We are all aware of Saturday Night Live’s uncanny impression of the Trump administration, but what makes it so funny? And more importantly why is it that these impressions of the people in power seem the funniest to us but seem to hurt those in power the most?
We laugh at every meme, reel, video and performance where someone imitates a celebrity and it makes us feel more than just happy; it makes us feel rebellious to be laughing at the expense of someone who is far above us in the chain of command. But why is satire so prevalent in our pop culture and why has it become such a big part of the comedy culture of comedy itself today? Let’s try to understand why.
Satire is both a genre and a literary device that holds human nature up to criticism and scorn. It is often political in focus but does not have to be. In literature, writers use irony, humour, and exaggeration to create successful satire. Satire in literature is a type of social commentary. Writers use exaggeration, irony, and other devices to poke fun at a particular leader, a social custom or tradition, or any other prevalent social figure or practice that they want to comment on and call into question.
Contemporary writers have used satire to comment on everything from capitalism, like the Netflix sensation Squid Game, to sexism, like in Jay Roach’s Austin Powers, to the year-end release of Don’t Look Up that criticizes the utter ignorance of the government and self-regard of billionaires hiding behind a veil of pseudo-altruism
However, satire isn’t only limited to the West. In Indian pop culture satire has always had a special place. R.K. Lakshman’s Common Man was witness to the absurdities and inanities of politics in India. Laxman’s political cartoons were absolutely world-class, and say a lot more about Indian politics than the news ever does.
Satire matters for more than one reason, but its main goal is to raise people’s awareness about the current state of affairs and to challenge their viewpoints by using humour and irony. It helps us confront the unpleasant reality with a dollop of honey and see the world as it is, so that we can improve it.
Satire in journalism existed way before the digital era. Mark Twain is certainly among the pioneers of satirical journalism as we know it. Satire takes the important task of sugar-coating the bitter truth. This does not in any way diminish the weight of the criticism directed towards individuals, organizations, political figures, or the entire society.
Actually, it’s quite the opposite: the fact that satire is funny makes us incredibly receptive to it. Laughter caused by satire sweetens those bitter pills we need to swallow, but it’s sneaky as it leaves a bad aftertaste – just as it should. It’s a great teacher in that sense. There have always been and forever will be those who dare to mock the conventions of their time and use the weapon of wit to address important social issues and even reveal the incompetence of our political leaders. It is certainly up to us whether we dissect further into the matter or consider humour as the ultimate takeaway.
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