Showing posts with label Parks and Recreation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parks and Recreation. Show all posts

Friday, February 11, 2011

Does 'Parks and Recreation' Stereotype Librarians?

Parks & Recreation: Season TwoUsually when I do a search in the morning for news on libraries and librarians, I find the usual "Blah Library is Having a Bake Sale" and "Librarian Fired for Eating Child's Hotdog" etc, etc.  Today, it seems all Google News wants to let me in on is the scoop about a "crazy" librarian played by Megan Mullally on "Parks and Recreation."  I am not here to discuss the show.  I have seen a few episodes and found them delightful and worthy of the banner NBC has built for itself.  I just have nothing else to write about today except an alien book thing, but it is on Fox News so who gives a shit.  Seriously, it could be the lost sea scroll that tells Jesus was an alien, the same immortal alien that built the pyramids and I would be all, pshhh Fox News.  So I why don't we talk about this TV show.

Honestly, I am not even here to discuss whether or not 'P&R' hates librarians.  I know they are attempting to make a comedy show about city government and part of that is mocking or characterizing every department therein.  I do not blame them.  What I do blame them for is pushing the stereotype of librarians as drunken sex-crazed deviants who want to do nothing but steal children's hot dogs.  That happened once and I the librarian involved only had a small mention in a local paper.  Why can't we be known as the quiet, conservative people we are, locked away in our shells of oppression?  I miss the days when I could see my co-worker Brenda in Reference wearing a stylish bun and cardigan, not the mini-skirts, thigh-high boots and a low-cut tops that society expects, nay demands, librarians to wear.

Shame on you "P&R."  We are librarians and we demand respect.

Check out a real review by someone who watches the show here.