Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation created by Michael Schur and Dan Goor are award-winning television comedies. However, while Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are both mockumentary styled comedies, they differ in a variety of aspects. To begin, Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine share similar character dynamics but differ in job requirements. Similarly, Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine carries an optimistic outlook, yet utilize different comedic devices. Despite both series having similar settings the editing is strikingly different. In spite of Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s common co-creators, the shows are not the same.
The character dynamics in both these series are similar; however,
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the characters have different job requirements. For example, Captain Holt and Detective Rosa have a similar character dynamic as Ron Swanson and April Ludgate. In Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson is an apathetic older man who does not want to make interpersonal relationships with his co-workers. Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine is similar in the same manner. April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation is a mean spirited, deadpan sarcastic individual who acts as if she does not care for anyone. Rosa from Brooklyn Nine-Nine presents herself in a similar manner. She does not like others knowing about her personally, but is still cared for by her fellow co-workers. Another trait Rosa and April have in common. Ron and April share a mutual hatred of others and a need for personal privacy. They have a father/daughter dynamic. Much like Ron and April, Holt and Rosa share the same values and familial dynamic. However, the characters in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation hold different government jobs. In Parks and Recreation, the main character’s work in the parks department in the fictional town of Pawnee. The characters’ jobs comprise of filing paperwork, having open council meetings with the public, and helping manage the local parks. It can be noted that while the job of dealing with the public during council meetings can be slightly dangerous due to some of the towns more eccentric residents, it is not comparable to the danger of the characters’ jobs in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the main character’s work in the fictional ninety ninth precinct in Brooklyn, New York City. The roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine deal with tasks such as paperwork, arrests, and drug busts. This is a sharp contrast to the job requirements the characters in Parks and Recreation have to deal with. Similarly, both television series are optimistic despite its depressing topics yet still use distinctly different comedic devices to alleviate the mood.
For instance, the characters in Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine have government jobs that would be sad without this outlook. Parks and Recreation leans towards the satirical comedic device. If the series was strictly just about the job of working in the local Parks Department, it would be depressing. The job itself is mundane and without having characters that bring life to it with an optimistic view of the job it would not have lasted for long. A prime example of how Parks and Recreation brings the Parks Department to life is one of the main characters mentioned earlier, April Ludgate. As previously explained April is an apathetic young woman who is mean spirited. has a deadpan expression. and a monotonous voice. Her character is the one that most blatantly uses the satirical comedic device. For example, at one point in the series, she was part of a pageant and when introducing herself, she told her current age and that she liked people, places, and things. In this episode she was poking fun at the fact that woman in pageants tends to make basic and socially acceptable statements, but because of their beauty people will find what they say to be revolutionary. However, it can be noted that Brooklyn Nine-Nine leans towards a light style of gallows humor. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the main characters have a job that …show more content…
can be dangerous. For example, Detective Jake Peralta comes back from going undercover only to find out after settling back in at work that a man named Freddy who by his point of view was one of the worst offenders of his bust had gotten away. He rattles off to his co-workers about Freddy’s rap sheet as a criminal (which includes extortion and murder) in a manner that makes his crimes come off not as serious as they are. Jake’s nonchalant attitude towards serious crimes and April’s criticism towards life through purposeful irony incorporate a strong contrast between the two series. Despite both series having similar settings, the editing style is strikingly different.
