Blog 1 - Parks and Recreation: The political a-political satire

Blog 1 - Parks and Recreation: The political a-political satire

Parks and Rec is one of my favorite comedic TV shows. One of my favorite parts about the show is that it is humorous on a shallow light level similar to the comedy found in the office and 30 rock, yet its characters satire different political perspectives on a deeper, more intellectual level. Here’s how I see several of the main characters representing various perspectives and attitudes in today’s political environment.

Leslie Knope: Democratic and pro-government

Leslie Knope loves her job and her hometown immensely. She believes in the system and that if she works hard enough, she can make a difference. Leslie believes in togetherness and sees the government and her role in it as a way to bring positive change to her community. She sees the government as an institution that can and has the duty to make people’s lives better. A lot of irony throughout Leslie’s career path satirizes the inefficiencies in government and the impact bureaucracy and media have in communities. For example, Leslie’s project in the first season is to fill a dangerous abandoned pit in town and replace it with a park. It takes years, full of backlash from other citizens, businesses, and bureaucratic issues for this seemingly simple, harmless project to be completed. The show satirizes how politics can turn non-political issues, such as a small park, into hostile, complex, and lengthy battles.

Ron Swanson: Libertarianism and anti-government

 Ron identifies as libertarian and his views juxtapose Leslie Knope’s, yet they remain close friends and work together well. In some ways, their friendship serves as a model-for what productive compromise could look like in the political environment. Ron would like the government to be involved in as few things as possible. He is a self-made person who wants the government to get out of his way. His characterization uses exaggeration to emphasize his unique beliefs. Ron’s ideas for new government projects involve things like taking down traffic lights, eliminating the post office, or bringing “all of this” (the government) crumbling to the ground.

April Ludgate: Apathetic and pessimistic

April is dry, sarcastic, and uninterested in everything. She reminds me of an Addams family character. April represents people who are apathetic about politics. She is not necessarily for or against any ideas, policies, or candidates, rather, she is unengaged entirely. This is especially ironic since she works for the government and you would expect her to feel more about her career.

Andy Dwyre: Blissfully Ignorant and optimistic

Andy is playful, optimistic, and hopelessly clueless. He represents the attitude of believing things will turn out alright without wanting to participate or educate themselves on politics. He is hopeful and places blind, faithful trust in his superiors.

Ben Wyatt: Fiscal and Economic

As an accountant, Ben Wyatt focuses on data, numbers, and statistics to make decisions. He represents the impact government action has on the economy in positive and negative ways. As an 18-year-old Ben was elected mayor of his small town and spent the entire city’s budget on an amusement park called Ice Town that ruined the town’s economy. This mistake led Ben to spend the rest of his career in politics trying to help different governments make fiscally responsible decisions.

All in all, the show is interesting in how this show is about politics without being polarizing or overly-political. It shows ways people with completely opposing viewpoints can work together and make effective compromises and develop creative solutions. It makes light of a subject that can be divisive in a way that brings people together.