Jon Oliver practices the lowest form of comedy. Punching down. It takes balls and an actual sense of humor to mock your rulers and their paymasters. All it takes is an excess of self regard to make fun of those who you presume to be beneath you. “Haha, people I look down on are idiots!” Good for you. But recognizing that the people you’re told to look up to are idiots is the real sign of insight, and mocking those IN power makes the best and most influential comedy.
"But recognizing that the people you’re told to look up to are idiots is the real sign of insight, and mocking those IN power makes the best and most influential comedy." Well said. It's also the most dangerous kind of comedy.
Nailed it with the term Smugnorance. John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, etc. are unfunny comedians but they produce powerful propaganda. It's all the same formula, yet it holds such power over their waning audiences.
Thanks, Yuri! Yeah I've found that term Smugnorance to be very useful these days. And the good news is that audiences still really like the more honest style of comedy.
Jon Oliver practices the lowest form of comedy. Punching down. It takes balls and an actual sense of humor to mock your rulers and their paymasters. All it takes is an excess of self regard to make fun of those who you presume to be beneath you. “Haha, people I look down on are idiots!” Good for you. But recognizing that the people you’re told to look up to are idiots is the real sign of insight, and mocking those IN power makes the best and most influential comedy.
"But recognizing that the people you’re told to look up to are idiots is the real sign of insight, and mocking those IN power makes the best and most influential comedy." Well said. It's also the most dangerous kind of comedy.
Nailed it with the term Smugnorance. John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, etc. are unfunny comedians but they produce powerful propaganda. It's all the same formula, yet it holds such power over their waning audiences.
Thanks, Yuri! Yeah I've found that term Smugnorance to be very useful these days. And the good news is that audiences still really like the more honest style of comedy.