In the history of efforts to capture the essence of modern bureaucracy, two stand out: Max Weber's short definitional note summarizing his world historical learning on the subject titled simply "Bureaucracy" and Terry Gilliam's 1985 film,
Brazil. Weber does the analytic work, tying up the what, why, and when questions in about 20 pages. Gilliam, however, stares directly into the DMV worker's soul, or rather the soul of a DMV worker who appreciates the intrinsic pleasures of their job. It is just as frightening as it sounds.
Brazil is a world filled with characters who see life through the absurd lens of a policy manual... and find it gloriou
s. It
is the greatest example of the bureaucratic sublime I know.
I thought of all of this when I saw Don's comment drawing my attention to this little gem in the tradition of
Brazil in the Shafter High Bulletin for tomorrow:
From the Cafeteria to Students: Please check your meal code with the cafeteria cashier. if you are listed as an 83, 85, 86, the cafeteria has not received your application. The application form is available in the cafeteria. Beginning Tuesday, students with code 83 who come to the cafeteria without cash or an approved application will receive an alternative lunch.
First, I wonder how many categories for people the cafeteria has - 86? More? Man with a curious necktie- 24. People who look like celebrities at some distance- 72. All students whose names rhyme with sites of famous battles- 21. I think the logic behind these codes must be very interesting, though, if you are going to assign categories arbitrary names, it would be fun if they were named a bit more creatively. "If you are listed as porcupine, Idaho, or adjective, the cafeteria has not received...." Second, I like that the statement invites students to find the application form "in the cafeteria." That does narrow the possibilities somewhat, though I remember it as a fairly large building. Which brings us to the final and most interesting point of the very rich paragraph: the promise (threat?) of an "alternative lunch," for those who don't submit an approved application. The system even has a category and a place for those who forget to participate in it. But, one wonders, what kind of "lunch" would be suitable for people who have not submitted an "approved application?" If one rule prohibits giving 83s a lunch without an approved application, but some other rule prohibits turning them away hungry, the alternative lunch must occupy some liminal space between lunch and non-lunch. My guess: taco salad and/or jello.
