The Effects of Satire on Society

In an effort to provide variety to this blog, I have decided to blog an essay for AP Language and Composition, written by myself and classmate Carri Pertee, which highlights the effects of satire on society. 

The Effects of Satire on Society

In politics, general news, and entertainment, satire is undeniably present and ready to snap. Many people, blogs, television shows, faux newspapers, and magazines have climbed their way to the top by using the critical literary device, but few have mastered such a useful technique. Satire has become a unique institution in America; television programs such as SNL (Saturday Night Live), The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and South Park have intrigued audiences with their ironic humor and ability to go farther than anyone dares to go when dealing with serious issues. However, in other countries, mocking government or elected officials could result in severe punishment. By taking advantage of the First Amendment, nationwide issues are easily perceived and opened for further debate. Satire encourages mingling between various groups of people who would normally share nothing in common; it popularizes events many believe to be boring or unimportant, but calls for change when society is faced with a social issue.

    

Many people take pride in staying out of politics, but by combining political issues with satirical, or cynical, humor, some tend to have a better understanding of the events occurring in government and can form a structured opinion on which to base their own political decisions. How does this affect politics? “Political satire is ridicule dedicated to exposing the difference between appearance and reality in public life. The justification for this mockery, going back to Aristotle, is that by holding bad behavior up to ridicule we might, as it were, ‘Laugh folly out of existence.’ Syllogistically, a la Aristotle, it might be put something like this:

1) Politicians behaving badly will be mocked

2) Politicians don’t like to be mocked.

3) Politicians will stop behaving badly.” (Mankoff)

Therefore, cracking jokes is more than fun and games, it also inadvertently keeps slimy politicians in their place.

    

Satire is an art, allowing the artist to explore a realm of possibilities and push limitless boundaries when dealing with serious issues. Many satirical artists are ridiculed for taking the news so lightly, but that is not always the case. “I’m a satirist. All satirists make points. Satire is parody with a point; that’s all it is…I always have a point of view. I care about the news. We do 160 shows a year, 161 shows a year, and you can’t do that unless I guess you care a little about what you’re talking about, or I couldn’t…I’m not a politician, but I like playing political games to see what really happens in them.” (Colbert) Satirists, like Stephen Colbert, make a living doing what they love: revealing the injustices of the world by making others laugh. What many people do not realize is that comedians can sometimes be the most influential people when it comes to a topic for which they care about.

    

Satire defines America because, like our country, it is completely unique. In other countries, slamming the government or pointing out an elected official’s flaws is enough to get you killed. Freedom of speech and press is not allowed in counties such as China, Russia, or those in the Middle East. If Stephen Colbert tried to make a living in Iran, he would end up with his head on a stake. Americans are blessed with the right to speak out against the President, a senator, or anyone else. After the attacks on 9/11, comedy was hard to come by. After daily life got back to normal, The Daily Show came back on the air. Jon Stewart stated, “That is, a country that allows for open satire, and I know that sounds basic and it sounds like it goes without saying, but that’s really what this whole situation is about. It’s the difference between closed and opened, the difference between free and burdened.”

    

Many strongly support the argument that political satire promotes a narrow point of view due to its liberal tendencies. However, satirist Stephen Colbert provides the opposing viewpoints, as points made on his show lean toward conservatism. According to The Harvard Crimson, viewers of satire are more likely to take part in researching traditional news. Yes, the same people who are constantly quoting South Park could be the people making informed decisions at the polls. Even though the world of politics is often viewed separately from daily life, comedians such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert effortlessly tie politics into day-to-day life. In essence, it is not WSAZ, CNN, or Fox News that causes people to be effective citizens, it is the wise cracks made on primetime television.

    

Politicians are not the only social figures to be ridiculed by satire. Television programs like SNL or South Park focus more on entertainment news such as celebrity mishaps or athlete scandals. Recently, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s career was surrounded in controversy as a video was released of him assaulting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer. This was followed by an uproar of social media and news outlets, not just due to the domestic violence that took place, but the fact that the NFL (National Football League) attempted to cover up the incident. Megan Mackay, a Canadian comedian, made a short video, “Ray Rice Inspired Makeup Tutorial.” While the title sounds offensive, the clip brings to light the covering up done by the NFL, using makeup as an example. Cole Nicki stated, “[S]attire can be an effective tool of social criticism that highlights what needs to change in society in order to address widespread social problems.

    

The effective use of satire is a talent that few have mastered, but one to which anyone can relate. It binds together Americans from Wisconsin to Georgia to Alaska to West Virginia by giving them an opinion and a good laugh. It sparks movements and influences change in society regarding social issues. Satire is a gift often taken for granted, but it is one of the most influential aspects of American culture in history. It brings together liberal and conservative, young and old, Republican and Democrat, and politically interested and disinterested. Without satire, America would definitely be less American.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Saturday_Night_Live_(Season_38_Titlecard).jpg

Works Cited

1. Colbert, Stephen. “David Gregory Chats with Stephen Colbert.” Interview by David Gregory, Meet the Press. NBC, 14 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nbcnews.com/video/meet-the-press/49407301#56332789>.

2. Cole, Nicki L. “The Ray Rice Makeup Tutorial and the Political Power of Satire.” About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://sociology.about.com/od/Current-Events-in-Sociological-Context/fl/The-Ray-Rice-Makeup-Tutorial-and-the-Political-Power-of-Satire.htm>.

3. Mankoff, Robert. “How Does Satire Influence Politics?” Moment Magazine. Nadine Epstein, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.momentmag.com/how-does-satire-influence-politics/>.

4. Stewart, Jon. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central, 20 Sept. 2001. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. <http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/1q93jy/september-11--2001>.

5. Thai, Anthony. “Political Satire: Beyond the Humor.” The Harvard Crimson. Samuel Y. Weinstock, 06 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/2/6/harvard-political-satire/>.