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The West Wing is a TV series revolving around the day jobs of of US President with his senior aides. It is a multicharacter show with the president not necessarily being the center of the universe. It aired for seven seasons, premiered in September 1999. The plot progresses from Bartlet administration going through disappointing second year, running for a second term, and leaving legacy to the next presidential candidate. The casting list includes Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, and Stockard Channing. The West Wing is created and lead-written by Aaron Sorkin, and lead-directed by Thomas Schlamme, and produced by John Wells (but the roles changes hands repetitively during its seven years).
I don’t know a zip about the science of politics. And I am only familiar with its practices as far as the media would expose them, which means it’s a lot of fucks (not literally). But if anyone asks me my favorite TV series (not that anyone asked), I would name The West Wing with sick consistency. It has been so for the past ten years (who knows if it’s because that not many series has measured up, or simply that I lack TV experiences).
Watching it, one would forget that the The West Wing showcases allegedly one of the most scandalous profession. In the show, however, politician is no such thing. It is on the contrary the most romantic, even humanely, one possible (in the vocational sense of the term). It makes one forgives one’s self for ever liking politicians --at least the politicians in the show-- the way men forgive themselves for ever letting themselves screwed for having goosebumps watching A Walk To Remember (In Walk’s case, good thing we, men, rehab ourselves soon afterward).
The way Aaron Sorkin wrote it, President Bartlet’s is the most open-minded, collaborative, full of freedom, creative, and --to mention this again-- “humanely” White House, or any workplace for that matter. Every staff, senior-level or lower, are free to contribute their thoughts, negotiating any option available within the best interest of the constituents they represent. They are even entitled to make their cases with the leader of their free world. There is not an episode goes by without some arguing, debating, or for goodness sake from time to time, shouting at the president involved. At the end of the day (or, episode) everyone would found some new enlightening common ground to start over, with President Bartlet not all the time being right (in fact, he seldom is, but in a good way).
Open transaction of ideas and aspirations like these are not limited even within the oval office. It is very noticeable that every in-oval-office dispute ends with the staff recusing himself out, saying, “Thank you, Mr. President.” I think it’s really “Thank you Mr.President for the opportunity to make my case,” or “for the chance to speak my mind, just for the peace of it,” or “for even considering my thoughts. I know yours is the hardest job to make decision.” Or maybe it’s all of the above. It is as if gratitude is mandatory all over the House. It is one of the most inspiring detail of the series.
The West Wing’s are meticulously-written scripts. Sorkin might only appear writing pages and pages, but anyone who watches even only one of its episodes should realize that he was going for detailed sculpture of audiences' semantic experiences. There is no room for ambiguity for a show in which long, back-and-forth conversation is the main course. Everyone in the show talks fast and accurately. Through the series I learned how clarity of speech can be evidence for one being true to his or her words; that one choice of adjective can, within minutes, makes your eyes water; and that every ideas within our minds, delivered accurately, will guarantee unforgettable comprehension and elated feelings. You cannot get any sappier than that.
If there is any flaw in The West Wing, it is that every character is that verbally fluent and shares the exact sense of humor. Everyone one celebrates language as valuable, unlimited assets and they do no less when they kid around. They make the kind of jokes that get you feel appreciated for the intellect you possess, or maybe just the promise of it. And boy do they make a lot of them. I would imagine that in a place of such stresses, comedy would serve as lubricant that keeps unhealthy conflicts away (by the way, do you know that founder of positive psychology Martin Seligman identified humor one of important adaptive character strengths?). So you see, for me, this flaw poses no problem.
So here are your thoughts that Sorkin tweaks by you watching The West Wing: that you deserve a boss like Bartlet, and colleagues like everyone in the show; that there is no such thing as small stuff; that all ideas are worth hearing, even if they contradict everyone in the office (especially if they contradict everyone in the office); that you are as good as both your words and deeds; that you deserve a job bigger than the works; that it is okay to think these ways; and that these thoughts should be okay not only in the world of fiction, but in real life, too (just saying).
And if these aren't true, at least The West Wing gives a glimpse picture of how politics works, regardless of its murky accuracy.
