Political Satire

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in a world of complexity and near incomprehensibility, nothing compares to straightforward, insightful analysis of current events and news media, plainly expressed with words, particularly nouns, adjectives and even verbs, space permitting. The author gives examples of over-simplification, glossing over and distorting the truth for purposes of humor such as "The Onion" headlining article, which satirically reports of the success of the National Gay and Lesbian Recruitment Task Force in socializing children to become homosexuals. The paper concludes that an ideal society demands that its citizens first look to the news media for knowledge because, if instead people seek information from clowns and jesters, then they may soon become the same buffoons whom they adore.

From the Paper:

"Chapter five of "America" seeks to ridicule the judicial branch of the American federal government. The salient technique of the chapter, as well as the rest of the book involves oversimplifying the processes of government, glossing over important concepts of our government, and in the worst cases, severely distorting the truth, in effect, putting laughs over substance. For example, in its explanation of the judicial theory of "strict constructionism," "America" comments that a believer in such an idea "interprets the Constitution according to the language and original intent of the text at the time of its writing, in much the same way as a fundamentalist views the Bible." Is that so? Not in most professional opinions, I would venture."

More papers on Political Satire:

• Analytical Essay # 135210 : "Political Satire in "A Modest Proposal"
• Poem Review # 108219 : "John Dryden: Political Satire"
• Essay # 4075 : "Political Humor"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: