Journal Analysis

Emma Tinker discusses the hit T.V. series “The Office”. This article is trying to determine why audiences find the show funny. The show is based on a British working environment. The show has the impression of a reality television show focusing on the workers. The show focuses on the workers that have uncertainty with their social and work status. Emma goes on to discuss the issue of the shows comedic ability or if the attitude of the show is changing the view on the human form.
The Office is considered a hybrid, spinoff that closely resembles a documentary. The show is a drama based television show that gives an impression of a reality television show. The show is defined by the script and action within an office environment. The camera follows the actors throughout the day at the office, but never follows them into their home lives. The actors are aware of the cameramen and know they are being filmed. The main actor, who is considered the supervisor of the show, will often try to impress and show off for the camera (Tinker, 2009).
There are two effects of the self-awareness of the actors being aware of the filming. First, it produces a more realistic feel to the show and second it gives the awareness of the artificialness of the show (Tinker, 2009). There is a close relationship between tabloids and reality television because audiences do not want to watch reality type shows, but want to watch television shows that are a type of narrative. People enjoy watching imitations of fiction from the basis of modern lives.
The models of behavior in the workplace will give an uncertainty about the limited public and private status of the workers. There have been sociological studies performed to determine how the individual workers perceive themselves in the work environment. The study gave the conclusion of the complexity of the workers within the environment. Work and social structure organization have been erased, while lifestyle is now reflexive choices based on options and signifiers (Tinker, 2009). It has been stated that there is a fine line being drawn between the boundaries of work and non-work. The choices of personal and professional are now harder to distinguish.
The boundaries of work and non-work are becoming less apparent, so is the quest to find personal meaning (Tinker, 2009). Individual people perception of themselves becomes more focused on the body, versus the mind. The characters in the show have difficulty with their self-identity. The struggles are becoming meaningful because the characters are trying to attain fulfillment as an individual. Critics point out the internalized corporate power by actively constructing systems of control.
The Office does not make any mentions of the social or political events of the outside world, but the members are aware of the events by popular culture. The Office is deeply embedded into world of their own, creating a community that is solely of the people of the office. The people within this community do not understand the basic status for themselves or their coworkers.
The type of documentary has a different way of expressing the post humanism and brings the question of what will constitute as a human existence or a human body. Most people define humanism with empathy, humane treatment of others, and basically everyone is the same. The character who is portrayed as the supervisor stated in an episode “my professionalism is only as important as my humanism” (Tinker, 2009). The supervisor was trying to give himself the image of a people’s person. Post humanism is not concerned with popular Comic Relief-style humanitarian as it is will obtaining the distinction between human and non-human.
The characters in The Office are in constant battle for their social status within the community. The characters look for relative differences in others and as well themselves. The office is filled with a variety of nonhuman or questionable bodies. The Office has some toys that have no operating functions such as a broken singing bass fish, or a talking cookie car. The computers and telephones are considered extensions of the person only when that person is telling a story of themselves that is embarrassing.
The show is a series of people in an office environment where the boss seems to not fully understand the functions or needs of the employees. The boss’s linguistic breakdown is severely fragmented and is a reflection of serious emotional conflict and social dysfunction. He is trying too hard to be liked by his workers and trying to fulfill the loneliness he feels. The viewer’s perception of this show will either obtain laughter from incompetent boss, or will not see the humor behind the man.

TINKER, E. (2009, August). Talking Cookie Jars and Tongue-Tied Bodies: Posthumanism and The Office. Journal of Popular Culture, 42(4), 756-772. Retrieved August 25, 2009, doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2009.00706.x