Download - Parks and Recreation
PARKS A
ND RECREAT
ION
By Sarah, Ella, Sarah and George
GENRE DEBATES
“Questions of definition”: text based
“Questions of history”: context based
“Questions of interpretation”: text & context
MITTELL’S GENRE
Genres as “cultural categories” (Mittell 2001)
Not just a textual component
Operate within industry, audience and cultural practices
PARKS AND RECREATION IN CONTEXT
• NBC Network, 9th of April 2009
• Greg Daniels, Michael Schur and Howard Klein all had worked on The Office
• Success of The Office = Audience for comedy/mockumentary
• Replaced Kath and Kim (another comedy/mockumentary) mid-series
• Criticism from industry
MOCUMENTARY IN PAWNEE, INDIANA
• Mid-level local government involving ‘real people’
• Comedic primer in American politics
• ‘T.V’s most progressive show’?
• Political comedy in mockumentary format
• Ensemble cast
http://www.salon.com/2013/04/2 is_parks_and_recreation_secretly_socialist_partner/
NICHE MARKETS AND SERIALITY
• Story arc follows Lelsie and Plot 48
• Sequential basis requiring dedication from viewers
• Often results in watching a whole series’ at a time
AUDIENCES AND FAN CULTURE
• Not mainstream or for the ‘wider audience’
• Dedicated blogs, memes and gifs to characters
• Mixture of high/ lowbrow culture
• Balance of satire without cynicism
SEQUENCE
- Ron and emotional connection to Government
- Only direct dialogue used
- Placement of characters
- Quick shots
- Fast zooms
- Static movement
- Body language/ facial expression
PARKS: THE PERFECT FOIL FOR REALITY FAKERY
- The gist of the humour is and has been in the character’s presence
- The anti-sitcom
- Laugh track: impediment to true comedy?
- Real world dialogue and manner of speaking
- Talking lead sequences
- Providing Least Objectional Programming (LOB)
- Shot faster to look faster
- Rougher, less polished visual style
REFERENCES
• Mittell J 2001, 'A cultural approach to television genre theory', Cinema Journal, vol. 40, no. 3
• Rosoe J and Hights C, 2001, ‘Faking it: Mock-Documentary and the Subversion of Factuality’, Manchester University Press
• Gannon M, ‘Parks and Recreation: “T.V’s most progressive show”’, SALON http://www.salon.com/2013/04/25/is_parks_and_recreation_secretly_socialist_partner/
• O'Neil T, 2008, "TRANSCRIPT: The Envelope chat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• Greenblatt B, 2005, Chief of Programming at NBC, Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.
• Hawkins G, 2005, on ‘Taste’ in New Keywords.
THANK YOU
VOTE 1 LESLIE KNOPE!!