In every episode the characters find themselves in their offices. Parks and Recreation’s editing is abrupt and awkward. Typically, as scenes play out in this series, the camera awkwardly focuses on the character in the scene for an uncomfortable amount of time. The character in question will uneasily stare or smile back at the camera and either wait or turn back to the person he or she was talking with until the next cut scene occurs. For example, during one episode, Leslie shows up drunk at her date’s house the day before their date and makes a fool of herself. She says a couple of awkward and silly comments and then looks at the camera, makes a comment validating her own statement, then, spends a few more moments grinning at the camera, and then back to her date. The scene is then abruptly cut to the next. Whereas, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s editing is fast and jumpy. Each episode begins with immediately introducing the main plot of the episode. Normally, it involves whoever enters for whatever reason. For instance, in the third Halloween episode, two costumed transgressors in cuffs are brought through the office to be put in a holding cell. Then, the next part of the scene jumps to where a few of the main characters discuss why the costumed people have been arrested. As the episode continues, the characters’ dialogue and actions are performed with haste. Every episode does not allow the
viewer to fully comprehend what is going on until the last couple of moments, where it transitions into a slightly less accelerated pace to explain what has been happening. These different editing styles keep the story line entertaining. To conclude, despite their similarities Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine contradict one another in a variety of ways. Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine differ. The characters in Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine occupy different jobs, and the level of danger in their job are different. Furthermore, their comedic devices are also very different from one another. Finally, their editing is almost nothing alike. Whenever a popular content creator or creators in this case move onto a new piece of content, it is common for people to see that new content and compare it to the one they have seen before. This process leads to disgruntled fans, whether the content creators succeeded in creating a new piece that is unlike their past work or not. And because old ideas and methods are recycled in every piece of work, it is easy for someone who is not very analytical when viewing television to assume after a few episodes that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the same show with different actors and jobs. However, this is not the case.
Extract three is from an episode of the Nickelodeon TV show 'Drake and Josh', this particular TV show is aimed at male and female young people from age 8 to 13. It was first aired in 2004 and it only has male speakers within the extract. During this extract, Josh is working his usual job at the movie theatre, which his brother Jake is sitting in the foyer with his friend. A woman walk in that takes both of the brothers' interest because of her looks. For the most part, this extract outlines a stereotypical mind set of a teenage boy: obsessed with looks and very self-absorbed. Therefore, this definitely adheres to the idea of masculinity being based on dominance, self-assuredness, as well as autonomy. Deborah Tannen’s theory of difference states that women use cooperative overlapping, yet men just use adjacency pairs. Drake and Josh uncooperatively overlap throughout the extract, this displays that they are rather argumentative, so do not fully comply with Deborah Tannen’s theory.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007) women’s labor force participation raised from 33.9% in 1950 to 57.5% in 1990. The TV shows Married with Children and Roseanne are similar and different in the way they portray that statistic through their gender roles. Married with Children shows the more traditional type of gender roles, while Roseanne shows gender roles that were not as common in past decades. Both shows exemplify gender roles that were common and rare compared to decades prior. The TV shows, Married with Children and Roseanne are similar and different because of the gender roles each television show displays.
Is there really difference between sitcoms today and sitcoms made back in the day? You would think there would be major differences between the two, when in fact, they are actually quite similar, with only a few minor differences. Although Modern Family and Full House take place in two completely different time periods, the characters have many similar characteristics, the plot lines are very similar and the setting is near the same as well. With all these things alike, of course, there are a few differences as well.
Family comedies have evolved throughout the past century. What was once revered as classic has completely changed forms and turned into the comedic experience we witness today. Family sitcoms in particular have been converted to show a broader picture of how family’s interact in today’s world. This greatly appeals to today’s audiences and is what people want to see. Modern family specifically has tapped into what nontraditional families are all about and even with being so alternative has resonated with every type of family, making it one of the most popular shows on TV at the present moment. The pilot episode of Modern Family uses hyper-irony, allusions and uses references to technology to enforce comedic impact.
Younger generations and the more vulnerable in society can be influenced in avoiding peer pressure, but for the individuals filled with wisdom, the shows can reflect based on American modern society. Everybody Loves Raymond and Full House are great shows who faces similar life obstacles a typical person living in the US has today. As a result, most modern family comedy sit-coms are reflecting our society’s generations and the more vulnerable. Based on the success of early family sit coms, American’s adapted to a fast pace lifestyle with the help of modern
...dness but comedy was used as an emotion. When Michael was going to make a "citizens arrest" at the banks, there was comedy there, sort of like sarcasm which is known to sway a person's thoughts if it is funnier in the sense. The whole movie really shows a lot of emotions and tries to persuade our thoughts on the government with it.
