Transcript
Page 1: Parks and Recreation

PARKS A

ND RECREAT

ION

By Sarah, Ella, Sarah and George

Page 2: Parks and Recreation

GENRE DEBATES

“Questions of definition”: text based

“Questions of history”: context based

“Questions of interpretation”: text & context

Page 3: Parks and Recreation

MITTELL’S GENRE

Genres as “cultural categories” (Mittell 2001)

Not just a textual component

Operate within industry, audience and cultural practices

Page 4: Parks and Recreation

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

Page 5: Parks and Recreation

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/

Page 6: Parks and Recreation

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

Page 7: Parks and Recreation

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

Page 8: Parks and Recreation

SEQUENCE

- Ron and emotional connection to Government

- Only direct dialogue used

- Placement of characters

- Quick shots

- Fast zooms

- Static movement

- Body language/ facial expression

Page 9: Parks and Recreation

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

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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.

Page 11: Parks and Recreation

THANK YOU

VOTE 1 LESLIE KNOPE!!


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