Politics Is a Joke!: How TV Comedians Are Remaking Political Life

ISBN-13: 9780813347172 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 272 str.

S. Robert Lichter; Jody C. Baumgartner; Jonathan S. Morris

Opis

Does late night political humor matter? Are late-night comedians merely entertaining, or do they have the power to influence the way we think about politics and politicians? Politics Is a Joke situates late night comedy in the historical context of political humor and demonstrates how the public turn to this venue for political information, and are in turn affected by it.

Using exclusive data collected by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, the authors conduct a detailed and exhaustive analysis of political jokes on late night TV shows dating back to 1992 in order to pinpoint the main targets and themes of late-night comedy. Politics Is a Joke uses a wide range of examples, from jokes about politicians' physical appearance and sex scandals to jokes about Congress and even the news media, to assess and understand the impact of political humor on political institutions, politicians and their policies and behavior.

Engagingly written with analysis of jokes from comedians like Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Politics is a Joke is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the crucial role late night comedy plays in our political universe--and anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

Spis treści

Preface Chapter 1. Introduction: Politics Is a Funny Business Chapter 2. The Rise of Late-Night Comedy Chapter 3. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The White House Chapter 4. Pols Behaving Badly Chapter 5. What's So Funny? Chapter 6. Laughing Matters? Chapter 7. If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them Chapter 8. Political Humor - Prospect and Retrospect Bibliography Index

O autorze

S Robert Lichter