The Office emphasizes how hegemonic concepts about gender, race, homophobia, and sexuality exist in society and culture today and it highlights the oppression that individuals place on those particular views. I find that Michael’s character symbolizes a physical representation of oppressive topics in our society. His character, as aforementioned, is oblivious to the fact that he represents such views, which one could say shows how our society has a tendency to operate. The audience definitely feels outraged due to many comments he makes, but personally, I think he is just putting a voice to the several stereotypes that exist in culture. As I mentioned above, many people do not like or are not entert...
According to Everything’s an Argument by Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz, “Humor has always played an important role in argument…” (38). Humor itself is something that activates amusement or laughter. Moreover, in popular culture satire is a tool that is used to point out things in our society. Satire opens the minds of people to philosophies they might completely deny, using humor. There are many elements of satire that identify flaws within our society. A couple of satire elements that will be discussed are irony and exaggeration. In addition, a parody is used in popular culture as a way to mock or mimic situation or person.
Comedy has existed with the human spirit as far back as humans began writing the first plays and stories. Comedy and laughing at other peoples’ situations has always been a very good way to tell an entertaining story. Yet, at the same time, it can be an effective way to share lessons about life and the human condition. The “comic spirit” takes many forms throughout human civilization and several classic examples can be seen in Roman and Greek comedies. Greek comedies often create humor from the conflicts created by stereotypes and imbalances. For example, the play Lisistrata has a main character who is a woman who tries to stop the Peloponnesian War by convincing all the women of Athens to stop having sex with their husbands. Taking place during a period when women did not have power in society (compared to men), this Greek comedy used the imbalances of women to create a funny story while at the same time as making a statement against war. A more modern comedy that uses imbalances and stereotypes to create humor is the movie “Bringing Down the House” starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. The humor in this movie is created by the use of multiple stereotypes, imbalances and ultimate role reversals of a white, wealthy male and a black, ex-convict female who first meet each other in an Internet chat room. There are also contrasts between young and old people. Although the imbalances and stereotypes throughout the movie create funny situations, it may have a negative side effect because it takes advantage of racial, gender and age stereotypes, which may be insulting or hurtful to some people, just to get a laugh.
Satire is used in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to show the deficiencies in morals and ethics of the characters that Austen disapproves of. Satire is used to "attack" characters and to bring about change. The different characters types she satirizes are "suck-ups," hierarchical, and/or ignorant.
It is thought that television producers are just trying to play it safe by sticking to what they know and what they are used to doing. It has been hard for networks to duplicate shows that have satisfied the viewers, such as "The Cosby's", "The Jefferson's", and "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," Creating this kind of "crossover" audience is essential in a show's success(Hall 12).
...ience. Finally, The Office reflects the theater of the absurd through the audacious actions of Michael Scott, the ridiculous seriousness Dwight takes his job with, and the extreme uselessness of workers in an industry that sells something as boring as paper. With its surface reeking of pedestrianism, The Office forces viewers to wonder whether if they, like the characters they see on screen, have resigned themselves to a lost existence.
This genre of satire has often been used with subversive purpose where political speech is forbidden by a regime. Megan Hill explains that political satire does not carry a political agenda or seeks to influence the political process, but its unplanned use and its often destructive feature can lead to protest or dissent against the political process. Besides that, Dustin Griffin argues that satire attempts to make a balance between the fictional and the real so as to amuse and educate in more or less equal measure. He
Detweiller, Eric. ““I was Just Doing a Little Joke There”: Irony and the Paradoxes of the Sitcom The Office” Journal of Popular Culture 45.4 (2012): 727-748. Web. 15 January. 2014.