2. Why the Griswold’s?
It’s about that time of year and I feel like the Griswold’s are
certainly one of the most unique families in all of television.
They keep you rolling on the floor laughing, but they also show
how dysfunctional a family can be. In the end they also show
how a family can overcome stress and become closer in the
process.
3. Clark Griswold
Clark Griswold is the obvious leader and bread winner in the
family. Although some of his ideas aren’t the best ones, the
family never argues against him. The family actually spent the
entire day out in the middle of the woods looking for the
“perfect christmas tree”.
4. Ellen Griswold
Ellen Griswold is the “peace-keeper” of the family. She
knows that some of Clark’s decisions aren’t the best, but she
sticks by him. (EX. tree in the middle of the woods.)
5. Audrey Griswold
Audrey Griswold is the eldest of two
children of Clark and Ellen Griswold. She
always find a way to add in a sharp remark
or something sarcastic.
6. Russ Griswold
Russ Griswold is the youngest in the family.
He never argues with his dad but always likes
to question his dad’s actions. Russ is Clark’s
helper when it comes to putting up the lights
on the house.
7. Marital/Partnership Maintenance
They seem like they know how to maintain their
relationship even when it feels like the sky is falling.
They aren’t the “lovy-dovy” couple but seems like they
know how to get along even if Clark drags Ellen deep
into the woods looking for a christmas tree. Confirming
messages are the cornerstone of relational maintenance
(112).
8. Family Roles and Types
As I explained earlier, Clark is the bread-winner of the family. He has a high-paying job and we
never know what Ellen has for a job. Clark is the dominant leader of the family. Ellen is the
“peace-keeper” of the family. She assures everything will be okay even if they spend all day
long in the woods looking for a tree. Audrey is the “provoker” because she always has a smart
remark to everything and she hates her younger brother. Russ is the quiet and modest son.
Within families, roles are established, grown into, grown through, discussed, negotiated,
worked on, and accepted or rejected (150).
9. Family stress
The holidays became a very stressful time for the Griswold family. First
their huge family decides to visit for Christmas making Clark and Ellen
very tense. Eddie who is Clark’s cousin shows up unexpectedly to the
house with his whole family. (left) It takes Clark almost two whole nights
to finally get his Christmas lights working on the house.(right) Plus a
squirrel finds it’s way into their Christmas tree and everybody freaks
out. (middle) Major unforeseen events alter development patterns
(241).
10. Cohesion
It seems like this family is always fighting and arguing, but when
it comes down to it all they prove a different story. Clark and
Ellen do a great job of keeping the in-laws from killing each
other at the house.
“Throughout the lifespan, the everyday interactions among family members have the potential
to have a tremendous impact on individuals (308).”
11. Conclusion
“Families comprise people who have a shared history and a shared future. They
encompass the entire emotional system of at least three, and frequently now four or
even five, generations held together by blood, legal, and or/historical ties.
Relationships with partners, siblings, and other family members go through transitions
as they move along the life cycle .” -Betty Carter and Monica McGlodrick
The Griswold’s clearly showed how crazy a family can be.
They also showed how much adversity and stress can be
overcome and make the family bond even stronger. At the
end of the movie the family does come together.
12. Works cited
http://www.onepagewonder.com/christmas_vacation.htm
http://theawesome80s.net/?p=465
http://www.clarkgriswoldcollection.com/index.php/clark-w-griswold/
http://hellogiggles.com/everything-i-need-to-know-i-learned-from-christmas-vacation
http://tailgate365.com/2011/12/the-top-10-christmas-films-from-ebenezer-scrooge-to-clark-
griswold/
