| |
| author |
Anjelina Grisafe
| | title |
"What's Next?": The West Wing's Contradictory Exceptionalist Narrative
| | abstract |
Airing from 1999-2006, The West Wing is a highly praised political drama known for its
idealized vision of American politics and ways of life. Thought of as a considerably progressive
series, this thesis argues that the series' beliefs in American exceptionalism and White
supremacy prevent it from living up to that reputation. The series fails to acknowledge
Whiteness, yet is sure to point out differing races whenever they appear, perpetuating the
normalcy of Whites in power and othering diverse identities. Black individuals specifically are
confined to their inferiority among White men and taught that there is safety in assimilating to
the approved practices of White culture. They ultimately lack real agency and simply exist to
serve their White counterparts. When instances of racial bias occur, they are called out but never
resolved. The fictional Bartlet administration in the White House is all talk and no action,
proclaiming how much it believes in progressive ideals, but clawing back and settling for more
realistic compromises, particularly in domestic politics. Overseas, however, the administration
throws caution to the wind and acts out out of "necessity," fulfilling the exceptionalist idea that
the United States is fit to, and responsible for, defining justice and progress globally. Orientalist
portrayals of terrorism and Middle Eastern conflict post-9/11 are clumsy and offer viewers the
chance to see these nations negatively without proper information. At the end of the day, for The
West Wing, the United States can do no wrong even when it blatantly breaks international law
and falters in morality. Looking at the series today, with the widespread censorship modern
media suffers from, one can't help but wonder what the nation would look like if writers on The
West Wing pushed harder on the boundaries of normalcy while they still could.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2026)
|
| advisor |
Poe Johnson
|
| full text | AGrisafe.pdf |
| |
