+ a discussion on the west wing and borgen as media resources using prime-time fiction to teach...
TRANSCRIPT
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A Discussion on THE WEST WING and BORGEN as Media Resources
Using Prime-Time Fiction to
Teach Politics in
the Classroom
Maria Cervera (Plano a Plano, Spain)
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I thought it was very interesting that in our self-sufficient western democracies, we don't want to bother with defending democracy. Perhaps we don't even vote. And yet when we [don’t] have democracy, we're willing to die for it. And that is an interesting dilemma; how can we stand up for democracy when so many are so cynical about it? That was perhaps the very beginning of Borgen for me.
Adam Price, creator of Borgen
+IntroductionMedia, Politics and Education
Talking politics at school proofs a difficult matter: indoctrination, accusations of partisanism
However a key educational point specially for students close to voting age.
Case Study Spain: Passivism and lack of participation, suspicion of corruption, crisis of ideas, political fight over “Civics” subject
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Voting survey June 2013 in Spain among 18-30 year-olds
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EU level survey among 15 to 30-year-olds from different social and demographic groups
Source: Flash Eurobarometer 375 – TNS Political & Social. European Youth: Participation in Democratic Life. May 2013
+IntroductionMedia, Politics and Education
FICTION Fiction characters are easier to relate to and analyze than
real-life people.
BUT: students need to learn to identify drama constructions (Media Literacy)
+IntroductionMedia, Politics and Education
Why these shows? Influence between media and politics is cause of debate. Politics frequently portrayed as a field of corruption
(House of Cards, Crematorio)
BUT both The West Wing and Borgen base on the premise that there are some “politicians who really care”. Politics becomes an aspirational occupation
Goal: Helping students close to voting age understand democratic institutions and develop their own political mindset
+Case StudyMaking Politics Popular
+Case StudyMaking Politics Popular
US. NBC 1999-2006. Winner of many Emmy Awards. Great Ratings success. Created by Aaron Sorkin
Made Americans believe they could trust their politicians again
Follows the members of a newly formed Democrat government staff through their 8 years in the White House. Case-of-the-day structure plus season arc. Ensemble cast
Portrays the (Democrat) White House Staff as engaged, over-prepared, workaholic, but lovable people who only have the peoples’ best interest in mind
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Deals with the most important events on the US political calendar cycle (caucus, elections, voting,…)
Although liberal idearium is evident, most Democrats and (some) Republicans are seen through a positive light.
The character of President Barlett evolves from a distant, father-like figure to a more present one, never losing the halo of greatness traditionally connected with this figure in the American imaginarium. Person-centered vision of politics.
+Case StudyRegenerating a Political Utopia
+Case StudyRegenerating a Political Utopia
Denmark. DR 2010-2013. Has achieved international acclaim in recent years. Very popular in the UK (BBC), being considered for US remake, sold to over 75 countries. Created by Adam Price
Premise reflects the ideal of starting an alternative government out of the established parties (Season 1) and evolves towards the idealistic foundation of a new party (Season 3).
Case-of-the-day structure plus season arc. Follows hero Birgitte Nyborg
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Portrait of the government staff more diverse: coalitions, balance of power, counselors, with different motivations. More negative characters
Media and politics have more interaction than on The West Wing, with characters moving between the worlds
Nyborg is a human President with no absolute power. She evolves and completes a classic hero’s journey
+Practical ToolsPossibilities in the Classroom
Use episodes (beware of attention span) or clips to showcase topics. Institutions, separation of powers, relationship media and
politics, European/International policies... How is USA/Denmark similar/different to our local
system?
Debates: Women in power, the power of media, pros and cons of coalitions, family and work life, international influence of US politics…
+Practical ToolsPossibilities in the Classroom
Media Literacy: How are characters and situations portrayed? How do creators make the audience care/despise
the characters? What is the role of the younger characters in these
shows? How are they portrayed? Discuss use of casting, light, music, wardrobe and
other filmic elements beyond the script.
+Practical Tools
Actor Ole Thestrup characterized as Svend Åge Saltum, ultra-conservative Freedom Party leader and swine farmer
How do creators make audiences care/despise the characters?
Pilou Asbæ plays smart spin doctor Kasper Juuls
+Practical ToolsAnalysis: How are the younger characters portrayed?
+Practical ToolsAnalyzing a sequence: Birgitte Nyborg’s Candidate Speech
+Practical ToolsAnalyzing a sequence: Birgitte Nyborg’s Speech on Foreign Aid
+Practical ToolsAnalyzing a sequence: Josh Lyman’s explanation of 9/11
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Reality vs Fiction: use real-life clips and compare them to clips from the shows. Debate: do journalistic media construct realities?
Role-Playing: Be in the shoes of one of the characters and write an essay/speech from this point of view; debate in class.
Local adaptation: Rewrite scenes (and dub them?) changing the background to their own country.
Practical ToolsPossibilities in the Classroom
+Selected Resources
The West Wing. NBC 1999-2006
Borgen. DR 2010-2013
Flash Eurobarometer 375 – TNS Political & Social. European Youth: Participation in Democratic Life. May 2013
Journell, W.; Buchanan, L. B.: Making Politics Palatable: Using Television Drama in High School Civics and Government Classes. Social Studies., Vol. 103 Issue 1, Jan/Feb 2012
Beavers, S.L.: The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool. Political Science & Politics. Jun. 2002
Richardson, K.; Corner, J.: Assessing Television’s ‘Political Dramas’. Sociology Compass, Vol. 6, Issue 12, December 2012
Jeffries, S: Borgen creator Adam Price on what's next for Birgitte Nyborg in the
show's third and final series. The Guardian, 14 Nov 2013
Kegel, S.: “Borgen”: Wir tun Dinge, die uns nicht gefallen, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 21 Nov 2012 (in German)
Berry, R.: They're Remaking Borgen in America? Now I Do Need to Suspend My Disbelief, The Huffington Post UK, 31 Jan 2012
Episode Guides: www.linktv.org/borgen/press and www.westwingepguide.com
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Borgen
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/TheWestWing?from=Main.TheWestWing
Wikipedia, IMdB, YouTube, Google Search
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Thank you for your attention!
Any thoughts?
