A Discussion on THE WEST WING and BORGEN as Media Resources

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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

+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 groupsSource: 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?

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mcervera@ucla.edu @teletuiteando