Media Portrayal: Michael Scott

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Welcome back! For my blog assignment this week, I was assigned the task of analyzing a specific character in a TV series and evaluating how he/she is portrayed in the media. Again, I will be using Toulmin’s model as an outline for my argument.

I chose to analyze Michael Scott’s role as the manager of a paper company on a specific episode of the TV series “The Office.” As a long time follower of “The Office” I was excited to see that my viewing of the show would finally be put to use in the assignment for this week. Although my view is certainly not the only way to interpret Michael Scott’s role, I am inviting you to consider my view with an open mind. I will be qualifying my analysis in the same manner that Bonnie Dow (1996) qualified her arguments in the book “Prime-Time Feminism: television, Media Culture, and the Women’s Movement Since 1970.” In addition, given the nature of the show, it is important to remember that its primary purpose is to serve as comedy and entertainment.

In my opinion, Michael Scott’s role on “The Office,” is an entertaining approach to a manager’s job in running the office. The show provides and funny although not quite plausible insight into daily life on the job. The character of Michael Scott in the Season 5 episode “The Surplus” is forced to decide how to spend the $4000 surplus that the office has acquired by the end of the day. In my opinion, is comical to see how this traditionally minor decision affects Michael’s character.

Throughout the day, various employees of the office lobby for the way that they believe the money should be spent. It is apparent that Michael does not want to displease anyone, but he knows that some employees will be disappointed. Ultimately, he decides to give the money back to corporate and take the 15% bonus that managers receive from acquiring surplus and spend it on a jacket for himself. His logic is such that this way he will disappoint everyone, not just some people. I believe that this depiction of an office manager is a generally inaccurate portrayal; however, the show is a comedy, not a documentary.

Remember, my interpretation of this episode is certainly not the only way to interpret it. I am only offering my views as a my opinion of Michael Scotts role in one episode of “The Office.” That’s all for now, see you soon!

References:
Dow, B. (1996). Prime-time feminism: Television, media culture, and the women’s movement since 1970. Philadelphia University Press.
Eisenberg, Lee, Stupnitsky, Gene &. Feig, Paul (2008) The Office [The Surplus]. Daniels, Greg. Burbank, CA, NBC Studios.

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