Film Analysis #2

Kristen Halbritter
Film Analysis #2: The Office
November 2, 2016
COMM 320

The Office

 1) "The Office" is a TV show that first aired March 24, 2005 and was given a rating of TV-14.  This entire series from beginning to end documents the everyday lives of those working in the Scranton, PA branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company under branch manager, Michael Scott.  Throughout the series, the Scranton branch experiences many changes and faces different challenges.

For this analysis, I watched the first and second episode of season 1.  The first episode, called "Pilot," introduces the characters to the documentary crew that will be following them throughout the years.  Additionally, someone from corporate, named Jan Levinson, comes into the office to talk with Michael Scott, the branch manager about possible downsizing.  

In the second episode, called "Diversity Day," corporate sends someone in to talk about embracing diversity and more importantly discuss some of the issues going on in the office regarding offensive remarks... mostly made by Michael.  After the presenter was done, Michael decides to lead his own "Diversity Day" discussion and activity.  

The main characters so far in this series are the following:

Michael Scott: Branch Manager

Jim Halpert: Salesman

Pam Beesly: Receptionist

Dwight Schrute: Salesman

2) Even after just watching the first two episodes of a 9 season long show, many different principles and concepts from chapters 5-8 of Looking Out Looking in could be observed among the character's interactions.  However, two instances in these two episodes stood out to me when it came to the principles discussed in the book.  

a. In chapter 7 of Looking Out Looking In, the topic of nonverbal communication is discussed.  Different types of nonverbal communication include environment, paralinguistics, proxemics, and territoriality.  In episode 1, Dwight and Jim are sitting at the same desk group right next to each other.  While Jim is on a phone call, Dwight displays territoriality by pushing anything that overlaps onto his desk that belongs to Jim back onto Jim's desk with a ruler.  In retaliation, Jim sets up pencils that stick straight up in between the two desks and tapes them also to his phone, tape dispenser and other things on his desk.

b. Chapter 8 of Looking Out Looking In discusses listening.  One of the sections of this chapter talks about the different types of ineffective listening which includes pseudolistening, stage-hogging, selective listening, insulated listening, defensive listening, and insensitive listening.  In the second episode, Michael very well displays stage-hogging.  When the Diversity Day speaker, Mr. Brown, came to the office and started talking, Michael continually interrupted and would try to steal the show.  For example, Mr. Brown says, "Alright, here's what we are going to do.  Uh, I've noticed that uh..." and before he could even continue, Michael turns the conversation to himself by saying, "You know what? Here's what we're gonna do..." and continues by giving his own input on what he thinks should be done. He  shows little interest or respect toward the speaker and what he is saying and he is also very uncooperative and does not sign the form handed out after the presentation that states he learned something.  Additionally, he literally hogs the "stage" by standing up front with the speaker until he is asked to sit down.  Even then, he sits in a chair that is up front and right next to the speaker.

3) As illustrated above, Michael has some listening issues. So the advice I would give him from the book Looking Out Looking In would be in regard to listening better.  The book lists a couple things that can be done to improve listening skills including talking less, get rid of distractions, don't judge prematurely, and to look for key ideas. The main advice I would give him would be to talk less.  That is his main problem being a stage hogger.  Another thing he could work on is not judging prematurely. I think Michael did this when he was criticized for the inappropriate and offensive remark he has been doing in the office.  After that was mentioned, I'm sure that he judged Mr. Brown prematurely, before he even got his point across,  and avoided listening to him from then on. 

4) The character that reminds me most of my communication behavior is Pam.  In the beginning of the first episode, Michael introduces the documentary crew to Pam while she is sitting at her desk.  Michael is kind of obnoxious while doing so and says her name 3 times kind of loudly at a high pitch voice.  He is also immature when he makes a comment on her looks and asks if he has any faxes. When Pam gives him the fax, Michael realizes it is from corporate and says how he told her that there is a special filing cabinet for things from corporate. Pam says, "You haven't told me that" and Michael quickly says, "Its called the waste paper basket" and starts laughing.  Throughout this whole ordeal, Pam is very quiet, to herself, shy, and soft spoken. She doesn't say anything to Michael probably because he is her superior and her facial expressions give the impression that she is annoyed and doesn't know what to think of him.  It seems like she suppresses her feelings as well. I feel I am like her because if I was annoyed by a superior, like my boss, I wouldn't say anything and I would just be silent and do what is expected of me.  I am also pretty quiet and soft spoken and keep a lot of my feelings to myself, which I think Pam does in this situation.