‘The West Wing’: The democracy of words. Genre and reality in US TV political drama

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the US TV series Th e West Wing (NBC: 1999-2006), especially in relation to its own TV genre (political drama), as well as with other workplace series. The methodology used consists of describing its recurrent themes and genres. The diacrony of the political drama as a genre is exposed, as well as the series’ relationship with the real politics in the US.