Colbert satirized conservatives for years and conservatives ate the onion. You have to keep escalating otherwise it will fizzle out.
Am I the only one that does not enjoy satire anymore? Or, really, I think we've hit a point where the satire isn't really possible. Not to the degree it was before. It's just pointing at things. It's not creative or interesting.
Hear me out. Satire is funny because it takes the reasoning and narrative of something to a logical extreme. It exposes the hypocrisy while keeping the fundamental parts of something following the same reasoning or path. It makes you laugh because you're thinking "how ridiculous" and at the same time thinking "wait that is actually following reason". It's a fundamental part of comedy "the contradiction" your brain feels in that scenario.
You can't satirize modern American politics. Take South Park for example. Most of the "satire" in it is literally just pointing to things that are actually happening. Do they do it in a "silly" way? Yeah. Add some small penis jokes and some farts. But the subject they are trying to cover is truly stranger than fiction. There is no "contradiction" because she really did shoot her dog. ICE really is hiring any person with a pulse.
Sorry. A bit of a rant. And explaining "what is funny" is never going to be universal. But when I watched South Park it just made me annoyed. Like, we've hit the "logical conclusion" and there is no more contradiction with it to what we think is possible. We're just laughing to not have to face reality as much. Which is the opposite of what satire is supposed to do. Satire is supposed to make you think and face the contradictions you didn't think about. I feel like whatever this is, is making people laugh so they don't have to think about what's actually happening.
Fair point about the difference between good satire and bad. There's always been bad comedy that just points and laughs.
Satire isn't dead, the problem is finding the new extremes. Looking at what's going on and teasing out the ridiculous, improbable hypotheticals without being defeatist. Good satire finds the hope, too, what happens after we get over the wall, and how do we get there.
It's mentally exhausting to keep seeing the hyperbole and not getting the hope.
Mostly, I'm thinking about Spaceballs.
That's why I've stopped watching satire programs. It's become too depressing to see how little difference there is between satire and reality nowadays. And as you point out, it doesn't change anything.
Ok, what's the alternative? We ignore the absurdity around us and let authoritarians off the hook? No, Ill keep the satire. I think you just got a case of, "get off my lawn."
Its understandable but its also just as detestable. Youre the master of your domain, consume only that which you would like to consume.
When you remove the veneer of comedy you'll find lots of anger. Thats why Lewis Black struck a chord. We need an appropriate outlet for the anger before we are compelled only by bloodthirst and we are staring at our blood soaked hands thinking, "what have I done?"
I think you took my comment to be directed at this (satire failing) as a major problem. I'm not saying that. It was meant to more of an observation and a "anyone else feel this way?" So hopefully we can find some common ground.
Obviously the alternative is taking action and resisting. You jumped to "letting them off the hook" which I think we both can agree is not what either of us want. I hope you give me more charity if you respond again.
My point was that we are beyond the point of debating ideas alone. We can convince people that these things are wrong, absolutely, and still should. We can make them not feel alone by pointing to the problems and mocking them (which South Park can fill a role in). But, there is not a fundamental "shift" in satire, like South Park, that hits the urgency of the situation. It is not directing people to anything more than "waiting it out" and laughing at it. I feel like it serves as a opiate that makes people feel comfortable in something familiar as our country builds concentration camps and supports a genocide. (This is the "anyone else feel this way?" Point I was trying to make)
South Park (sticking with it as my example) is not doing anything different than when they mocked presidents of the past; and I think the average viewer needed "shock" not the "comfort" that they received from the episodes. It gives people the sense of "we've been here before" when we HAVE NOT. We are far past the Rubicon and its not even visible on the horizon.
I don't see my liberal friends joining me on the street. I hear them talk about how hard Trump was "destroyed" by South Park and how funny him dating Satan was with Sadam's voice (again, comfort from the past). I just can't help but be frustrated by their correct criticism being met with complete inaction and a sense of normalcy. Like, they enjoy being "right" but don't realize that's not enough.
To be clear. I am not saying that South Park or satire in general is the reason for this inaction alone. Its not even the main part of it. There are far stronger material reasons that keep people from taking action. But that is beyond the scope of this topic. I just want to make it clear that I'm NOT saying "South Park alone is causing inaction and if only they didn't satire Trump we'd have people filling the streets". I just think it does play a role in making people feel as though the past and the present are the same and making them feel comfortable that "this to shall pass" when, I would guess we both agree, that it will only get worse.
Edit: ending this with what could be seen as doomerism. Which was not my intention. I want people to see hope in action. Inaction is my frustration.
This smacks of "If you're not with me, you're against me."
Yep I agree, have to hit while the iron is hot. If he did this he'd earn my vote. Maybe Gavin should start to stand the way traitor trump stands. That MJ lean.
His next stunt doesnt have to be orange face but he needs to ratchet up. What needs to happen is the right wing media has to continuously act so incredulous, feining outrage, the most daft mother fucker on the planet can look at them and say, "what?"
Is that possible, I dont think so, but unless you go all in you'll never find out. At this point there is nothing left to lose.
"Never go full retard!"
You remember how trump's followers walked around with gauze on their ears? Why don't they wear orange makeup?