John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Genealogy and Cultural Symbolism

Genealogy and cultural symbolism.

I have never been very good at quickly following family relationships on large family trees. I get parents and children and even grandparents and first cousins. But after that, it starts to get confusing. …

Which got me wondering about metaphorical family trees.

I’ve been reading a lot recently about the show Modern Family is emblematic of America—and the American family—today. I love the show and don’t argue much with the contention.

Likewise, when I was a boy I liked The Waltons. They were described back then as emblematic of America –and the American family.

But that was 40 years ago. Which leads to my next question:

Is Cam John Boy’s son or nephew? And which one of the Waltons gets blamed for Phil Dunphy?