"How can I worry about the damned dishes when there are children dying in Vietman."

 Discuss the impact of war upon a young mother.

Consider the irony of a family moving to the suburbs for its perceived safety and potential for living the "good life" -  yet the realities of war and violence no less appalling. Suburbia fails to insulate this family from indignation over a controversial war and sympathy for those who die in its wake.

Look for clues in this image of a harried housewife, yet one who seems intimately involved with the lives of her children.

Other than the 1970's curlers, could you imagine this scene being photographed in 2010?

"My dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard. I think he's crazy."

How is this image a commentary on man's natural inclination to maintain complete control over his environment? How does this comical activity reinforce this dad's self image as "master of his domain?" Could you envision the mother performing the same feat?

How might suburbia be viewed as an unnatural, synthetic, purely man-made environment? (Consider the manicured lawns, carefully planted trees and shrubs, manufactured elements, with little left to chance or nature.)

How is man's relationship to his environment different in the suburbs than in the city?

How is the son's reaction to his father's actions typical in terms of the parent-child relationship? Are things much different today? 

"This is Valerie's world in miniature. She makes it what she wants it to be...without war, racial hate or misunderstanding. Ken and Barbie (dolls) are man and woman rather than Mom and Dad. They enjoy living and having a camper truck is the good life. Today Valerie has the chichen pox and can't go out and play"

Do you think that Valerie's menagerie of interracial dolls reflect Valerie's own views, or those of her mother? What core values is Valerie's mother trying to reinforce? Do you think Valerie is considering these utopian ideals as she is playing with her dolls?

How might the sons of this home reflect these ideals as they play with their toys?

Discuss the irony of preaching tolerance and social change, while probably living in a predominately white suburb insulated from the crime and deprivation of the inner city.

What do you find unsettling about the phrase "She makes it what she wants it to be." Does life ever really work that way? And why is the mother opposed to the man and woman being viewed as "Mom and Dad"?

Why do you think the mom considers having a camper truck as indicative of "the good life"?

How is the home decor unmistakably 1970's?

"I don't like the space walk. It's Saturday morning and I want to see cartoons."

Compare children's Saturday morning experiences today with those of 40 years ago.

Why would this scenario be highly unlikely today, considering the viewing options available? have TV's changed much since then?

How do the magazines on the table represent middle-class subrubia's reading preferences at that time? Do you still subscribe to any of these magazines?

What do you know (remember) about the flight of Apollo 15 (as shown on the TV set)? Considering the magnitude of this technological feat, why aren't the children more interested?

"I put it off till I can't stand it anymore. The rottenest job in the whole house is cleaning the bathroom."

Is cleaning the bathroom still viewed as the least desirable of all household chores? Is this tast still relegated primarily to the woman of the home?

How does the angle captured by Owens serve to emphasize the drudgery of the chore? What about the woman's expression and body language?

What clues does the image communicate that place the setting squarely in the 1970's suburbia? Yet, what about the image makes it timeless?

How is the caption a commentary on the universal human vice of procrastination? Do you put off the worst chores until last, or do you employ the dscipline of delayed gratification; i.e., getting the worst tast over with first?

"I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment."

What does this image say about male vs. female roles in the suburban home of the 1970's? Do these gender distinctions still apply to the division of labor with respect to domestic chores?

Why do you think the man of the house places a particular emphasis on his home as an "investment"? Do you think his wife views her home the same way? What about the children?

Discuss the fact that with every blessing comes a corollary responsibility. What are the "cares of home ownership" as compared with urban apartment living?

Although we may enjoy our homes, why do we often view its upkeep as tedious and "undesirable"?

"The California garage today, our of necessity, requires that you move the cars out and the tools in. To a point I enjoy working in the garage, but I'd rather be doing something else."

How does this garage reflect the tendency toward materialism in suburban culture?

As a suburbanite, this man could probably afford to buy deck chairs rather than make them. So why has he chosen to spend his leisure time involved in this pursuit?

This man, seemingly living the good life in suburbia, ironically indicated that he'd rather be doing something else. What does this say about unfulfilled expectations? Are life's dreams ever as wonderful wonce they are fulfilled?