The Good Place, David Foster Wallace, and the Politics of New Sincerity
“I argue that we choose to be good because of our bonds with other people and our innate desire to treat them with dignity. Simply put, we are not in this alone.”
That quote is part of a lecture given by William Jackson Harper’s character Chidi— a professor of moral philosophy. It encapsulates the essence of the Chidi’s thinking throughout The Good Place, as well as the broader message of the show: we are better together. The four central characters of the show—Chidi, Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto)—all face flaws that have prevented them from reaching the titular Good Place. These flaws manifest themselves severely at different times during the show, but when the four characters work together their flaws are diminished.
The Good Place is the latest in a line of outstanding shows, mostly comedies, that fit into the literary denomination of “New Sincerity.” New Sincerity is characterized by an emphasis on the humor in unlikely personal connections, diverse communities, and an overall optimism about our crazy world. Masterpieces like The Office and Parks and Recreation have capitalized on this humor, as have many other popular shows of the past two decades. New Sincerity also marked a stark shift from the Postmodernism that marked television programming of before. Postmodernism, in contrast, draws on self-referentiality, cynicism, and irony as the source of its humor. Laughs come at the expense of insults to George or Kramer on Seinfeld, or from characters dripping in sarcasm like Chandler of Friends. Postmodern shows targeted the audiences superficial reactions, whereas the shows of the New Sincerity era leave the audience with satisfaction and emotional fulfillment.
Herein lies the problem that author David Foster Wallace saw in Postmodernism’s reliance on irony and cynicism for humor. Americans watch so much television, he argues, that the irony and cynicism they see on a daily basis will eventually become so pervasive into our thoughts and attitudes towards our own lives that we can’t but help but to be unhappy and emotionally unfulfilled. This is particularly insidious due to the popularity of sitcoms, as this genre depicts everyday life in a cynical manner. As cynicism increasingly guides our actions, it reinforces the same feelings—weariness of the world, despair for the future—that drove television and entertainment to Postmodernism in the first place. Sincerity, “to be unavoidably sentimental and goo-prone and generally pathetic,” is the way to escape this cycle of despair.
Wallace’s warnings about pervasive cynicism and irony are applicable to the realm of politics to this day. Our most recent presidential campaign was marred by insults, jabs, and attempts at clever comebacks by across both sides. Then candidate Donald Trump gave nicknames to his opponents like “Lyin’ Ted,” “Little Marco,” or “Crooked Hillary.” Hillary called some of Trump’s supporters “deplorable,” a comment that would be used against her later. And while the 2016 election stands as the high water mark for this kind of politics, campaigns, especially presidential campaigns, have used cynicism and insults to take down their opponents for a long time. Just Google “Obama’s best comebacks,” or “George Bush best comebacks.” These insults are part of what make debates and campaigns entertaining to the general public.
Postmodern politics are not limited to the campaign trail. Even when politicians are safely in office they never miss the chance to land an ironic jab at or strike a sarcastic blow against an opponent. No platform exemplifies this more than Twitter. The short-form nature of tweets and the quick response time the social media app encourages lends itself to cynicism. It’s not just the President that does this. Here are just a few examples:
Now, it’s doubtful that much of this is news to many people. The fact that politics is a cynical, nasty game is apparent to most of us from the moment we begin to become informed, a fact that we’ve come to accept and, in some cases, enjoy. After all, it does feel good when a politician you like gets the last word in an argument with a well-timed and witty comment.
It is this feeling of momentary satisfaction that characterizes the humor of postmodernist TV and the quips of our politicians, and it is this feeling whose consequences David Foster Wallace warns us so strongly about. Irony, cynicism, and insults, whether on television or in politics, are not satisfying. Once the jokes end and the show is over we, the viewer or voter, are not emotionally fulfilled, but rather emotionally and mentally drained. Simply put, politics is tiring.
This, more than childish squabbles or Twitter rants, is the problem with our politics. When people are drained from just listening to candidates, they have no desire to stay engaged or participate in our democracy, and that’s exactly what our country is experiencing. Despite recent increases, the U.S. has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the world. Americans are also extremely uninformed. Over a third of Republican voters believe Donald Trump won the popular vote. Only a third of all Americans can name the three branches of government. Low levels of participation and information keeps our government from enacting policy that people care about and need, and reduces politics to the petty arguments that drive citizens away in the first place. Of course, there are many more factors than just the cynicism of politics behind low turnout and information levels. However, a Politics of New Sincerity is a good place to start.
Above I defined New Sincerity as an emphasis personal connections, diverse communities, and an overall optimism about our crazy world. The television shows that focus on these subjects leave viewers feeling good about themselves and about what they just watched. A Politics of New Sincerity can do the same. At the micro level, we need politicians that prioritize the connections they have with their constituents and the help that they can give individuals. Constituent services are an often overlooked aspect of a legislator’s job and hardly ever discussed during campaigns. Placing a new importance on what elected officials can offer their constituents in times of need will refocus our politics to helpfulness and compassion. At a larger level, politicians can embrace the diversity of thought and identity that makes up all of our communities. Sincere television, like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place, rely on this diversity as a source of strength. Politicians can too.