Satire, the Mirror of Reality

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Satire is the most powerful democratical weapon in the arsenal of modern media. Sophia McClennen, the author of America According to Colbert: Satire as Public Pedagogy, describes it as the modern form of public pedagogy, as it helps to educate the masses about current issues (73). In fact, ”a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey in 2004 found that 61 percent of people under the age of thirty got some of their political 'news' from late-night comedy shows” (McClennen 73). This statistic shows how influential satirical shows such as The Colbert Report or South Park can be. Satire invites critical self introspection from us in a way that no other media can. It also acts as an unbiased mirror that reflects the mirror image of the flaws of our society. This beautiful process, when unhindered and uncensored, is the epitome of western freedom of speech, which is the single most significant right that deserves to be cherished and defended. According to McClennen however, all mirror images of satire might not be beneficial. She believes that shows such as South Park and The Simpsons, which are not afraid to attack anything, do not lead to any kind of positive political discourse. This is because they provide negative critique that does not offer the elements required from an effective public pedagogy (McClennen 74). Theodore Gournelos, the author of The Tao of South Park: Dissonant Visual Culture and the Future of Politics refutes McClennen´s claim by arguing that eventhough South Park does not directly intervene with policy making or legislative initiatives, it forms a social landscape in which we challenge the status quo. He continues by saying that ”conflict-oriented cultural productions like South Park suggest an arra... ... middle of paper ... ...r, Trey. Cartoon wars I(s10e03). South Park. Comedy Central. 5 Apr. 2006. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.. --- Cartoon wars II(s10e04). South Park. Comedy Central. 12 Apr. 2006. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.. Pilkington, Ed. "South Park Censored after Threat of Fatwa over Muhammad Episode." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. . Rose, Flemming. "Why I Published Those Cartoons." The Washington Post 19 Feb. 2006. The Washington Post. 9 Apr. 2013 . The Qur'an. Trans. By Sahih International. Web. 7 Dec. 2013.

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