Parks And Recreation Analysis

NBC’s Parks and Recreation launches audiences into a world where a low-status governmental department struggles to overcome underhanded bureaucracy and red tape. The Parks & Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana consists of an eclectic selection of employees, ranging from the ignorant yet good-spirited Andy Dwyer to the sassy, but sage, Donna Meagle. Yet the zeitgeist of the department is found within the unique personalities of Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, and April Ludgate. These three characters, although having wildly varying interests and views, share certain attributes characteristic of the Enlightenment and Romantic eras. The beliefs of the Enlightenment thinker and the Romantic figure are clearly conveyed by the actions and dialogue
The show is rather Realistic when looking at its satiric and comical attitude, but it does exaggerate certain circumstances. Head of the Parks Department, Ron Swanson is typified by his desire for free will, evaluation through reason, and resentment towards large governments, making him a modern-day Enlightenment libertarian. His stubbornness often finds him in conflicts with Leslie, as seen in the “Sweetums” episode. When Leslie protests the selling of unhealthy “Nutriyum” bars and meddles with Ron’s drinking patterns, he thinks she is stifling his personal freedoms. He strongly believes that “the... point of [America] is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds, and die of a heart attack at 43, you can.” Ron often associates freedom with America, especially when he proclaims, “History began on July 4, 1776. Everything that happened before that was a mistake” (“London, Part 1”), emphasizing his progressiveness as an Enlightenment thinker. Freedom is very important to Ron, as he often justifies his
Because the series revolves around the problems of the government, it is not very relatable for most members of the middle-class; yet the interactions that are found within the common workplace are displayed when the Parks Department employees discuss their work, co-workers, and personal lives. The fact that the show even delves into the characters’ personal matters shows that a connection is trying to be established between the viewers and the characters. Breakups, family, and new friendships are things that most people experience and can easily relate to. Knowing this, it can be said that the writers of the show are very aware of their audience and how they will react to the show’s plot, another element of Realism. Parks and Recreation inserts many current issues such as gay marriage, gotcha journalism, political affair scandals, sex education, obesity, and the role of women in politics into controversial circumstances. These topics are included in the show to spark conversation and interest on the subject. These issues, along with other events in the show, are conveyed in a highly comical manner. Councilman Dexhart’s sex scandal is completely shocking, as “when [the babysitter] was in the delivery room, [he] had sex with not one, but four nurses in a supply office…as well as a woman whose husband was getting a liver transplant” (“Christmas Scandal”). Although this is a satiric play on political scandals,