Abstract
Modern Family is an American sitcom created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan. It narrates the life experience of Jay Pritchett and his two children’s families which are completely different in structure. The three families can be seen as a microcosm of the American family and have a certain significance for the research of the diversified family structures in the U.S. today. Combining the specific circumstances of the three families and the social and historical background of the U.S., this paper contends that the fundamental reason of the diversified family structure is the American values of individualism. The nuclear family appears to be the old school in the variety of modern family patterns today, but it is still the product of individualistic thought because its formation lies in the American Industrial Revolution. The rise of stepfamilies can be attributed to the growing awareness of personal freedom and rights. The emergence of homosexual families also reflects the further development of individualism--the freedom of sexual orientation.
Keywords   Modern Family   diversified family structure   individualism 

《摩登家庭》（Modern Family），是一部美国情景喜剧，以三个结构各不不同、相互之间有亲戚关系的家庭为背景。这三个家庭分别是传统的核心家庭、现代的再婚家庭和新兴的同性恋家庭，它们是美国当代家庭的缩影，对于美国多元化的家庭结构有一定的研究意义。本论文结合这三个家庭的具体情况以及美国的社会历史背景，研究发现美国家庭结构多元化的根本原因是受到了美国个人主义价值观发展的影响。核心家庭看似是目前各类家庭中的守旧派，但其实是当初工业革命时期个人主义思潮的产物。近代大量涌现的再婚家庭则要归因于个人主义价值观使人们个人自由和权利意识的进一步增强。而同性恋家庭的产生也体现了个人主义价值观在当代的进一步发展，即追求个人性倾向的自由。
关键词  摩登家庭  多元化家庭结构  个人主义  

Modern Family is an American sitcom directed by Steven Levitan and debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Since its broadcast in 2009, Modern Family has won the major awards of Emmy Award for four years successively, which has aroused widespread public concern about the diversified family structure in America. It is noted for its featured  mockumentary, which means the fictional characters frequently talk directly into the camera. The series premiered to positive feedback and was watched by 12.6 million viewers. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in the past three years and the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three times so far as well.