Could you form the tune out of that title?
That's right, friends: The Office.
This I think will actually be an interesting topic. Today in class, we briefly touched on how a previous paper compared the joker and Iago and how they functioned in their societies-- personifying modern day fears.
I think it may be interesting to do the same thing with another set of characters and values. I brought up how someone mentioned to me at work how a lot of extreme personalities in Shakespeare's plays could be seen in the television show, The Office.
Particularly, one Dwight K. Schrute: beet farmer, bear enthusiast, battle star Galactica fan. After reading the play for my 291 class last week, I realized that this man just may be Malvolio of Twelfth Night personified.
Like Malvolio, Dwight inserts himself authoritatively where one should not-- always seeking power. (ex: Assist Regional Manager vs. Assistant TO the regional manager). Likewise, Malvolio breaks up the ale and cake scene in the play, managing where it really is Olivia's place to do so.
Malvolio functions a man representing the under dog class of the time: I believe it was the puritans. Dwight similarly represents a socially awkward under dog with alternative interests.
Another quality of overlap for the two is that everyone picks on these characters and no one seems to like them. One in particular picks on both. Jim Halpert for Dwight... and Sir Toby for Malvolio. Both have a female companion: Pam for Jim and Maria for Sir Toby.
Is this worth pursuing???
Should I analyze the relationship between Jim/Dwight vs. Sir Toby/Malvolio?? Or see how Dwight/Malvolio functions in creating social/class breakthrough and struggle? This could be really fun if I can pull it off.
TTFN,
Kara V.
Kara, I agree that it would be really interesting. I think you'd have to look into the implications of that comparison: why does it matter that Dwight today and Malvolio then are similar? But I think it sounds like it'd be really fun to read.
ReplyDeleteCool! Yeah I agree. Why does this relationship matter?
DeleteClass structure has changed over time: then it was defined by classes and positions,bloodlines and power.
In the office and in modern every day scenarios, the power rests with who is more likable, popular, etc.
Will the underdog always get the short end of the stick? Will the odd man out ever succeed?
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ReplyDeleteanother thing that might be interesting is comparing the speech of the two characters-- both are very forthright in speech and often say things they shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI think it could be interesting, but you always have to answer the "so what?" question. How is this meaningful? Why does this matter? What does comparing the two do to the characters? Anyway, I think it could be really interesting.
ReplyDelete