Social and Political Satire in the Mass Media

This article explores the use of satire in the mass media to expose and criticize corruption or foolishness in society. It discusses examples of satirical presentations in politics and how they can be used to educate audiences without making them bored.

Running head: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SATIRE IN THE MASS MEDIA 1
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Social and Political Satire in the Mass Media
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Satire can be defined as a strategy or technique which writers employ to expose and criticize
corruption or even foolishness of an individual, instance or a certain society. This strategy uses
humor, irony and exaggeration or even ridicules and its main intention is to improve humanity by
criticizing other people. Usually writer using this strategy uses fictional characters which usually
stand for real people or themselves to expose and condemn their vices. Therefore, irony and
satire are closely related, irony is the difference between what is said or done and what is usually
meant. Lest us look at an example of satire that happened sometimes back.
The most entertaining, watchable moments of C-SPAN's history I have ever watched just
happened. It is saddening actually when that a comedian is more competent and understanding of
the key issues affecting his countrymen than the leaders who were elected to represent people in
the government(Combe, 2015). For many Americans, immigration reforms are a complex and
multifarious issue which most people are uninformed of its basic layers. A good case is the
tragically unspoken labor of undocumented farm workers. Colbert addresses the congressional
board bearing also in mind the millions of viewers tuning into the live broadcast. Additionally,
he also sets into consideration the fact that the hearing was a formal affair and far cry from his
anything-goes comedy central show. From all this knowledge and elements, he is in a position to
form an appropriate much-needed Kairos.
Through the use of satirical character even in the face of such a serious issue and his far
most serious setting, he draws mass media attention as well as that of the public. He is able to
convince the public using satire throughout the speech to stay and listen. He is also in a position
to communicate with even the most ignorant people about the issue at hand as well as the
complex audience. In this case, the use of satire by this comedian was seen significant as through
his character, he is able to frame the situation as he intended and draws his desired audience as

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well as address the issue in a special setting(Brewer & McKnight, 2015).The relationship
between satire and reality in this case is the way the presenter is able to use his skills in
presenting a seriously real life problem in a satirical way and at the same time being meaningful
while maintaining his lanes.
He remarks in his opening, “I’m happy to use my celebrity to draw attention to this
important, complicated issue”, his eccentric political character becomes reserved typically for his
show and through the use of rare serious setting, and he grabs the buzzing attention of mass
media tenfold. Additionally, in the speech, he starts by addressing his name and the key part of
his patriotic identity where he states that he is an American citizen, this builds his rapport with
American citizens just to add on what people know of him. He goes ahead and revisits his
experience in the UFW campaign where he explains his working conditions and the difficulty he
encountered. He seasons his argument and presentation with a handful use of basic concepts
which every audience could easily comprehend. In his speech, he portrays a satirical character
which ensured that the presentation was transformed into an entertaining learning experience. He
uses satire also in poking fun at congress’s reputation with the public. His 5-minute speech was
able to pack a serious punch using satire as his main weapon of choice which made him achieve
what he was set out to do, get a broad audience to tune in and also entertain as well as inform the
public of the issue at hand
Another satirical presentation was the Saturday Night Live. It was just another comedy
show that made people laugh at an election which was not a laughing matter in the United. The
entire presentation is full of hilarious talks with every opponent trying to disapprove the other to
be the best by giving funny and ridiculing utterance, the moderator begins by stating that the
crowd was not supposed to react, laugh but that does not really work through the entire live

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talk(Katz, 2016). Anyone could see the return of Saturday live as a perfect remedy after a
summer of discontent. As much, expectations were high, it became clear that any parody had no
ability to stop the strange of the original act. It was a comedy take full of satirical words and
ridicules from the current American president Donald directed to Hillary Clinton. Even after
McKinnon entered the stage with a cane coughing and Trump complained of a broken
microphone and the left stage in a huff just following the first question, nothing had seemed to
the real fireworks of the SNL.
This moment was full of satire because as the moderator opens the show, he starts by
claiming that it’s a very serious debate and no one was supposed to clap, move chairs or laugh.
From this beginning people start laughing immediately even before anything else starts. When
Clinton gets on the flow, she comes in a satirical manner by provoking the audience. What
Clinton does at the beginning every viewer would be shocked since he didn’t expect such drama?
What about Trump? When trump comes in after a short while and asked the first question, he
keeps his mouth in a funny shape, answers the first question and says the debate is over because
he has already won the election as he tends to move away from the stage.
Donald Trump makes the use so satirical talk making his audience laugh all through the
presentation. He begins by answering the first question after Clinton stating that American jobs
are going to China and insists the word China in a parodic manner till the audience laughs and
laughs. He punches Clinton with words which greatly reduce her. He goes ahead even to prove
that Clinton is already a loser even before the election is conducted. Amazingly, Clinton accepts
everything that he says and finally sets her crown in a decision after shading slight tears. She
says that she knows people hate her voice and as much as they hate she was going to continue
vying for the presidential seat all the years. Through the satirical choice of words, the two

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political rivals are able to control the audience in a comedy way and at the same time makes sure
that they make their voters aware that they are the best. To Hillary, she thinks she is going to be
the president and proves by stating that Donald was not a better choice, his cannot speak fluently
and his job is just to stammer and stammer. This short drama was meant to present a very official
talk where the two aspirants were to tell the people why they thought they were the best
candidate. They are therefore able to relate their satirical elements and integrate them while at
the same time making the people hear what they had intended to hear(Rowley, 2017).
In conclusion, therefore, satire can be a very important tool in delivering the intended
message in a ridicule way. Comedians have good grounds to portray any intended message to
their character as well as entertain them. In this Context, social media can be used as a means
where satirical presentations can be used to educate audience without making them
bored(Campbell & Durden, 2015).

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References
Brewer, P. R., & McKnight, J. (2015). Climate as comedy: The effects of satirical television
news on climate change perceptions. Science Communication, 37(5), 635-657.
Campbell, D., & Durden, M. (2015). On the Use of Comedy in Art as a Form of Social Critique.
Combe, K. (2015). Stephen Colbert: Great satirist, or greatest satirist ever?. International
Communication Gazette, 77(3), 297-311.
Katz, J. (2016). Man Enough?: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the Politics of Presidential
Masculinity. Interlink Books.
Rowley, A. (2017). ‘Trump and Putin sittin’in a tree’: material culture, slash and the
pornographication of the 2016 US presidential election. Porn Studies, 4(4), 381-405.