Satire & the state : sketch comedy and the presidency /
Satire & The State focuses on performance-based satire, most often seen in sketch comedy, from 1960 to the present, and explores how sketch comedy has shaped the way Americans view the president and themselves. There are numerous sketch comedy portrayals of presidents that have seeped into the A...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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New York :
Routledge,
2020.
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| Summary: | Satire & The State focuses on performance-based satire, most often seen in sketch comedy, from 1960 to the present, and explores how sketch comedy has shaped the way Americans view the president and themselves. There are numerous sketch comedy portrayals of presidents that have seeped into the American consciousness, Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey's George H.W. Bush and Will Ferrell's George W. Bush all worked to shape the actual politician's public persona. The book analyzes these sketches and many others, illustrating how comedy is at the heart of the health and function of American democracy. At its best, satire aimed at the presidency can work as a populist check on executive power, becoming one of the most important weapons for everyday Americans against tyranny and political corruption. At its worst, satire can reflect and promote the racism, misogyny and homophobia of Americans. Written for students of theater, performance, political science and media studies courses, as well as readers with an interest in political comedy, Satire & The State offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between comedy and the presidency, and the ways in which satire becomes a window into the culture, principles, and beliefs of a country. |
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| Item Description: | Includes index. |
| Physical Description: | ix, 290 pages ; 24 cm. |
| ISBN: | 9781138338111 1138338117 9781138338128 1138338125 |