take care of her family.  Of course, my father worked multiple jobs because he wanted his wife to stay at home a raise their children.  My father loved all of the children equally.  He never showed my sister and I any special treatment because we were his biological daughters, he treated us all equally.  The Brandy Bunch children were very close and were typical children who have their disagreements but at the end of the day will show love for each other.  This was so my family, we would fight at times but we always apologize to each other.  My parents embedded in us that family is the most important thing and we need to stick together.  We were the typical mid-class family that loved each other unconditionally.  I was so excited when the Brandy Bunch would come on and we would watch it as a family.  My mother would discuss episodes with us and reflect the message that was being conveyed. 

 

I remember the episode of the Broken Vase, it was such a great educational lesson for my siblings and me because we could all relate.  One day when my parents went to the store, we were playing in the house with a ball and broke one of my mom’s lamps.  The lamp had a little crack because my brother was able to catch it on time before it fell to the floor.  My dad was such a handy man so of course he had carpenter glue.  My oldest brother glued it together and we never played ball again in the house.  The episode when Greg threw the football and boke the vase.  The Brady children stuck together and took the blame individually.  They did not want one person to get in trouble so they decided to support each other.  My mother noticed the crack on her lamp while she was cleaning.  I remember my older siblings were scared that my dad was going to be upset.  After my mother talked to us as a family, she made sure that we learned our lesson and made it cleared that playing ball in the house was forbidden.  I am not sure what was worse, getting in trouble or seeing the disappointment on her face.  I know my oldest brother was disappointed that he cracked her lamp and he saved money to purchase my mother two new lamps for Christmas.  Of course, we all pitched in and with the help of my dad, we were able to surprise her with the new lamps.  My father made all the children help my mother with chores around the house.  My mother taught my brothers how to cook and clean as well.  The girls had to assist my dad with yard work.  My parents wanted us to be a tight family and be responsible.   

Another episode I can remember that affected me as a child when Peter saved the little girl climbing a shelf. Peter was the hero, received many gifts, and was in the newspaper.  His act of heroism went to his head and his parents had to talk to him.  One should respond as an act of kindness and not what you received in return.  I remember my mother telling us if you cannot do anything from your heart, you should not do it at all.   I remember we would help each other with our chores and if one of us would complain, my mother would tell us not to do it at all and expect anything in return.  My parents were the glue to our family and taught us values, responsibilities and morals just like The Brandy Bunch.  

As I reflect on The Brady Bunch now with my “critically vigilant” lenses, I recognize the Brady Bunch was used to promote the white middle class family and not all race and class could relate.  Obviously, I come from a mixed race family (Mexican/Italian), I knew there was different outcomes in my life from the television show.  There were not any positive television shows representing Latino families during my childhood.  The only reason why I could relate to the Brady Bunch is because my parents had six children and installed values in morals in our household.  Men and women of color did not has many positive role models on television.  We were either house cleaners, gardeners, construction workers and/or any other lower class job that a typically white person would not be doing.  However, while I re-watch certain episodes, I strongly believe The Brandy Bunch can help any race and class because the moral to each episode are strong family values and lessons to be learned in order to become successful in our society today.