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Tag(s): Cartoons Editorial; HUMOR SATIRE; Satire
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July 15, 2008 at 13:39:02

Headlined on 7/15/08:
Someone Want To Explain To Me What's So Funny About Satire

by steve young Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Okay, it's a cartoon. Cartoons are supposed to be funny. I get that. But usually you at least get a caption underneath that tells you why it's funny. The New Yorker cartoon didn't even give us a "Git 'er done" or a "Wha-a-at?" or in this case, "Black People In The White House And They're Not The Help."

How in the world is anybody supposed to get that this thing is a joke?

I know funny, and I can tell you right now, having a Negro Muslim and his angry terrorist-militant wife in the Oval Office isn't what anyone would ever think is funny. At least no one I know. It isn't even a decent "Family Circus." Now there's something that's funny. Why? Because so much of what that guy draws could happen. A black president who burns the American flag or thinks the Koran is our bible? That could never happen. Not in my country. Not where people have died in another country fighting for the right to have the red, white and blue to fly in that country so they won't be able to fly it over here, or something like that.

A lot of people in New York - not just Jews - Americans too, think this satire thing goes over the head of people like me. But even if I was taller... READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE.

Steve Young blogs at SteveYoungOnPolitics.com

www.greatfailure.com

A talk show host, author, columnist,award-winning television writer and filmmaker, his inspiring book, "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (Tallfellow Press) has been published internationally and has become required reading in the Wharton School of Business Masters Program. His "All The News That's Fit To Spoof " column appears every Sunday on the L.A. Daily News Oped Page. Steve has appeared all over national TV and radio with his unique brand of satirical punditry and social observations appearing in national periodicals from the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, to his own weekly Internet column "The Lords Of Loud," at AlbionMonitor.net and The Huffington Post.

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9 comments

The author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?
Tony ForestThe author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?

not an expert on this at all

all I can say is, coming from Kansas, and this is in no way a broadswipe at all Jayhawks, my humor differs immensely from that of your average person from ...say NYC. Satire is something I had to get to know over the years outside Kansas. Again, this is my personal experience, not a broadswipe generalisation of all Jayhawks. Some are very witty and as quick and smart as a whip. Not me. It sometimes takes me days to get behind the punch line of a good joke. I'm not exagerating, folks. It's true.

Satire, or as my kids call it, "Verarschung" is something I usually oversee.

I hope this personal reflection helps provide at least a part of an answer to your question. Oh, and before I duck and run....

humor is often used to smuggle ill intent.

by Tony Forest (5 articles, 14 quicklinks, 148 diaries, 1335 comments) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 2:33:07 PM

Armed with word, song, and sequencer, Mars delivers social analysis, dreams and blueprints for change. She survived the 1999 National Poetry Slam, has performed all over Chicago, and has been a featured speaker at many political rallies. Born in New England in the radical 60's, Mars is a veteran political activist, performance artist/musician, chocoholic, early childhood educator, photographer, sky-watcher, single mom of a rebel in training, and proud African-american bowl of gumbo.
Mars CaultonArmed with word, song, and sequencer, Mars delivers social analysis, dreams and blueprints for change. She survived the 1999 National Poetry Slam, has performed all over Chicago, and has been a featured speaker at many political rallies. Born in New England in the radical 60's, Mars is a veteran political activist, performance artist/musician, chocoholic, early childhood educator, photographer, sky-watcher, single mom of a rebel in training, and proud African-american bowl of gumbo.

Several problems with Satire in Mass Media

1. Satire is a style of humor that is NOT USED IN EVERY CULTURE. That's right -- everyone doesn't equally use, or even SEE/HEAR, satire.

2. Satire depends on the audience having a solid grasp of Frame Of Reference. In this case, it assumes the viewer knows these images are already commonly out there in the Right-o-sphere.

3. Satire depends on the audience's knowing whether the author/artist/comedian is roughly FOR or AGAINST what is being portrayed. The New Yorker cover only works if one knows it is (supposedly) a liberal magazine interested in poking fun at the Right. I think it isn't appropriate generally in Mass Media for this reason.

4. As the Jayhawker says, it is easily used to "smuggle" in some nasty attack on someone. I agree with Steve's choice of wording: humor like this cover is questionable in its true objective.

I would have found it funny if it showed clearly that SOMEONE ELSE was seeing the Obamas in those ways. But to JUST show the sterotype without any hint of what is really there, suggests it is the reality/view of the artist, and thus, the magazine.

They should prepare for the avalanche of condemning petitions etc. Likely they'll brush it all off as, "They just don't get it. Satire is for INTELLIGENT people." Or maybe they'll say, "Black people don't have a sense of humor." Americans have done well in silencing feminist critique with that line. And KKKramer still gets work. More people should refuse to be silent in the face of Hate Humor.

by Mars Caulton (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 82 comments) on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 2:52:47 AM

Sandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sandy SandSandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Hey Tony

First, what's a Jayhawk?

