Alain De Botton Humorists

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In Alain de Botton’s book, Status Anxiety, he takes the point of view that humorists are able to speak on topics that are risky, thus making humorists vital in society. Since humorists convey harsh messages in a way that people accept, de Botton is accurate in his claim because humorists promote discussion and address flaws in society. Humorists often promote discussion about harsh messages through their work. When imagining a humorist, many people may think of a cartoonist, or more specifically, a political cartoonist. Political cartoonists illustrate controversial topics in society and highlight an angle that inspires conversation and debate around a topic when people might not normally be open to talking about it. A recent political cartoon depicted a donkey and an elephant--representing their corresponding political parties--competing in a high jump of moral …show more content…

Jimmy Fallon’s “Thank You Notes” bit is always one to address faults in a very comedic way. While usually thanking sliced bread, flip flops, or light bulbs, he also brings up controversy in society. “Thank you, the news, for making me feel like I’m watching ‘To Catch A Predator.’” In this installment of “Thank You Notes,” Jimmy Fallon is referring to the abundance of sexual harassment allegations occurring in Hollywood, politics, and other media sources. (pathos) Fallon brings up this issue to highlight the fault in it. Many people believe that the rise of these accusations are because women are inspired by other women sharing their stories. The flaw Fallon suggests in his note is not aimed towards the news itself, but rather the disappointing number of sexual harassment cases and the persecutors involved. He tells the joke. People listen. People process. People laugh. (anaphora) And although some may say that the audience brushes it off because it is comedy, the humorists are able to at least convey their message and get people thinking about

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