In the changeable world of politics the words are almost always do not relate to the particular actions. In this respect on the controversies of what politics do and how they act the satirical genre appears. Political satire is the field where the concrete remarks and actions of politics are analyzed by means of humor. Satirical survey on the current policies in the country really promotes a drive for the political circles. It is seen on the example of mass media. Contemporary media generates the scope of ideas about which the publicity may think. The conclusions and the results of the political satire can greatly influence on the public opinion. This is a so-called base for debates.
Thus, the paper illuminates the themes of satire, politics, real state of social economical and political affairs etc. The concept of word freedom is especially highlighted in the discussion. This approach is strong due to the democratic position stated in the United States. However, it does not matter where the situation takes place. It is vital to appropriately react on the political contradictions if such appear in the society. This assertion is fair for further discussion which may lead to certain improvements. Stephen Colbert and his The Colbert Report are under discussion. His show is the example of how politics can be criticized if there is a ground for such intentions. He is merciless in laughing at officials. It is even seen in his speech about political satire at the White House Correspondent Dinner. At that moment being close to former president George Bush Jr. he did not hesitate to satirically comment everything done by the president. In fact, Stephen Colbert continues his show on the Comedy Central today. The audience of potential and current viewers is still growing due to the sincerity of what is depicted in it by means of satire. Such lively stories intend to get closer to serious matters which seem so funny. In turn it is a force that is able to make authority listen to the message of the reason through one or several people on the screen.
The appearance of political satire is not based on occasional grounds. There were some reasons for this new kind of arguing politics. The thing is that the mass media is all-pervading means for influencing people. This may serve politics from both good and bad perspectives for their acceptance in the society. In other words, political satirists such as Stephen Colbert and John Stewart have enough information from their own observation, so that to state about the drawbacks in the political sphere. It becomes today a new way for communication with people on various themes as of the politics. It is he approach to politics not to put blame on them due to their wrong actions and fallacies. All in all this communication is the part of political relations: “As media genres become more fluid, new forms of political communication evolve and contribute to an arena in which previously unauthorized voices become participants in the debates of the day” (Gray 168). This is why the new phase of providing dialogue with candidates or current politics is so important for contemporary stage in development of the United States. One may think it is unserious, and jokes will not solve the situation. However, from this side politics are known better than from pre-arranged speeches and persuasions.
Current findings show that logically people cannot say with assurance that they are quite right informed according to political issues. Decoding the news is the result of impact from the side of mainstream institutions (Willis 73). Thereupon, a conflict appears in whether or not to believe the officials in the proclamations. A mature observer would definitely notice the pieces of lies in such speeches of politics. This is why satire is one of the most applicable stylistic devices to help situation. Satire is inevitable when looking at some points of absurd and paradox which officials state at some moments. This is why news should take into consideration not only official side but an independent force in order to provide weighty arguments. Satire promotes nation-building and solidarity in assuming the steps which current state power follows. On the one hand, political shows like that of Stephen Colbert criticize the course in political relations. On the other hand, such shows correlate the necessity of choosing right way, so that not to be blamed by the society and public opinion. The analytics inform the following feature of satire in mass media: “As a form of cultural bonding, satire, and its relationship to power and marginality, is particularly effective as a mode of symbolic resistance to the perceived power of the dominant other” (Gray 169).
Stephen Colbert once admitted a very strict and funny remark: “I’m a fake candidate (And so can you!)” (Gray 77). This message is for every politics in the United States. It is lack of biases and assurance in transparency of a person being elected or elected at the moment. This is why it is necessary to observe how messages of officials influence the society. To be precise, mediated political messages are at a core of discussion today. Everyone should think of the news character via TV. In most cases it promotes a desired effect of concernment. In other words, political messages tend to appeal to relevant situations and high emotions (Willis 68). Thus, an immature viewer scarcely can designate the motives of such messages and their previous background as well.
For instance, the claim of former president Bush for war in Iraq touched upon all spheres of American well-being. Unless the war started, Americans would experience the effects of 9/11, – such remark is a concise character of Bush’s speech in 2003. This approach, as seen, fell into nothing but deaths of Americans in the Middle East. Looking at both reasons and arguments of the politics and then stating the outcomes of such policies, one becomes aware of the fallacy in which he/she was involved. It is a total blindness to listen to and believe such suggestions of officials. If the state power is so apt to involve society in fallacy, then the society should be more aggressive in criticizing the way of such reforms. Satire is applicable in this case. Its urge is intended on demonstration of how things take place in policy and what is the real face of politics themselves (Andersen and Gray 298). Stephen Colbert in his The Colbert Report represents the model of social position in the domain of mass media. Its impact is high on resisting mediated political messages and giving them real evaluation.
Works cited
Andersen, Robin and Gray, Jonathan Alan. Battleground: the media. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008.
Gray, Jonathan, Jones, Jeffrey P., and Thompson, Ethan. Satire TV. New York: NYU Press, 2009.
Willis, William James. The media effect: How the news influences politics and government. New York: Praeger, 2007.