Maybe you weren't kidding yesterday when you gave me a hard time about my horsing around with the Clydesdales.

"...humor is often used to smuggle ill intent."

Sometimes humor us used for ill intent. Carlos Mencia, who has a weekly comedy show -- if one can call it that -- on Comedy Central uses humiliation of audience members, which he thinks is hysterical. I saw him do it on his 2nd show and thought it was so disgusting, I've never watched him since.

So, although some have ill intentions, thankfully most of us use it as truth in jest.

-S

by Sandy Sand (140 articles, 0 quicklinks, 193 diaries, 1360 comments) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:03:10 PM

funny enough

wiki sees it differently than I do. According to wiki, the term is Jayhawker. I would say, they're wrong. Just like the ones who point you to KSU for the answer. Just as wrong. wiki...."....the term is applied to a native or resident of Kansas." I'm a native of and once was a resident.

I'm so happy you mentioned Carlos Mencia. Not knowing who Carlos is, I had to look for a video clip. I may have seen this guy before but I don't think so (not very popular in Germany, I guess). The very first video clip I selected has a good explanation of american humor, right toward the end of the clip. I almost fell over laughing and it didn't take me more than a split second to understand the punch line! ;-)

by Tony Forest (5 articles, 14 quicklinks, 148 diaries, 1335 comments) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 3:08:53 AM

Hater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired
John HanksHater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired

Satire is cruel.

All cruelty is a source of pleasure because it helps you to look down on others. The best cruelty and ridicule is directed at your betters - movie stars, violent criminals, etc.

by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1186 comments) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 9:47:34 AM

Male, 50, Texas. White with white hair (for 20 years)
Write, read, and draw.
Topics include science, art, history, language, philisophy, the odd and unusual. SiFi/Goth/Lovecraft
Recovering from a medical episode that nearly killed me in 2006. Still being treated.
An autodidact and graduated High School but not college.
Not good with people. I have poor emotional intelligence.
nightgauntMale, 50, Texas. White with white hair (for 20 years)
Write, read, and draw.
Topics include science, art, history, language, philisophy, the odd and unusual. SiFi/Goth/Lovecraft
Recovering from a medical episode that nearly killed me in 2006. Still being treated.
An autodidact and graduated High School but not college.
Not good with people. I have poor emotional intelligence.

All cartoons aren't funny and calling it satire doesn't make

All cartoons aren't funny and calling it satire doesn't make it so. There would have been so many ways to use that cover other than how it was in fact used. Xenophobia, racism and calumney do not make satire. Satire concerns exaggeration of someone's traits whether physical &/or personal. What the "New Yorker" did was support the attacks on Obama, his wife, blacks and muslims in general wrapped in a bow of anti-Americanism. Just right for "American Renaissance," (White, Christian racist magazine) not for the "New Yorker."

Why weren't there two covers? The first with the caption "The Lie" and the second showing the real right-wing Obama presidency with the caption "the Truth," would have made the point. How about a cover showing an identically set scene but it is McCaine as president fist bumping GWB with a portrait of Ronald Reagan, a Confederate flag & burning an Iranian flag. Oh sorry, that isn't satire, it is the truth.

by nightgaunt (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 173 comments) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 11:52:43 AM

A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Ignorance and malice sells

New Yorker knows its flock. People will buy the maagazine because they would love to have that 'cartoon'. It is idiotic, offensive and ignorant but it sells. You, folks sometimes forget where you live. It is money, stupid.

by Mark Sashine (50 articles, 19 quicklinks, 242 diaries, 3432 comments) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:11:26 PM

Love is my religion; the world is my family.
carlLove is my religion; the world is my family.

Laughing all the way to our own destruction

Humor and laughter can be very positive and uplifting when appropriate. Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh? But this country continues to joke and make light at our current government and the terrible state we are in while our rights are slowly being taken away and our system of government continues to support imperialist war and threats of war to the rest of the world. We are literally laughing all the way to our own destruction. Mr Bush and company and the powers to be are very easy to make light of but haven't we gone past the point where this ceases to be funny? I wonder how much jokes and laughter were used as part of the denial and illusion that allowed Hitler and Nazsi Germany to succeed. Terrorists are the least of our concerns now. The imperialist power we have become is being destroyed from within without a shot being fired.

by carl (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 124 comments) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 9:33:53 PM

Retired. Male. Western Minnesota. Social Science/Spanish undergrad majors. Master's in Counseling. Socialist.
Bryan EmmelRetired. Male. Western Minnesota. Social Science/Spanish undergrad majors. Master's in Counseling. Socialist.

New Yorker

New Yorker readers are pretty sophisticated and undoubtedly picked up on the satire of the cover cartoon. The problem comes in when it becomes circulated to a wider audience who have been so vulnerable to crude propaganda and ridiculous stereotypes.

by Bryan Emmel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 135 comments) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 3:00:52 AM