Blog 8 Pop Culture and Politics
This
week for my blog I decided to examine a representation of my candidate, Joe
Biden, on a platform that is outside his campaign. In this instance, I chose to
examine how Saturday Night Live represented Joe Biden in a skit. This skit is
especially well representative of how Joe Biden is perceived by the public,
however, the point is hyperbolized to make a point as well as to add elements
of humor. Joe Biden is played by Jason Sudeikis in this skit and incorporates a
few projections of the then vice president in a specific light.
The
link to the video is (https://screen.yahoo.com/jason-sudeikis-snl-skits/holes-pitch-meeting-000000225.html),
and the skit takes place in the white house, specifically inside Joe Biden’s
room. The first portrayals you see of Joe Biden is that he is a little kid who
is upset with his father, or in this case President Obama. Obama knocks on his
door and says, “Joe it’s me Barack” and Biden says, “You mean president jerk
face”. Then as Obama enters the room it is set up as a ten-year-old boys
bedroom. There is a train set in the middle of the room, various sports
equipment including a mini basketball hoop, a twin sized bed, a dart board, and
other items associated with what a child would have in their bed room. They
also allude to the fact that Joe Biden has an imaginary friend named George. As
Obama leaves he lets Joe Biden know that he has left a $20 for him to order
pizza. When president Obama leaves George comes out of the closet and turns out
to be George W. Bush. They then have a conversation that makes both of them out
to be less than intelligent.
The
main representation of Joe Biden here is that he is a little kid who takes
orders form his parents or President Obama.
This is making fun of the fact that as vice president Joe Biden does not
really do anything and holds no real power over anything. It also is showing
that he is incompetent and not a figure that should be leading America. These
are all opinions that are not displayed by Joe Biden’s own campaign and never
would be by any campaign. Obviously, all these images and portrayals of Joe
Biden are extremely exaggerated, but they contain just enough of an element of
truth in the public opinion that the jokes hit home.
Another
image they cast on Joe Biden is that he has a big mouth. He says quote,
“Everyone thinks I have a big mouth, well it’s my big moth that got things done
this time”. George W. Bush then says back, “Those smarty pants types are never
going to understand speak first types like us.” This is another jab at Joe
Biden’s perception of speaking without thinking things through. I would say
this example does help to change the image the candidate is trying to project.
It takes the criticism about the candidate and acts in out in a way that tells
a story. Stories that will be easy for the audience to remember and plays on
public opinions that already exist.
