A Scandal Roundtable Discussion On “Olivia Pope and the Scandal of Representation”

Last week, Scandal roundtabler Jordan St. John brought attention to an Feminist Wire article, “Olivia Pope and the Scandal of Representation” by Brandon Maxwell. We thought it relevant to hold a special roundtable about it, in addition to this week’s episodic roundtable.

I advise that you take a read of the article on Feminist Wire to form your own opinions too–and be sure to share them in the comments.

Jordan St. John pretty much takes the helm on this, but T.F. Charlton and Johnathan Fields also took some time out of their week to share their cogent analyses.

Jordan: I disagree with the author’s perception that the characters in Scandal fight to “preserve the system at all costs” with the “system” being a “white male patriarchal world.” I also take issue with the idea that they must play the role that is “demanded of them” to thrive. Demanded of them by whom? If there is anything that Scandal shows, it is that pretty much everyone is looking out for their own interests and their own power. Olivia is looking out for her business, her clients, and her relationships. She does nothing selflessly.

Johnathan: While I don’t 100% agree with the author’s stance, I can certainly see how the characters fight to “preserve the system,” though I’m not sure “at all costs.” I think some of the characters can be seeing doing risk analysis. I’m interested in the idea that Olivia doesn’t act selflessly. While many of her motives can be interpreted as selfish–particularly as they relate to her protecting the rigging scandal–I think Olivia acts selflessly in many of the scenarios we’ve caught her in, particularly in protecting people from their world of mistakes.

T.F.: I think Maxwell is half right here. It is true that Fitz is a central figure for many of the characters on the show. This is mainly because he’s the president–and his whiteness and maleness are certainly relevant to his position. But Maxwell really misses the boat in arguing that the story being told here is one of Olivia saving white capitalist patriarchy. So much of the dysfunction in this “team” comes from everyone being so heavily invested behind in Fitz’s success. Fitz is the public face of power that Olivia, Cyrus, and Mellie can’t be for various reasons. He’s the focal point of this deeply warped quasi-family–and they’re so messed up precisely because of their obsession with power. So I don’t see Olivia as being a prop to white patriarchy at all–if anything, she and most of the characters on the show are a cautionary tale.

Jordan: To say they are fighting to preserve the American Political System feels simplistic. They are fighting to preserve the illusion of the American Political System as justification for their own power. The show is very clear that no one–not Liv, Fitz, Mellie, or Cyrus are true believers in the purity of the American Political Process. If they were, they would have never fixed the election, and Fitz, when he heard about the fixed election, would have stepped down.

I also took offense at the phrase “the flesh of a black woman appears at the center of this drama.” Actress Kerry Washington/Olivia Pope is at the center of the drama, not just her flesh. We hear Olivia’s thoughts, turmoil, and perspective; we don’t just see her body. To me the use of the word “flesh” conjures up images of a body being used, of skin that is on display, and it objectifies her instead of fully recognizing her role and all she brings to the show.

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