Alexandra Pusateri April 25, 2012 Extra Credit #2 Theories MW 12:40

For my paper, I will be associating characters from NBCs The Office with theories of international relations that we have learned in class. The show centers on the Scranton, PA, office of Dunder Mifflin, a paper company. The show has run for eight seasons, and for this paper, I will be focusing on the show as a whole, rather than a particular season. I will start with Dwight Schrute, who can easily be related to classical realism. Schrute is a self-serving paper salesman who is constantly trying to get ahead of his coworkers (actors). Classical realists believe in the flawed nature of human beings, and Schrute is an absolute believer in this. He believes in his efficiency only through the flaws of his coworkers, particularly Jim Halpert. At one point during the show, Schrute tries to convince the other coworkers to rally against the newly-promoted Halpert, after the latter tried to figure out a way to give everyone a raise. Schrute only did this to promote a breakdown of community so he would be next in line for the promotion. He also has a tendency to believe in self-help, only interfering with the overall status quo if it helps, in his mind, further his own interests.

Stanley Hudson is a salesman at Dunder Mifflin, and I associate him with defensive structural realism. Even though Michael Scott is the manager of the branch, Hudson continually disregards his authority (anarchy) and his main concern is staying employed (security). He is interested in rising through the company, but only as a way to ensure his stability. In this way, Hudson is interested in power, but only as a means to security. The idea of expansion would out-weigh the benefits, according to Hudson; he would rather stay involved quietly than try to overtake a coworker unless absolutely necessary. Most of his defensive structural realist attributes can be found in season threes episode of Beach Games, where Hudson is given a chance to compete against the other workers for a chance to be branch manager. I associate saleswoman Phyllis Vance with offensive structural realism. She was quiet and obedient in the early seasons, but it seems she was only leading up to exposing her true personality in season four. Vance is a good saleswoman, but she often attacks her fellow coworkers in the office with passive aggression. During her wedding to Bob Vance (of Vance Refrigeration), the receptionist of the office, Pam Beesly, felt as though she were invited to her own wedding that was canceled, after Vance stole all of her ideas, even down to the invitations. Vance seems to believe that she can still come out on top, regardless of everyone in the office underestimating her.

Erin Hannon, the new receptionist at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, can easily be seen with liberalism. Hannon believes everyone in the office has good intentions. She often doesnt understanding personal jabs against her or her personality and she has an overall positive view on human nature. Hannon believes that in order to continue social progress and improve the world around them, humans must show compassion towards one another, which she tries to do in her everyday life. She believes everyone knows what theyre doing (an assumption of rational actors) and have good reasons for doing it, regardless of what it may be. This is shown in Hannons assistance with Michael Scotts antics, often providing a voice that encouraged Scott. Andy Bernard, who was originally working at the Stamford branch, takes over for branch manager Michael Scott after the latter leaves the company in season seven. His implementation of institutions and regimes, along with increased communication to the workers of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, make Bernard the perfect candidate to represent neoliberalism. Bernard is, and always has been, optimistic about his coworkers in the office, often joking around at the expense of his work as a lackluster salesman. Bernard wholly believes in functionalism, often having the workers cooperate with one another. That eventually leads to a spill into other areas, a direct link to neoliberalism. He also believes everyone in the office is interdependent upon each other.

Oscar Martinez is a good representation of Marxism, which is appropriate since he is one of the better accountants at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. He is consistently concerned with economic issues, which is especially shown on season sixs Murder. Oscar is one of the very few who decide not to play a murder mystery game, keeping an eye on Dunder Mifflins status instead as bankruptcy rumors swirl around the office. Even though he has a direct link to the corporate office, Martinez often comments on their incompetence and bourgeoisie attitude: one example can be seen during Company Picnic, in season five, it is revealed during some festivities thrown on by the company that it has been decided to close the Buffalo branch. Oscar comments, Corporate deserves to get its ass kicked, as it is Scranton up against Corporate in the company volleyball game. Another example is during Shareholder Meeting in season six, where Oscar is visibly upset that Corporate would send a limo for Michael Scott to take him to the meeting since Dunder Mifflin is in financial turmoil. Ryan Howard, especially in later seasons, best represents constructivism. Consistently within Dunder Mifflin, he is the one to question the ideals of the company, as well as bringing in and focusing on new ideas. Early on, he is merely a temporary employee, but ends up working his way up to Vice President of Sales. Howard shows an obvious disdain for his workers and overall occupation, and he is soon after arrested for committing fraud. Throughout the show, however, he is always changing and adapting his personality, depending on what task hes working on that week (no ultimate truth). During his stint as Vice President, he was spending lavish amounts of money on clothes and haircuts, only to become addicted to drugs and partying. When he returns to the company as a temp again, we

see Howard as a go-getter, determined to make his way back to the top. He eventually evolves into a type of hipster character, proving that with Howard, nothing is static and everything changes. It is easy to see that even this worker believes that the world shapes who you are and what you want. Although no employee embodies the general trends of feminism exactly, the best option to represent feminism would be Jan Levenson. She was the Vice President of Sales before Ryan Howard replaced her. Levenson was concerned with the mentality of the women in the office at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, after holding a women in the workplace seminar in season two. Levenson is disappointed in her female workers aspirations to be wives and mothers, and even mentions to the camera, One of the goals of these women seminars is to feel out if [there are any] women who could be a valuable addition to our corporate life. She is driven and stands as a dominate figure in the company, especially compared to the incapable Michael Scott. Levenson seems to understand her status as a minority within the corporate world and urges for other women to be more involved in their respective careers. She continues to do away with stereotypes of gender roles even in her personal life, as she decides to start her own company, raise a child on her own, and move on successfully from Dunder Mifflin to a pharmaceutical company. Michael Scott was the Regional Manager and the head of Dunder Mifflin Scranton before his resignation in season seven. Though Scott seems incompetent during his run at the company, he has shown countless times his heart is in the right place and his intentions are generally good. He

tends to remove himself as an authority figure, often opting to try and be close friends with everyone in the office. Throughout the show, it is apparent that Scott recognizes multiple perspectives and traditions within the world, although he may not be the best at comprehending the traditions themselves. This is shown clearly in Diwali of season three, as well as Diversity Day in season one. Scott tries to promote equality throughout the office, often trying to prevent othering of the minorities in the office. While he may or may not be successful in his endeavor, he certainly tries. The final theory to be represented is poststructuralism, which I associate with the sarcastic Jim Halpert. While Halpert is one of the best sales representatives at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, throughout the early seasons he continually believes his status at the company is a temporary one. He consistently breaks the flow of the office by criticizing Michael Scotts antics, pranking Dwight Schrute constantly in early seasons, and antagonizing his coworkers to continue ridiculous behavior (deconstruction). His nonchalant and almost condescending attitude towards the only authority figure in the room opens the door for his coworkers to also question Scotts authority, as well as his competence (problematizing). Despite his seemingly fleeting dedication to his job in early seasons, Halpert tends to be wellliked within the branch and moves up to manage the Scranton branch along with Scott in season six. However, during his short stint as co-manager, Halpert cannot seem to assert his authority over the workers and steps down after Sabre absorbs Dunder Mifflin. He often takes it upon himself to be the only voice of reason in the office while his coworkers follow Scotts baffling lead, challenging Scott on major issues that affect the entire office as shown in season twos Health Care.