In the book Truth or Consequences: The Promise and Perils of Postmodernism, Millard Erickson said: “There is value in the postmodern emphasis on community versus individuality” (pg. 201).  This value of community emphasized within postmodernity is readily captured by The Office’s genre of production, mockumentary.

What is mockumentary?

For those of you familiar with the show, yet not familiar with mockumentary, will have one of those “ah ha” moments once I bring to your attention what exactly it is.

Merriam-Webster defines mockumentary as “a facetious or satirical work (as a film) presented in the style of a documentary.”  In other words, “the mockumentary is presented as a documentary recording real life, but is in fact fictional…often used to analyze current events and issues by using a fictional setting around it” (Wikipedia). 

If you haven’t had that “ah ha” moment yet, I believe the light bulb in your head – regardless of how little or great the wattage is – will be turned on once you see how mockumentary plays out in the production of The Office.

Mockumentary and The Office

Every program of The office generally consists of interviews, confessionals, and commentaries on the day’s events by different characters, as well as shameless plugs for made-up businesses (Hence Bob Vance who uses the camera for his personal enrichment by advertising his business).  With the camera crew appearing as another part of the cast, their presence is not denied by the characters, but rather acknowledged by them even if they are not the focus of the scene.  For example, recall Jan Levinson who becomes regularly irritated or uncomfortable by the cameras presence. 

The production of The Office is also done in such a way as to give the impression that the cameras are rolling around the clock at Dunder Mifflin and at times the individual lives of the characters.  The intended omnipresence of the camera crew has allowed them to catch supposedly “unintended” moments between the cast. 

For instance, in the episode Fun Run, the cameras caught “Jim and Pam kissing, which leads to them admitting to the crew that they are in fact dating; however, they attempt to keep the relationship a secret from their co-workers, which doesn’t last long.”

My personal experience with The Office 

I may be the only one with this experience, but while watching The Office I feel as if this style of production is very effective in creating community amongst its viewership.  What created my greatest sense of personal involvement with the program was the characters acknowledgment of the cameras presence. 

After becoming immersed in the program it feels as if I’m apart of the cast, observing the office of Dunder Mifflin through the lens of the camera.  The subtle awareness of the camera by the characters gives me the impression that I am actually standing behind them.

While watching the show and following the movement of the cameras through Dunder Mifflin you cannot but help observe the body language of the characters as they pass by.  Their expressions give you this sense as if they are acknowledging your presence.  Personally, their body language gives me the feeling as I if I was the one causing them to react in a certain way.  

On one hand, I get the feeling that if the characters were uncomfortable with the cameras presence, I was the one that made them feel that way.  On the other hand, if the characters were confident with the cameras presence, I would get the feeling as if they were O.K., maybe even happy, with my being there. 

I believe this may be why Millard Erickson quipped:

It [community] may even be a matter of the viewership of a particular television program.  During the time they are together, they experience a sort of common experience, although their perception of it and their interpretation of it may vary considerably from one person to another.  When the event is over and the crowd departs, there is very little if any real communion or interchange between those who were together (Erickson, pg. 201).

Even though the community created through the medium of television is superficial and short-lived, the production of The Office is a powerful tool in creating a common experience of community amongst its viewership.

Christ and The Office

Our search for community is at the very heart of our being.  Christianity teaches that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God at a defined point in the past (Genesis 1.26-27; 9.6).  Since mankind is created in the image and likeness of God, we have been created in His representative likeness.  In other words, we are similar to Him in His essence (i.e. our being), but not identical (Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background, pg. 23).

Considering that mankind has been created in the image of God, we can reason that mankind was created for the purpose of community with God and others (Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, pg. 112).  This holds to be true when we consider that the One True and Living God of the Universe is a Triune God who is a communal Being of love and mutuality that eternally exists within the Trinitarian members, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Grenz, pg. 30). 

Being created in the image of God means that we find our primary identity and meaning (i.e. who we are) in relationship with Him, and that our secondary identity and meaning is found in relationships of mutual respect and love with others.   In a sense we are only human only in relationship with God and others, for God has not created us to be isolated individuals from Himself and others.

If community created by The Office (as well as other mediums such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter) is temporary, short-lived, and even shallow, where can we find community that is permanent, long-lasting, and deep?  In response to an interview conducted by Eddie Gibbs in Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures, Jonathan Campbell said:

In our current cultural crisis, the most powerful demonstration of the reality of the gospel is a community embodying the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus.  Healthy community is the life of Jesus living in us and through us.  For community to last, our love for one another must be surpassed only by our love for Jesus.  If the relationships are grounded on anything other than Jesus, the community will fall – and the sooner the better! (pg. 89).

Real, Deep, and Lasting community can only be developed through our personal faith in Jesus Christ and trusting in the grace of God in enabling us to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22.39; Titus 2.11-14).

 

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