Last night’s episode of ABC’s Modern Family featured a storyline involving Phil feeling inadequate as Luke seems to be surpassing him as the more competent male in the household. Sophocles would be proud. Luke’s quick grasp of “the banjonic and trampolitan arts” drives Phil nuts and leads to an injury to Luke’s eye. All the while, Luke is trying to solve a riddle nearly as old as Thebes itself. And for added weirdness, Luke plays the banjo while Claire sits next to him on his bed, admiringly and with a hand on his shoulder. Yikes, but funny. This Oedipal theme is even reflected in the Cam/Gloria storyline that features a school talent show with a "Grease chorus" that appropriately narrates behind the melodrama. “Fate will surely favor him,” one in the chorus says.
The episode also included references to soap operas and even a quick paraphrase of a famous lyric from the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Modern Family has always been the one of the cleverest sit-coms, but this one was especially literary. Literature is everywhere, if you are ready for it. And this episode was a great example of the importance of studying literature: if you don’t, you won’t get the jokes!
The episode also included references to soap operas and even a quick paraphrase of a famous lyric from the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Modern Family has always been the one of the cleverest sit-coms, but this one was especially literary. Literature is everywhere, if you are ready for it. And this episode was a great example of the importance of studying literature: if you don’t, you won’t get the jokes!