Branches Book

BRANCHES

By returning to those ideals, Leslie is able to adapt to different environments while still maintaining her own philosophies.

Works Cited

“The Pawnee Rangers.” Parks and Recreation . NBC. 13 October. 2011. Television.

“The Debate.” Parks and Recreation . NBC. 26 April. 2012. Television.

Author’s Statement: Miana Smith

Media provides a microcosm of broader society through which trends and culture may be examined. The television sitcom “Parks and Recreation” (2009–2015) satirizes United States society and politics in the context of a small-town bureaucracy. The character arc of protagonist Leslie Knope is influenced by pervasive societal dynamics which create a framework for the sitcom. Because of this premise, mainstream feminist ideology is implicitly present in the show. This analysis examines these ideologies as they are presented in a few select episodes that focus most overtly on classically feminist issues. The ties between societal movements and popular culture are then elucidated through this examination. This document itself is indicative of the society and culture from which it emerges. As such, it may fall into the same errors that it critiques.

197