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What role does satire play in today's society?
Throughout history, we've had a Modest Proposal, by J. Swift, Candide by Voltaire, what role does Satire continue to play in the world we live in. Does it impact government, or society as a whole? How important is it?
Scott Armstrong 50+
It is very important because it's a great way to disarm those people that take themselves far too seriously.
I don't think anything impacts government anymore. Those clowns do whatever they like with tax dollars and really only make a (feeble) effort to impress when they want your vote.
Tony Kuphaldt 10+
“If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.”
Satire opens peoples' minds to ideas they might otherwise reject outright, using the emotional lever of humor. Therein lies tremendous value.
Amir Azizi Sarajy
Just a small side note , we had a hot debate in here about Education and oddly enough many people pointed out things that George Carlin said in his stand up almost ten years ago.
Debra Smith 200+
Jaime Lubin 10+
Random Chance 30+
They said the fear began to really grow and they could feel the icy feet of it as it raced up their spines and threatened to take over their minds. One finally said, "Wow, now that's what I call dark", and it broke the spell.
On the other hand, evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers has studied deception and self-deception for a long time. He found that satire can be a sign of significant self-denial in the person using it. That can be in the form of a joke, done jokingly, but a joke can also be very sarcastically or satirically presented or used. This is a form of self-deception which is used to enable one to become better at deception and this can become an ugly cyclical thing for ones psyche.
It can also be used to show another their shortcomings or reveal or evoke a response to a bit too much hubris. I certainly have had this experience used on me more than once and it usually works. I learn from it.
Unfortunately perhaps, satire doesn't always reveal the truth. It can be used to cover it up, to rebel or deny the light of truth so that today it seems to me that those who are willing and courageous enough to actually speak the truth are attacked as though they have done something wrong, been sarcastic or satirical and that means bad manners. I think this is a very sad thing. Oh, I don't know.
Cameron Garcia
Farouk Anderson
vince vernile
Austin R 20+
Bryann Alexandros
Sometimes it remains as the only path to take. Colbert and Stewart et al. are masters of brilliantly executed political satire, touching upon the collective hypocrisy of some very prevalent and stringent ideas of our time: ultra-nationalism and moral righteousness, just to name a few.
Satire will inspire some, and it'll offend some. Such is life. It's not easy being the perpetrator of a damaging ideal, only to have a mirror held up with the ugliest parts of our humanity reflected back.
I also feel it appears undervalued as well. The nature of satire is to make a comical incision at popular beliefs that forces people to look. It's not just limited to political satire, of course. But because it is aimed at popular beliefs and ideals, and even dogmas, thus it is fated to get discouraged or discredited by mass consent.
Again, like all great stories ever told and great speeches ever delivered, satire is another tool to inspire and educate. Delivering and manifesting lasting change is a different story though.
Scientia Veritatis
The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and even more immature Shows like South Park or Family Guy exemplify this perfectly. John Stewart may not seem like a modern day Voltaire, but he affects his audience in a similar way - He opens their eyes so that they may see the blatant errors our society makes.
Sabin Muntean 30+
Naturally, if you are limited by dogmas and fix beliefs you will only get offended and won't understand or accept the underlying message, that's the big problem we are facing today.
Here in Germany for example, many topics that should be used in satire are taboo because after all we all want to be politically correct in this day and age. It's this narrowmindedness that poses the biggest problem to satire, but then again, hasn't it always been this way?
Lucas Burns 500+
Literature such as Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonegut and Hitchhikers Guide are often read in school or for pleasure by kids. I know I was affected by both.
I've found satire has a significant, yet under-appreciated role in shaping our society. It is a powerful means of persuasion. I find it often leads to a more sophisticated approach to understanding the world.
Brittney Stewart
I value very much the fact that I live in a country that not only withstands satire, but encourages it. Too many people in the world are stifled, and unable to criticize their governments.
It baffles me sometimes that satire is unappreciated in almost inverse proportion to its true significance.