The Rhetoric of television

The Office is a very unique television shows for many reasons. The show has a way of using rhetoric to portray comedy in a way that television has never seen before. It was one of the first comedies to not include a laugh track in the background of the episodes. This creates a rhetorical effect with the audience, because the audience is forced to really pay attention to the plot of the show in order to get the jokes. It plays on the idea of kairos, or an opportune time, because the audience has to find a time to laugh. There are many times during the show when a simple chuckle will do, but other times bursting out in laughter is perfectly acceptable. The exclusion of a laugh track also makes the audience realize that everyone has a unique sense of humor. Some people will find jokes funny, because it may play on a current event that they are up to date on, while another person might not find the joke funny, because they don’t understand the context of the joke. The Office has been revolutionary in introducing a new form of comedy, which gives the audience to find humor without the guidance of a superficial laugh track.

            The Office also uses the rhetorical element of logos, but in a twisted sort of way. The show plays on an office environment, which normally would not have many abnormalities, but the show turns the environment into a complete circus where any amount of credibility is thrown out the window. The show works so well, because it plays on the lack of logic in the work environment. Some viewers might have a slightly odd boss, like Michael Scott, or work with a socially awkward employee like Dwight. Rhetoric can be found anywhere in entertainment and The Office is another revolutionary asset to the entertainment business displaying rhetoric at its best.