Family has always been a topic people talked about from century to century. It is not only the smallest social unit but also the basic unit of human intimacy that satisfies economic cooperation. The harmony and stability of family have a direct impact on those of the society. As globalization develops, Sino-US cross-cultural communication has become more frequent and more important.

Due to differences in geographical environment, cultural traditions, educational methods, living habits, and ethnicity, different family views have been formed in China and America. The United States is one of the most developed countries in the world, and American culture and values influence us in various ways, such as television works and literatures. At the same time, with the implementation of open-up and reform policy, social structures are undergoing great changes in China. Therefore, some traditional family concepts cannot adapt to the current Chinese development and we should remove old-fashioned family conceptions and absorb the advanced values of America so as to form better family values with Chinese characteristics and benefit the cultivation of later generations. The research can undoubtedly help Chinese people and American people to further understand with each other and their family values and to avoid the unnecessary conflict caused by the misunderstanding and mistakes in cross-cultural communication.

In recent years, some scholars in China have studied the differences between Chinese and American family views.

In the perspective of family education, Zeng Zhilan（2006）compared the differences of family education between China and America from angles of the relationship among family members, education concepts and education mode. Bu Dezhen and Sun Aixue（2008）argued that different cultural traditions, ideology, life mode and social customs between China and America were the main reasons attributing for the differences of family education between them. Huang Xiaoyong and Huang Caifang（2009）recommended Chinese parents to update education concepts, make much attachment to Children’s comprehensive development and foster children’s independent competence in order to promote Chinese family education level after comparing Chinese family education with American family education.

In the field of marriage, Si Liang（2006）analyzed the differences of couple relationship between China and America in modern society. The author stated the couple relationship in China and America can be divided into a traditional mode and equal mode. In traditional mode, both of the Chinese and American couple relationship was unequal and the status of Chinese females was much lower. In an equal mode, Chinese and American males and females were equal and the equality became more and more pervasive. Chen Shuo（2011）set out to analyze the differences of marriage ethic between China and America. The author viewed that the couple relationship was the main part of marriage ethic. In China, males and females keep an intimate relation to each other, whereas American males and females prefer to maintain their personal independence. Besides, in China, people will attempt to retain the marriage when marriage problems occur, while the Americans will choose to end the marriage.

In other angles, Li Yuyan and Li Jing compared the differences between modern families in China and the United States in terms of the modern family system, the relationship between modern family members, and the functions of modern families in The Cultural Differences between Chinese and American Family Views. Then they analyzed the mutual influence of family system and social and cultural systems. In Analysis of the differences between Chinese and American family cultures, Wang Mengmeng analyzed the differences between Chinese and American family concepts and analyzed the reasons for the differences. Xie Lijun studied the differences between Chinese and American family views from three aspects: the differences between Chinese and American family views, the analysis of the formation of differences, and the influence of different family views, in The#8194;Differences#8194;of#8194;Family#8194;Values#8194;between#8194;China#8194;and#8194;America.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

This thesis will focus on the study of differences between temporary families in China and the United States in terms of family values from the perspective of film and television works. Family value, including education values, marital values, and relationship values, is an organism to transmit one culture’s core value and it plays an important role in shaping personalities. This article will take Modern Family as an example to explore the emotions, family education, interpersonal relationships, marriage ideas and cultural conflicts involved, thus establishing a basic understanding of American family culture concepts. At the same time, the paper will compare the Chinese and American family culture concepts and find similarities and differences, thus helping Chinese people and American people to further understand with each other and their family values and to avoid the unnecessary conflict caused by the misunderstanding and mistakes in cross-cultural communication.

To be more specific, the thesis will discuss the differences and similarities of family concepts between America and China in four aspects: the attitudes to the family members and their relationships, marital value, education value and attitudes toward the maintenance of parents. Firstly, the dissertation introduces the studying background and status quo and reviews pieces of literature related to this field. Secondly, it compares differences and similarities of family concepts between America and China. Thirdly, it analyses the reasons. Finally, it makes a conclusion and proposes advice.

[1] A Comparative Study of Chinese Family Values and American Family Values Influenced by Mass Media[J]. 海外英语, 2014(10x):285-286.

[2] Brighouse H, Swift A. Family Values: The Ethics of Parent-Child Relationships[J]. 2014.