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Satirical comedy mocking Islamic State is truly brave

9/30/2014

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One phenomenon that is extremely common in comedy circles all across the western world is for writers and performers of political satire to see themselves as brave and rebellious. Many of them truly believe that they are "speaking truth to power" with their jokes and jibes, and that they are often risking some sort of severe punishment by the state as a result.

In the vast majority of cases these beliefs are completely unfounded. This is because the claims of sexism, racism, greed, corruption and other vices made by the satirist are usually only believed by his audience. And even if this does amount to a large number of people, it's never large enough to have some demonstrable political influence. So in democracies like Australia satire almost never lands a punch on its target. Even if it does, citizens have too many rights in their favor for a politician to seek vengeance on him. He just wouldn't dare. 

This is not the case in a lot of other countries, however. In places where tyranny and corruption are widespread, those mocking the powerful are taking huge risks. Take the Iraqi comedians who are poking fun at Islamic State in the show State of Myths, for example. Sure, IS are not presently ruling the city in which the show is produced. But they are certainly aiming to. And they could well achieve this aim if not decisively beaten, and soon. In any case, the show is being broadcast in areas held by the barbaric fanatics. 

Considering the Islamists' reputation for extreme acts of brutality, being involved in any way in this production -- and particularly in a visible role as an IS character -- is courageous indeed. I doubt very much that any of the western comics who think of themselves as courageous would attempt anything so daring if they found themselves in a similar situation. 
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Political satire Rituals censored in Zimbabwe

2/5/2011

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Performing satire in countries that aren't democratic can be a risky and sometimes dangerous activity. A recent example of this is happening in Zimbabwe, still controlled by dictator Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwean authorities arrested touring artists involved with the political satire Rituals, then let them go. The production company website has details of this.

Then in Bulawayo the production was banned by police. However this was overturned by a local magistrate. So, there's clearly a battle going on. And the forces of repression aren't all powerful.

Still, there has been a concerted effort by the government to stamp out dissent. As this related article states:

The police, the spy Central Intelligence Organisation and the state censorship board have in recent months stopped political satire and art exhibitions, while in some cases some of the productions have been banned altogether and artists arrested in an attempt by hardliner security commanders to silence art productions perceived as too critical of Mugabe.
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Political satirist Mort Sahl still going strong

10/29/2010

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Mort Sahl - seen by many as the father of modern standup comedy - is still performing his often satirical routines even though he is now 83 years old. That's good to know. He also seems to be a much more rounded and complex figure than most younger comics. He clearly isn't consumed by hatred and anger, and doesn't have a drug habit. He also pokes fun at both sides of politics - rather than just taking aim at Republicans.

Here's an article about a recent gig of his at the Napa Valley Opera House.
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Satirical comedy can be risky depending on the location

10/27/2010

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In the democratic west we have a lot of freedom. Satirists can openly make fun of the government without suffering any negative consequences except maybe some outraged commentary in the media and the private cursing of their targets. But political comedians in countries that don't have such entrenched traditions of freedom of expression often have a much rougher time of it.

Here's a good article on the subject that lists some truly brave comics who risk a lot more than criticism when speaking (funny) truth to power.
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Phoenix, Colbert, Baron Cohen and the limits of satire

10/15/2010

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Here's an interesting article about satire and its limits. It deals with some recent satirical projects by entertainers such as Stephen Colbert and Joaquin Phoenix and asks whether they went too far with them. My personal feeling is that they did go too far - or, rather, they were just being overly self indulgent, and they ended up forgetting their audiences.

Phoenix, for instance, spent many months maintaining an elaborate hoax. While you have to admire the commitment, I can't really see how all that effort was justified. I mean, to do something so involved and extreme and for so long, you've have to end up with some earth shattering insights into the human condition. But what's he shown us? That journalists and talk show audiences can be fooled easily? That we're all pop culture junkies who are finding it increasingly different to tell the difference between reality and fiction? It's not like these questions haven't been addressed many times before. The fact that he thinks what he did was so important and worthwhile is the most revealing thing to come out of the project. I get the impression he's the one who's a bit too obsessed with the media - not society in general.

Regarding Stephen Colbert's cringe-inducing performance at a recent congressional hearing: Sure, it sounds like a very ballsy thing to do. But again it was extremely arrogant. Pompous blowhards they may be, but politicians are serving the people when they have these meetings, and if you hijack one of them so you can hold the whole thing up to ridicule then you are also showing contempt for the people who elected them.

Sacha Baron Cohen, another performer cited in the article, is much better satirist than both of them. He hits more targets and is far more versatile, witty and courageous. He also manages to be laugh out loud funny the whole time he is on screen. That proves to me that he doesn't take himself too seriously, and always remembers that what he is doing is ultimately more about entertainment than anything else.
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    My name's Matt Hayden. I'm a blogger and writer in Perth, Western Australia. I have a lot of experience in live comedy and maintain a keen interest in the subject.

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