Popular Satire
“Most people under the age of twenty-five get their news from shows like mine,” Stephen Colbert stated on his former late night show The Colbert Report. His program, along with other popular Comedy Central news shows such as The Daily Show and The Nightly Show provide factual national and international current events, with entertaining satirical commentary. In Alain de Botton’s book, Status Anxiety, he claims that humorists are vital to society because they say things that others cannot and will not say. Humorists are important in any society because they are given the duty of speaking up through challenging authority, making people think, and voicing their opinions. As shown by Colbert’s show, humorists are known for voicing their opinions
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However, the role these comics fill allows them to voice their own opinion without being ridiculed for their [WORD]. If a regular news caster were to insult a politician on television they would be seen as rude or disrespectful. If a humorist were to make the same remarks, no one would think anything of it. The reason for the differing reactions is because society deems it acceptable for humorists to act rude and keep their targets in check. The commentary might be satirical, but the underlying message of the author is extremely serious. For example, on the Colbert Report, Colbert explained that the owner of the NFL team the Washington Redskins had created “The Washington Redskins Foundation for the Original Americans”. In response, Colbert created “The Ching Chong Ding Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever”. Although this is obviously a joke, Colbert is portraying a deeper meaning. This foundation would not be acceptable because of its offensive language, so why is it acceptable to use the derogatory term ‘redskins’ to refer to Native Americans?
Humorists are essential to the function of society. Their ability to challenge authority, encourage thinking, and voice their opinions are the reasons we are characterized as a democracy. They showcase our free speech and freedom of the press as protected under the constitution and remind us of the principles that our great nation was founded
However, the role these comics fill allows them to voice their own opinion without being ridiculed for their [WORD]. If a regular news caster were to insult a politician on television they would be seen as rude or disrespectful. If a humorist were to make the same remarks, no one would think anything of it. The reason for the differing reactions is because society deems it acceptable for humorists to act rude and keep their targets in check. The commentary might be satirical, but the underlying message of the author is extremely serious. For example, on the Colbert Report, Colbert explained that the owner of the NFL team the Washington Redskins had created “The Washington Redskins Foundation for the Original Americans”. In response, Colbert created “The Ching Chong Ding Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever”. Although this is obviously a joke, Colbert is portraying a deeper meaning. This foundation would not be acceptable because of its offensive language, so why is it acceptable to use the derogatory term ‘redskins’ to refer to Native Americans?
Humorists are essential to the function of society. Their ability to challenge authority, encourage thinking, and voice their opinions are the reasons we are characterized as a democracy. They showcase our free speech and freedom of the press as protected under the constitution and remind us of the principles that our great nation was founded