To Study or Not Study… Stephen Colbert? That is the question!
Colbert’s America: Satire and Democracy
Author: Sophia McClennen
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Colbert’s America
Sophia McClennen
Newman Communications client, Sophia McClennen and her new book, Colbert’s America: Satire and Democracy (Palgrave Macmillan) have been causing quite the media buzz.
Professor at Penn State, McClennen examines how the comedy of Stephen Colbert packs enough political punch to change the way a nation thinks.
COLBERT’S AMERICA covers the various themes and features of his satire and gives readers insight into the powerful ways that Colbert’s comedy challenges the cult of ignorance that has been threatening meaningful public debate since 9/11.
McClennen suggests that Colbert does more than mock pundits and politicians: he actually has helped influence a new generation of actively involved citizens. Satire offers the public a medium through which to express resistance to reigning political policies and social attitudes. But Colbert’s satire goes even further, offering viewers myriad ways to engage with society.
Paul Farhi’s Washington Post article sparked the debate of whether or not Colbert should a worthy topic for academia. His article has received more than 500 comments and been picked up across the country.
The Atlantic Wire and Newsbusters have both chimed into the debate as well. McClennen has taken to The Huffington Post to share her thoughts on the debate and spoke with TVNewser.com.
McClennen argues that Colbert is a “new kind of public intellectual-satirist,” much like Mark Twain, Ben Franklin and Jonathan Swift and therefore worthy of our attention.
Newman Communications asks: Should Colbert be studied in college?
Discuss.
Filed under: Entertainment, Politics & Government, Site News
September 12th, 2012 at 1:37 am
Yes! Most Definitely! I would kill for the chance to study anything involving political satire in college.