Assignment

Public administration and bureaucracy in America are popular subjects of fictional works, including both Hollywood-produced and independent movies, written works (including novels and short stories) and theatrical plays. Examples of this include:

1. The Star Chamber

2. The Godfather

3. All the Presidents Men

4. There are endless possibilities here

Of course, these fictionalized portrayals of institutions of public administration and American bureaucracy do not necessarily always accurately portray the concepts we have discussed in our class this semester (this is mostly in the interest of furthering the plot or story, but sometimes the producers/writers/authors/creators of these works just get it wrong).

For this essay, please do the following:

1. Select a work of fiction (i.e., a movie (whether Hollywood-produced or independent), a written work (either a novel or a short story) or a theatrical play with a plot involving an bureaucratic institution or an actual public agency of American government;

2. Describe the plot of this work of fiction as it relates to public administration or bureaucracy. Some of the questions you might address in this section include, but are not limited to the following:

1. How accurately are the public administration or bureaucracy aspects of this work of fiction portrayed by the producer/creator/writer/author of the work you selected?

2. Do the accuracies or inaccuracies you identify help further or advance the plot of the fictional work you select?

3. How would this work of fiction be different if it more accurately conformed to what you know to be accurate about public administration or bureaucracy?

4. What kinds of public administration or bureaucracy-related normative questions does this work raise (or suggest to the audience)?

Your essay should be 8-10 pages in length, be double-spaced and use normal margins with 12 point Times New Roman font.