The Stereotypes of Parks and Recreation Blog 2

Chelsea Banco
Mass Com Theory
Blog 2

The Stereotypes of Parks and Recreation

In most humor related television theories, stereotypes of characters are used to be an advantage of comedic relief for their audiences. I found that the series, The Office and Parks and Recreation are great examples of this stereotype usage. There are many examples and statements that depict the type of stereotypes being described by characters.

Parks and Recreation is similar to the television series, The Office. The setup of scenes throughout episodes is similar in the way of scenes of interviews of characters, discussing people and issues in that particular context. Then there are actual scenes of characters in action, which back up other character’s statements in interviews. In both Parks and Recreation and The Office, the characters have a general stereotype, and role within the show. The first episode, where most of the characters are introduced depict immediate stereotypes of characters.

Season 1, Episode 1

This episode starts of immediately with a scene in the park where main character (Leslie Knope) is interviewing a young girl playing in a sand box and attempting to remove a drunk/ homeless man from a children’s slide. Her attempts of getting the man out of the slide already represents that this television series provides comic relief for audiences.

The first impression Leslie Knope gives off is a serious, hardworking citizen, in the Parks and recreation department of the town of Pawnee. She goes on to explain her position in the (government) and how important her work is to the citizens living in the town. She is well dressed, proper and gives off an impression she made only surround herself with work related things in her life and has little time for anything else.

Leslie Knope in this television series is depicted as essentially the “teacher’s pet” to the town of Pawnee. She even relates herself to very important women figures in politics, Hilary Clinton was a figure mentioned.

The next scene is when the employees in the Parks and Recreation department are in a meeting discussing the Community Outreach Forum, which Leslie is leading with Tom. Ron Swanson is the head position within the department and has a very dry and bland type of personality.

Leslie Knope obviously is taking this outreach forum to the community very seriously. The members of the community who participate in this forum are obviously there because they are angered enough with something in the community where they need certain thing taken care of or resolved.

Ann Perkins is introduced in the community outreach forum. She is complaining about an empty lot in the town of Pawnee that her (unemployed, in a band, boyfriend) was injured from. Ann is complaining because her boyfriend Any Dwyer falling into a hole in the empty lot in Pawnee.

Ann Perkins, is conservative, down to earth, and successful. She is a registered nurse and she ends up becoming deeply involved with handling the pit in the empty lot through the parks and recreation department. Her boyfriend, Andy is now injured, helpless, and needy. He broke both his legs, basically handicapping him. He takes full advantage of Ann and her kindness, seeing as she is a nurse.

Leslie Knope wanted to solve the complained issue of the pit by making a children’s park where the empty lot is positioned.

Leslie then bring this idea up to Mark. Mark’s position is higher than Leslie, in which he can pass policies and so forth by talking to governmental officials. Mark is depicted my Leslie as a “god”. She idolizes him and has a delusionary idea that he is interested in her. However, he has no romantic interest in Leslie, and sees her as a fellow employee and nothing more.

Leslie’s desire to create a park is depicted as unrealistic because there are too many requirements to have this park passed by governmental approving it.

Leslie, Ann and Tom work together throughout the rest of the episode to figure ways to make this park happen.

Ron Swanson thinks that the idea of building a park is a silly, unrealistic goal. He doesn’t even believe in government. He basically is working for the department against his will. He seems annoyed most of the time by Leslie.

Tom Haverford is the stereotypical wannabe “ladiesman” he is always trying to pick up attractive women he comes across. He although, is not the ideal “ladiesman” He tries to hit on Ann and the new intern, April. He of course does so unsuccessfully.

April is a stereotypical bland, young intern, who is rather emo. She has little to no personality that makes her stand out. She seems bored with the position.

“What I hear when I am being yelled at is people caring, loudly at me.” (Leslie Knope) this is what Leslie states when being interviewed about the community forum participants yelling at her about issues within the community. This shows that Leslie always sees the positive aspects in every possible situation. Provides audience with some comical relief.