Theoretical and methodological background to the analysis of the visual image of the family in animated films

The study presents the advantages of an interactionist approach when analyzing the visual image of the family in animated films. The research describes the procedure and content of such an analysis to obtain institutional information. The visual image of the family may be regarded as a manifestation of a unique way to solve the family problem. A study of this image in a cartoon can inherit the methodology of the meaningful interpretation of family photographs. The research results allow one to fix a certain state of the family institution. The basic approach in this regard is to interpret the visual image and its components, reveal systemic family relationships, define fundamental family values, determine the stages of family development and make its forecasts, construct the current interactionist family scenario, and identify the signs of a healthy or dysfunctional family. The analyzed elements of interaction include the appearance of family members (in particular, similarities and differences), their physical postures, facial expressions, glances.