Hit comedy show, The Office, has received a plethora of positive reception for its impressive and interesting mix of comedy, drama, and unique personal feel. Most who have seen the show agree on its excellent use of satirical techniques, specifically those of one of the central characters, office manager Michael Scott. Michael is a middle aged manager of a small-tier paper company, and as far as his personal character, a rather ignorant(though well intentioned) individual.
Throughout the show's 9 season run, Michael promotes a variety of stereotypes, including those of: homosexuality, race, gender, and age. Michael's insensitivity and blunt ignorance rarely creates an uncomfortable feel to the parts of the show where he displays them, and overall, his use of stereotypes, in my opinion, does not cross the line between comedic and offensive.
What struck me most about the scenes in which Michael illustrates his lack of sensitivity and awareness, was the responses of the other characters in the show. Despite Michael's wild conceptions of whatever subject was being tested, the writers of the show were clearly sending the message of the absurdity of the stereotypes, and just how ridiculous they truly are.
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