Satire and Dissent: Interventions in Contemporary Political Debate

241 Pages·2011·4.37 MB·English

by  Amber Day

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Media In an age when Jon Stewart frequently tops lists of Day +
Satire
Popular Culture most-trusted newscasters, the films of Michael Moore become
a dominant topic of political campaign analysis, and activists
adopt ironic, fake personas to attract attention—the satiric S
register has attained renewed and urgent prominence in politi- a
cal discourse. Amber Day focuses on the parodist news show, t
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the satiric documentary, and ironic activism to examine the r
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techniques of performance across media, highlighting their n t
shared objective of bypassing standard media outlets and the D i s s e
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highly choreographed nature of current political debate.
D
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“The use of irony and satire in politics . . . “Amber Day’s critical study of parodic s
has become a leading characteristic of television shows, satiric documentaries,
s
left-liberal politics in the new millennium. and ironic activism reveals how comedy
e
Amber Day argues persuasively why this became an important means for politi-
has come to be, while explaining its me- cal dissent during the past decade, and n
chanics and exploring its function and why it continues to be a vital resource for
effect.” — Stephen Duncombe, author of democratic renewal.” — Robert Hariman, t
Dream: Re-Imagining Progressive Politics in Northwestern University
an Age of Fantasy
“Day deftly demonstrates the power of
“An excellent book, rich with detail and satire as a means of political critique and
argument, sparkling with intelligence. Day engagement. Casting a wide net, she ex-
illustrates how irony and satire are vital amines how such critiques are performed
components of today’s political system, in numerous media and genres, on and off
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and she charts their performative uses the screen. Day adds an important new
across popular culture with skill and pa- voice, advancing significant theoretical
nache.” — Jonathan Gray, author of Show insights. This is a ‘don’t miss’ volume.”
Sold Separately: Promos, Spoilers, and Other — Jeffrey P. Jones, author of Entertaining
Media Paratexts Politics: Satiric Television and Political Interventions
Engagement
in Contemporary
$22.95 Political Debate
IndIana Amber Day is Assistant
Professor of Performance
University Press In
Studies in the English and d Amber Day
Bloomington & Indianapolis Ia
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1-800-842-6796 at Bryant University.
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I n t e r v e n t i o n s i n C o n t e m p o r a r y Po l i t i c a l D e b a t e
Amber Day
Indiana University Press
Bloomington & Indianapolis
This book is a publication of University Presses’ Resolution on Permis-
sions constitutes the only exception to
Indiana University Press this prohibition.
601 North Morton Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47404-3797 USA The paper used in this publication
meets the minimum requirements of
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All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-
Publication Data
Parts of chapter 3 previously appeared as
“And Now . . . the News? Mimesis and the Day, Amber.
Real in The Daily Show,” in Satire TV: Poli- Satire and dissent : interventions in con-
tics and Comedy in the Post-Network Era, temporary political debate / Amber Day.
edited by Jonathan Gray, Jeffrey P. Jones, p. cm.
and Ethan Thompson (New York: New Includes bibliographical references and
York University Press, 2009). Reprinted index.
with permission of New York University ISBN 978-0-253-35588-1 (cloth : alk.
Press. Parts of chapter 5 previously ap- paper) — ISBN 978-0-253-22281-7
peared as “Are They for Real? Activism (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Television in poli-
and Ironic Identities,” Electronic Journal of tics—United States. 2. Television talk
Communication 18.2–4 (2008). Reprinted shows—United States. 3. Documentary
with permission. films—Political aspects—United States.
4. Irony—Political aspects. 5. Political
No part of this book may be reproduced satire, American—History and
or utilized in any form or by any means, criticism. I. Title.
electronic or mechanical, including HE8700.76.U6D39 2011
photocopying and recording, or by any 791.45’65810973—dc22
information storage and retrieval system, 2010033161
without permission in writing from the
publisher. The Association of American 1 2 3 4 5 16 15 14 13 12 11
For Auden Day McEvoy

Contents
· Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction: Poking Holes in the Spectacle 1
2 Ironic Authenticity 24
3 Truthiness and Consequences in Parodic News 43
4 Heroes and Villains: Satiric Documentarians
Spearhead the Debate 99
5 Irony in Activism 145
6 Moving beyond Critique 186
· Notes 195
· Bibliography 205
· Index 215

Acknowledgments
I have never managed to do anything without thoroughly mulling, de-
bating, philosophizing, and kibitzing about the details with a team of
advisors, and this book is no exception. I owe a special debt of gratitude
to Jonathan Gray, who allowed me to tap his advice at many stages along
the way and whose guidance was of enormous importance to me. Jeffrey
Jones also provided valuable counsel and encouragement. Thanks, too,
to Indiana University Press’s readers for helping to mold the project into
shape and to the staff at the press for shepherding it along. My colleagues
at Bryant University have also been immensely supportive, particular-
ly my chair, Mary Prescott, and the other members of the English and
Cultural Studies department.
This project has gone through several incarnations, and its begin-
nings were significantly shaped by my coaches, Susan Manning, Jeffrey
Sconce, and Tracy C. Davis, who provided patient mentoring and wise
counsel. Robert Hariman and Chuck Kleinhans read chapters in the early
stages, offering their time and their invaluable expertise, while Dilip Ga-
onkar ensured that I kept my head above water. Thanks also to some of my
earliest readers, Iona Szeman, Ann Folino White, Stefka Mihaylova, Jesse
Nijus, Dan Smith, and Christina McMahon, who supplied much-needed
camaraderie along with their detailed feedback.
Finally, I could not have done this without my family, particularly
without the help of Patrick McEvoy, my confidant, editor, advisor, and
friend, who is an endless source of patience, enthusiasm, and love. And
thanks to Auden, whose gestation roughly coincided with that of this
book, supplying a non-negotiable deadline. Though he has yet to discover
satire, this book is dedicated to him.
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