Parody and Satire: Meaningless Jokes or Influential Strategies?

“Honestly, when they asked me if I wanted to do it, I had no idea about the news or anything. I don’t read. Now I find out the news through setups we do for jokes”- Jimmy Fallon

Visual:

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/josh-brolin-episode-1536-pictured-seth-meyers-amy-poehler-governor-picture-id138245225

Key Points:

1. "Satire and parody and effective tools in interrogating power and deconstructing news" (Russell 102). 
• Can be seen as a way out of complying with journalistic standards. Comedy allows people to get away with  saying things that journalists cannot. 
• Using humor to spotlight different issues by incorporating opinions that unbiased media cannot (Leano 88).
2. Satire and parody as a form of critique through imitation (Russell 106). 
• Exposing the fakeness of so-called "real" news by blurring the lines between different genres
3. Both techniques as a contribution to the evolution of journalistic forms and the creation of a space for people to express their opinions (Russell 126). 
4. Parody and satire are becoming increasingly more significant in terms of how we interpret and form opinions about the news and major events/issues. 
5. Both techniques have the power to influence political agenda.
• The 2008 Election skits on Saturday Night Live contributed the widely held negative outlook of Sarah Palin, but also had some responsibility for John McCain's image restoration. The skits helped lead the public to questions the credibility of candidates. 
• The Weekend Update segment was "meant to be a serious voice in the American political landscape and serve an informational purpose", said creator Lorne Michaels (Reincheld 191).
• "Now I find out about the news through setups we do for jokes", said Jimmy Fallon (Reincheld 193).
• "SNL Effect: The shows ability to impact media coverage and promote an agenda at a broader lever (Leano 86).
6. Comedy has an agenda-setting power which has created a shift away from a linear story line to an emphasis on connections with people's backgrounds and beliefs. 
7. Political parodies may be becoming political knowledge. Young adults who watch political parodies are more informed than those who do not. 
8. Parody and satire will continue to become more popular and influential in the media (Leano 88). 

Questions: 

1. Do you think young adults are able to separate political parody from political knowledge and remain unpersuaded by this form of media?
2. How might the ability to access content online increase or decrease the persuasion tactics of parody and satire in recent years?
3. What are some potential concerns that could arise from the public receiving its news from media that use parody and satire? 

References:

 Leano, Jessica. “The Agenda-Setting Power of Saturday Night Live.” The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications. 5.1 (2014): 81-89.

Reincheld, Aaron. “Saturday Night Live” and Weekend Update: The Formative Years of Comedy News Dissemination.” Journalism History. 31.4 (2006): 190-97.

Russell, Adrienne. “News Parody, Satire, Remix: When There’s Nothing to Do but Laugh”. In Networked: A Contemporary History of News in Transition. 101-130. Polity Press, 2011.