An Envied Middle Class
What does it mean to be middle class in America today? Although there is still no set academic or literary definition, the U.S Department of Commerce Economic and Statistics Administration found the most common characteristic of self proclaimed middle class Americans to be the focus they place on aspirations such as: “economic stability, a better life for one’s children, and a current lifestyle that allows for a few creature comforts” (DOC 13). Even though so many U.S. citizens consider themselves “working class” or middle class, a larger emphasis of media influences including: TV series, social networking sites, tabloids, etc. depict a more intriguing life for people who fall in higher social realms. One television …show more content…
The sitcom is set in Scranton Pennsylvania in one branch of a paper company called “Dunder Mifflin”. It chronicles the lives of all the employees including: the regional manager, the sales staff, the warehouse workers, the accountants, and the receptionist. I became so invested due to the average and dull life each character appears to live, however, they still seem content and fulfilled within their ordinary existences. The Office, due to its lack of glamour, use of comedic relief, and the emphasis on each individual character creates a TV show in which the middle class American with their traditional aspirations in the U.S workplace is someone to be envied. Within contemporary cultural analysis it’s clear that there are many definitions of what social class truly means. To better understand someone’s envy of the middle …show more content…
It was easy for me to become invested in this show not only because of the entertainment and laughter that the show holds, but because these characters are still able to make the most of their lives within the dull office setting. It’s not often you come across a reality television series where they depict the lives of the working class, rather reality shows that deal with upper class Americans who’s lives are to be envied. Most Americans would find working in an office for a paper company to be an uninteresting occupation but these characters, through humor and social bonding, find a way to entertain their audience. I found it most intriguing that the main character, Michael Scott, portrays himself as not only a comedic regional manager, but as an aspiring reality TV host throughout the episodes. This show is so dissimilar to other TV shows because it’s reality television portraying other reality television. “Michael’s use of reality TV to inspire and motivate his staff contributes to what several reviewers have portrayed as the fundamental optimism of the American version of The Office” (Kocela 162) I find it fascinating that Michael continues to find ways to motivate the staff because without
What does it mean to be middle class in America today? Although there is still no set academic or literary definition, the U.S Department of Commerce Economic and Statistics Administration found the most common characteristic of self proclaimed middle class Americans to be the focus they place on aspirations such as: “economic stability, a better life for one’s children, and a current lifestyle that allows for a few creature comforts” (DOC 13). Even though so many U.S. citizens consider themselves “working class” or middle class, a larger emphasis of media influences including: TV series, social networking sites, tabloids, etc. depict a more intriguing life for people who fall in higher social realms. One television …show more content…
The sitcom is set in Scranton Pennsylvania in one branch of a paper company called “Dunder Mifflin”. It chronicles the lives of all the employees including: the regional manager, the sales staff, the warehouse workers, the accountants, and the receptionist. I became so invested due to the average and dull life each character appears to live, however, they still seem content and fulfilled within their ordinary existences. The Office, due to its lack of glamour, use of comedic relief, and the emphasis on each individual character creates a TV show in which the middle class American with their traditional aspirations in the U.S workplace is someone to be envied. Within contemporary cultural analysis it’s clear that there are many definitions of what social class truly means. To better understand someone’s envy of the middle …show more content…
It was easy for me to become invested in this show not only because of the entertainment and laughter that the show holds, but because these characters are still able to make the most of their lives within the dull office setting. It’s not often you come across a reality television series where they depict the lives of the working class, rather reality shows that deal with upper class Americans who’s lives are to be envied. Most Americans would find working in an office for a paper company to be an uninteresting occupation but these characters, through humor and social bonding, find a way to entertain their audience. I found it most intriguing that the main character, Michael Scott, portrays himself as not only a comedic regional manager, but as an aspiring reality TV host throughout the episodes. This show is so dissimilar to other TV shows because it’s reality television portraying other reality television. “Michael’s use of reality TV to inspire and motivate his staff contributes to what several reviewers have portrayed as the fundamental optimism of the American version of The Office” (Kocela 162) I find it fascinating that Michael continues to find ways to motivate the staff because without