The West Wing is a TV series revolving around the day jobs of of US President with his senior aides. It is a multicharacter show with the president not necessarily being the center of the universe. It aired for seven seasons, premiered in September 1999. The plot progresses from Bartlet administration going through disappointing second year, running for a second term, and leaving legacy to the next presidential candidate. The casting list includes Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, and Stockard Channing. The West Wing is created and lead-written by Aaron Sorkin, and lead-directed by Thomas Schlamme, and produced by John Wells (but the roles changes hands repetitively during its seven years).
I don’t know a zip about the science of politics. And I am only familiar with its practices as far as the media would expose them, which means it’s a lot of fucks (not literally). But if anyone asks me my favorite TV series (not that anyone asked), I would name The West Wing with sick consistency. It has been so for the past ten years (who knows if it’s because that not many series has measured up, or simply that I lack TV experiences).
Watching it, one would forget that the The West Wing showcases allegedly one of the most scandalous profession. In the show, however, politician is no such thing. It is on the contrary the most romantic, even humanely, one possible (in the vocational sense of the term). It makes one forgives one’s self for ever liking politicians --at least the politicians in the show-- the way men forgive themselves for ever letting themselves screwed for having goosebumps watching A Walk To Remember (In Walk’s case, good thing we, men, rehab ourselves soon afterward).
The way Aaron Sorkin wrote it, President Bartlet’s is the most open-minded, collaborative, full of freedom, creative, and --to mention this again-- “humanely” White House, or any workplace for that matter. Every staff, senior-level or lower, are free to contribute their thoughts, negotiating any option available within the best interest of the constituents they represent. They are even entitled to make their cases with the leader of their free world. There is not an episode goes by without some arguing, debating, or for goodness sake from time to time, shouting at the president involved. At the end of the day (or, episode) everyone would found some new enlightening common ground to start over, with President Bartlet not all the time being right (in fact, he seldom is, but in a good way).
Open transaction of ideas and aspirations like these are not limited even within the oval office. It is very noticeable that every in-oval-office dispute ends with the staff recusing himself out, saying, “Thank you, Mr. President.” I think it’s really “Thank you Mr.President for the opportunity to make my case,” or “for the chance to speak my mind, just for the peace of it,” or “for even considering my thoughts. I know yours is the hardest job to make decision.” Or maybe it’s all of the above. It is as if gratitude is mandatory all over the House. It is one of the most inspiring detail of the series.
The West Wing’s are meticulously-written scripts. Sorkin might only appear writing pages and pages, but anyone who watches even only one of its episodes should realize that he was going for detailed sculpture of audiences' semantic experiences. There is no room for ambiguity for a show in which long, back-and-forth conversation is the main course. Everyone in the show talks fast and accurately. Through the series I learned how clarity of speech can be evidence for one being true to his or her words; that one choice of adjective can, within minutes, makes your eyes water; and that every ideas within our minds, delivered accurately, will guarantee unforgettable comprehension and elated feelings. You cannot get any sappier than that.
If there is any flaw in The West Wing, it is that every character is that verbally fluent and shares the exact sense of humor. Everyone one celebrates language as valuable, unlimited assets and they do no less when they kid around. They make the kind of jokes that get you feel appreciated for the intellect you possess, or maybe just the promise of it. And boy do they make a lot of them. I would imagine that in a place of such stresses, comedy would serve as lubricant that keeps unhealthy conflicts away (by the way, do you know that founder of positive psychology Martin Seligman identified humor one of important adaptive character strengths?). So you see, for me, this flaw poses no problem.
So here are your thoughts that Sorkin tweaks by you watching The West Wing: that you deserve a boss like Bartlet, and colleagues like everyone in the show; that there is no such thing as small stuff; that all ideas are worth hearing, even if they contradict everyone in the office (especially if they contradict everyone in the office); that you are as good as both your words and deeds; that you deserve a job bigger than the works; that it is okay to think these ways; and that these thoughts should be okay not only in the world of fiction, but in real life, too (just saying).
And if these aren't true, at least The West Wing gives a glimpse picture of how politics works, regardless of its murky accuracy.
Josh Lyman playing out argument with assistant Donna Moss.
The West Wing casts' reunion intervew.
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