Satire and Dissent

In an age when Jon Stewart frequently tops lists of most-trusted newscasters, when the films of Michael Moore become a dominant topic of political campaign analysis, and when activists adopt ironic, fake personas to attract attention -- the satiric register has attained renewed and urgent prominence in political discourse. Amber Day focuses on these three prevalent forms in this resurgence: the parodist news show, the satiric documentary, and ironic activism. She examines the techniques of performance across media, highlighting their shared objective of bypassing standard media outlets and the highly choreographed nature of current political debate. These satires provide viewers with a sense of community and purpose notably lacking from organized politics in the 21st century.