The Office: A postmodern take on documentaries

 For this week I watched a video on how The Office is an example of postmodernism popular culture. The video discusses how the show's style of a mockumentary as well as the current pop culture references within the show are what make it a postmodern example. The mockumentary style is a style that is hyper aware of the documentary style of filming, as the video explains with the classic cuts to a solo headshot interview and the one camera following everybody around to capture what the characters are doing as if it were a documentary despite it being a scripted show. She explains that what makes the mockumentary postmodern is that it is a “rearticulation of a documentary. It copies the style of a documentary… chronicling a real story, the mockumentary takes these ideas and adds ironic and humorous effects.” She then goes on to add that in show references to current popular culture things like Battlestar Galactica and another NBC show airing on the network at the same time The Apprentice are more ways in which the show is hyper aware of itself and uses these current pop culture references for humorous effect.

From this video I learned how a mockumentary setup is an example of a postmodern example and what about it makes it an example. How taking the documentary style of shooting a show and adding that ironic and humorous twist is what makes it postmodern. It’s also really cool to see how the mockumentary style became such a popular style of show during the mid 2000’s with The Office and Modern Family, two of the most popular shows were cut in the same style, one being in an office setting and the other the other being in a family home setting. It goes to show just how popular of a format that it is that two of the most popular television shows running at the same time are shot the same way, just with different personal settings. 

Within the show, as I kind of touched on earlier, they are hyper aware of their pop culture status and make intertextual references throughout the show with other references to pop culture items. For example one episode is about Michael being the Willy Wonka of paper and gives away three “golden tickets” to give away free paper for a year to the lucky recipients. Of course with the shows ironic and humorous twist on things, it all goes horribly wrong and we as the audience get a laugh out of the that, already knowing the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is what makes The Office an example of postmodern popular culture.

The Office is postmodern, from tv to online

I watched the video Postmodernism and The Office which talks about how the office is a good example of postmodernism by being a mockumentary, making popular culture references and having its online presence authentic as if it were a real entity.

First off the format of the office mocks that of a documentary, from the shaky one camera shots that follow the character around, to the close up interviews, the way the office is shot reflects the style of many documentaries. Other such things that do this would be Reno 911 or Borat, which both satire their subjects, providing a social commentary along with comedy.

The office makes many popular culture references throughout the show, from the characters referencing their knowledge on Battlestar Galactica or The Lord of the Rings, or even mentioning that they caught the last episode of the Apprentice, the characters try to prove that they are real people by being relatable and like most people, they discuss tv, movies and other pop culture things.

And lastly the Office website. This internet masterpiece includes blog sites for each of the characters along with photos and episode guides. There even is a mock website for the Dunder Miflin paper company that was updated along with the progression of the show. This site is a delight to viewers who wish to experience the office in other forms of media as well.

The Office is very postmodern in that it is a work of fiction that pulls from real life to give itself an authentic feel. With its website and the documentary format it attempts to establish itself as a pseudo real identity never giving up its guise of authenticity. This proves for a very entertaining and unique take upon life in the office and makes a great postmodern show. Quite a few other shows or films also attempt to create something that seems real to make a point, for example District 9 is an allegory about racism and apartheid but uses Aliens as the persecuted race to make its point. It is also another mockumentray but it comes with an important message.