OFFICE SPACE (1999), ChildCare Action Project (CAP) Media Analysis Report Report MAR02199

ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)
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Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR02199
Office Space (1999), R
CAP Score: 39, CAP ID: 2.88

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President

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Executive Summary / Commentary

Findings / Scoring

ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Table of Contents.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:

"Office Space" (R) could well have been titled "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it is." As a satire about the condition of nowadays employment, it included "nowadays" language.......throughout. All the way from what the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) calls conversational snippets to the most foul of the three/four letter word vocabulary and God's name in vain with the four letter expletive over and over and over at about 79 times per hour (an average of more than once every minute). Do you really want to listen to that? Would you want your adolescents to listen to that? I sure did not enjoy it -- any of it. Some claim that is the way people talk. Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again, IF they do then movies like these may be THE REASON some people talk that way. And I have yet to meet ANYONE who talks like the R-rated movie actors.

In Wanton Violence/Crime, "Office Space" presented, among other things, a death by heart attack, arson threats, implied arson, plannings of crime, talk of attempted suicide to kill sorrows, and encouragement of crime. At the bottom of the scoring barrel was Impudence/Hate: at least 130 examples of unacceptable language plus at least 9 racially derogatory comments (in background music), lies and encouragement of lies, a general "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' is" attitude, and a theme of irresponsible work ethics. Also at the bottom of the scoring barrel was Sex/Homosexuality. Lots of sexual innuendo, vulgar talk and expression, adult underwear, implied sexual intercourse by showing only "acceptable" portions of skin and playing the associated sounds, and brief nudity. Booze flowed freely and drinking was as free of ownership to influence as breathing. However, there was no murder nor suicide and no guns or knives.

And as usual, the entertainment producers were expert at embedding all this 'stiff' under a light and airy blanket of comedy. Well, it wasn't funny to me.

FINDINGS / SCORING:

Wanton Violence/Crime (W):

a death to heart attack

arson threat

planning a crime

an attitude of crime is acceptable because this is America

talk of suicide to cure sorrows

rationalization of theft

encouraging crime and encouraging more crime to hide crime

Impudence/Hate (I)⁽¹⁾:

31 uses of the most foul of the four letter words

70 uses of other foul three/four letter words

encouragement of lies and lying

song of encouraging criminal acts including drug trafficking

vulgar talk

encouragement of the "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' is" attitude by "Most people don't like their jobs"

vulgar gestures

Sex/Homosexuality (S):

series of sexual insulting talk

nudity

sexual innuendo

gamming (maximizing exposure of upper legs in a dress while sitting)

exposure to adult underwear at least twice

sexual suggestion

several series of sexual talk

pornographic background music

several series of vulgar talk, reference, gestures, and comments

cohabitation by heterosexual unmarried couple

implied sexual intercourse by unmarried couple with partial nudity with obvious motions

Drugs/Alcohol (D):

several series of presentation of alcoholic beverages and drinking both in a bar and at residences

Offense to God (O)⁽²⁾:

5 uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive

5 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive

hypnotherapy to alter character and integrity

Murder/Suicide (M)⁽³⁾:

No notations of murder/suicide.

(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.

Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."

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In the name of Jesus:
Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

Thomas A. Carder
President
ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

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