The ‘shopping montage’ is a well-worn trope in film and television, and so many recent examples of the montage deliberately call attention to it and subvert its conventions for comedy. This is clear in the Parks and Recreation episode “Pawnee Rangers,” in which the characters of Tom and Donna go to the mall to try on clothes in an annual ritual they call “Treat Yo Self.” During this montage, Donna and Tom alternatingly appear in incredibly gaudy clothing and explain their desire to have that outfit, to which the other dramatically declares, “treat yo self!” In context, the characters are shown to be hedonistic and materialistic, and prone to displays of flamboyant style (“Velvet slippies, cashmere socks, velvet pants, cashmere turtle. I’m a cashmere velvet candy cane”). This is furthered by the presence of their uptight colleague Ben, who reacts with confusion and befuddlement at this display of ostentatiousness.
However, while a conventional audience member would identify with Ben, who sees “Treat Yo Self” as an unnecessary display of retail therapy, Tom and Donna eventually get him to treat himself and show him the value of using shopping and fashion as self-care. Ben’s expression, however, comes in the form of a black leather Batman costume, perhaps the least fashionable piece any of the characters have worn thus far. This is the ultimate point of the episode and the montage: rather than think of clothes shopping and materialism as inherently feminine and cosmopolitan, it is possible for stereotypical male figures to also take pleasure from fashion, however strange and unfashionable it ends up being.
Works Cited
McDougall, Charles (dir.). “Pawnee Rangers” (episode). Parks and Recreation, Season 4
Episode 4. NBC, 2011.
