Children in motion pictures--United States

Because the film genre categorized as "family" has become a larger segment of the film industry in the last decade, family films have become an abundant source of cultural information about children and family structure. This study examines from a cognitive perspective how preadolescent children and their parents are portrayed in mainstream Hollywood films during the 1990's, how these film narratives reflect the durability of core cultural models, and elements of negotiation and change. The portrayal of family relationships and the conceptualization of a child are affected by cultural models surrounding nurturance, self-reliance, success, nostalgia and the future orientation of our culture. Salient issues include the perceived disintegration of the family and the nature of the relationship between fathers and their children. A significant number of films focus on the family from the father's perspective, emphasizing his need to enrich his life beyond the workplace and develop close familial relationships.