The Role of Satirical Broadcasts on Society
Frederick Chereshansky xxx-xx-2454 Eng. II
The Role of Satirical Broadcasts on Society
It is safe to say that the phenomenon that is humor is uniquely human in nature. It is not only unique, but it lacks a real comparable in any species in the animal kingdom. We do not truly know how humor came to be, and the evolutionary significance of this strange but important aspect of our lives is unknown, but it’s importance in our lives is undeniable. At face value humor may seem as simply a means of entertainment, a phenomenon that gives us hope in the most dire of circumstances, or simply a unique human luxury that helps us regulate a more favorable affect. However, humor enlightens us as a society and has done so for centuries. Specifically, it is satire that has played a uniquely powerful role in our society, and continues to do so today. In modernity it is programs such as The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show that dominate the sociopolitical satire of contemporary popular culture. These shows present the news of the day to the American populace (skewed toward a young demographic) with a focus on the irony of certain sociopolitical issues. However, even before television and the arrival of mass media, satire has been the driving force of social reform and the creation and production of a concrete sense of social awareness. In Ancient Greece satire was seen as a powerful method of examining culture and society. Aristophanes, a comic playright, was notably fond of satirical humor and is considered by many scholars to be the godfather of modern satire (Ehrenberg 263). In early twentieth century America, muckrakers brought to light the reality of the widespread corruption of their time, often by means of satirical cartoons that used caricature and exaggeration to make noteworthy of the inequalities present due to the wrongdoings of a certain corrupt people. These pioneers of American satire played a vital role in outing those who sought to defy the
The Role of Satirical Broadcasts on Society
It is safe to say that the phenomenon that is humor is uniquely human in nature. It is not only unique, but it lacks a real comparable in any species in the animal kingdom. We do not truly know how humor came to be, and the evolutionary significance of this strange but important aspect of our lives is unknown, but it’s importance in our lives is undeniable. At face value humor may seem as simply a means of entertainment, a phenomenon that gives us hope in the most dire of circumstances, or simply a unique human luxury that helps us regulate a more favorable affect. However, humor enlightens us as a society and has done so for centuries. Specifically, it is satire that has played a uniquely powerful role in our society, and continues to do so today. In modernity it is programs such as The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show that dominate the sociopolitical satire of contemporary popular culture. These shows present the news of the day to the American populace (skewed toward a young demographic) with a focus on the irony of certain sociopolitical issues. However, even before television and the arrival of mass media, satire has been the driving force of social reform and the creation and production of a concrete sense of social awareness. In Ancient Greece satire was seen as a powerful method of examining culture and society. Aristophanes, a comic playright, was notably fond of satirical humor and is considered by many scholars to be the godfather of modern satire (Ehrenberg 263). In early twentieth century America, muckrakers brought to light the reality of the widespread corruption of their time, often by means of satirical cartoons that used caricature and exaggeration to make noteworthy of the inequalities present due to the wrongdoings of a certain corrupt people. These pioneers of American satire played a vital role in outing those who sought to defy the
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