Political Satire and Postmodern Irony

In her upcoming article, “Political Satire and Postmodern Irony: The Really Fake and the Really Real in American Mock News,” in Critical Engagements: A Journal of Criticism and Theory (winter 2011), Professor Colletta focuses on the mock news of Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert and examines Tina Fey’s uncanny embodiment of Sarah Palin. The role of satire, particularly television satire, seems to have an increasingly powerful effect on American politics. Do the traditional aims of satire still obtain, or has the flattened-out, mediated nature of popular discourse affected the audience’s ability to recognize the irony that is satire’s primary weapon? Though comedians like Colbert and Stewart are politically engaged, it remains a question whether their satire is fully understood by viewers, who sometimes seem more likely to respond to the irreverence and contrarian humor in both shows. Professor Colletta investigates humor’s role in political debate and argues that the irony of satire complicates and problematizes the way we see things, challenging viewers in unexpected ways and creating some of the most bracing and engaging commentary on television.