Political Satire and Civic Action: Can Satire Motivate Citizens to Action?

• In Event: Poster Session: Political Communication 1 & Politics, Literature, and the Arts
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Politics, Literature, and the Arts

Abstract

After the satire boom of the early 2000s, political communication scholars engaged in a fierce debate over the limits of political satire. Early studies showed that viewers of The Daily Show were more politically knowledgeable than viewers of the mainstream news media. However, can political satire actually get citizens to do anything differently, such as vote for certain candidates or participate more widely in the political process? Does it have the potential to change hearts and minds by presenting a political argument in comedic form? In this paper, I make the argument that satire’s effect on civic action is mostly among the already converted and is unlikely to reach across the aisle to audiences politically opposed to the show’s politics. Additionally, according to the “safety valve theory,” satire may have an inhibitory effect on civic engagement if the laughter it provokes in citizens becomes a substitute for direct action. Thus, the average viewer of Last Week Tonight or The Daily Show is unlikely to change their mind or their vote because of their viewing habits. Instead, the type of action produced by the biggest fans of political satire often results in small acts of mischief and political sabotage, with the occasional possibility of making a difference in a close election.

Author

• Edmond Hally, Ferrum College