2020-2021 Catalog

FYS 126 Satire, Media, and Politics

What is satire? What role does satire play in a political election? In this seminar, we will consider the impacts and ethics of contemporary political satire, from Saturday Night Live impersonations to "fake" new programs like Last Week Tonight. With the presidential election as a backdrop, we will practice evaluating satire, determining its object, and recognizing common genres and techniques. Using these new analytical tools, we will reflect on the relationship between satire and citizenship.

Instructor

Shreve