Where's the funny? What Political Satire Really Shows Us About Us
So Tina Fey is getting a lot of accolades for her portrayal of Sarah Palin, and (probably just as greatly) for her return to SNL last Saturday. Ink is being spilled in both the high end and the low end media about Tina getting her funny on. I'll be the first to admit Fey captured the look, many of the mannerisms and that I'm-a-bigger-hoser-than-you accent down to a "T." The media as well as the public had been calling for Fey, or any other number of comediennes, to enact the folly many see in the Palin character. Well done Tina - filling in the gap for female-oriented comedy in the US once again!
There is something odd about the skit though, if we take a closer look, and that's that for as much as the skit calls out for a satirical message on the current political situation in the US, there is nothing actually political about it (nor is there in Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton). It does mock Palin and Clinton, but the content of the skit tells us very little about politics itself. There is no mockery of policy, clearly stated opinion about the candidate or troubling revelation through comedy about politics or society. Some may argue that's because Palin is so light on substance herself - but isn't that exactly the sort of thing a good political satire skit should be pointing out, not indulging in? It's actually political satire extremely light, and is almost non-existent.
That to my eyes isn't inconsistent with most political satire in the US (and yes, I do throw Jon Stewart's Daily Show as well as The Colbert Report into that bucket). What I'm not arguing here is that the comedy in these programs isn't funny - they are (or can be) hilarious. It's just that my version of political satire is 100% more biting than the US version.
All of the comedians and their respective shows listed above have received accolades for their contributions to societal dialoge on US politics. Yet, I don't know if a heaping of politics with a side of comedy is enough to really give them credit. In an era where our politicians seek out celebrity or celebrity associations (I hate George Clooney, and so should you), it seems more than inevitable that the comedy of politics and American entertainment would converge. Fey, Ferrell, Colbert and Stewart were simply in the right place at the right time and were smart enough to recognize a trend when they saw it.
In the Canadian tradition, which I am also not claiming is the best but is different, there is a lot more risk involved. Whether it be Rick Mercer's rant, impersonations on Double Exposure or (God help us all) Luba Goy on Air Farce, none of these guys are out to be liked in their presentation of political satire. In fact, they may well end up hated for expressing their political views through comedy - and express their view and point out political foibles they do!
That degree of risk, by expressing a bold political opinion, makes all the difference. American comedians are all together too concerned with their pocket book to be that bold, because for all of their political interest they do in fact want a large audience to buy their book, show up in the audience while they are on tour in your hometown or go to the movie they have coming out next week. American comedians seem to suffer because of their business interests - American audiences have to see them in wholly other spheres then through political comedy alone, so, well, you need to be liked to be successful.
Canadian comedians can make their living off their political comedy - in fact few are seen in roles other than as political satirists. That's not too say that they are making a killing on political satire - but they make a living. They will never be as well-off as their American cousins, but may have a better time at making a mockery of politics.
And Americans deserve better - they deserve to endeavor as their forefathers did among the barrels of good pork barrel politics. The way comedy has been done in the past represents an old way of thinking by the old guard of New York and LA. New ideas of political comedy from the borders and in the backwaters of the US must emerge. Change is in the air!
Or at least we can hope....
So Tina Fey is getting a lot of accolades for her portrayal of Sarah Palin, and (probably just as greatly) for her return to SNL last Saturday. Ink is being spilled in both the high end and the low end media about Tina getting her funny on. I'll be the first to admit Fey captured the look, many of the mannerisms and that I'm-a-bigger-hoser-than-you accent down to a "T." The media as well as the public had been calling for Fey, or any other number of comediennes, to enact the folly many see in the Palin character. Well done Tina - filling in the gap for female-oriented comedy in the US once again!
There is something odd about the skit though, if we take a closer look, and that's that for as much as the skit calls out for a satirical message on the current political situation in the US, there is nothing actually political about it (nor is there in Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton). It does mock Palin and Clinton, but the content of the skit tells us very little about politics itself. There is no mockery of policy, clearly stated opinion about the candidate or troubling revelation through comedy about politics or society. Some may argue that's because Palin is so light on substance herself - but isn't that exactly the sort of thing a good political satire skit should be pointing out, not indulging in? It's actually political satire extremely light, and is almost non-existent.
That to my eyes isn't inconsistent with most political satire in the US (and yes, I do throw Jon Stewart's Daily Show as well as The Colbert Report into that bucket). What I'm not arguing here is that the comedy in these programs isn't funny - they are (or can be) hilarious. It's just that my version of political satire is 100% more biting than the US version.
All of the comedians and their respective shows listed above have received accolades for their contributions to societal dialoge on US politics. Yet, I don't know if a heaping of politics with a side of comedy is enough to really give them credit. In an era where our politicians seek out celebrity or celebrity associations (I hate George Clooney, and so should you), it seems more than inevitable that the comedy of politics and American entertainment would converge. Fey, Ferrell, Colbert and Stewart were simply in the right place at the right time and were smart enough to recognize a trend when they saw it.
In the Canadian tradition, which I am also not claiming is the best but is different, there is a lot more risk involved. Whether it be Rick Mercer's rant, impersonations on Double Exposure or (God help us all) Luba Goy on Air Farce, none of these guys are out to be liked in their presentation of political satire. In fact, they may well end up hated for expressing their political views through comedy - and express their view and point out political foibles they do!
That degree of risk, by expressing a bold political opinion, makes all the difference. American comedians are all together too concerned with their pocket book to be that bold, because for all of their political interest they do in fact want a large audience to buy their book, show up in the audience while they are on tour in your hometown or go to the movie they have coming out next week. American comedians seem to suffer because of their business interests - American audiences have to see them in wholly other spheres then through political comedy alone, so, well, you need to be liked to be successful.
Canadian comedians can make their living off their political comedy - in fact few are seen in roles other than as political satirists. That's not too say that they are making a killing on political satire - but they make a living. They will never be as well-off as their American cousins, but may have a better time at making a mockery of politics.
And Americans deserve better - they deserve to endeavor as their forefathers did among the barrels of good pork barrel politics. The way comedy has been done in the past represents an old way of thinking by the old guard of New York and LA. New ideas of political comedy from the borders and in the backwaters of the US must emerge. Change is in the air!
Or at least we can hope....
posted by Jen S. @ 9:40 AM
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