Satire? It's no joke for a healthy democracy

In 2010, coincidentally on my birthday, I enjoyed the great privilege of spending the day behind the scenes, then, later on set during filming of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York. I was there on assignment to profile a writer on the show for the university magazine for which I was editor. From hanging out in writers' offices to glimpsing the white board schedule of upcoming famous guests, clearly, it was a never-to-be-forgotten experience and provided plenty of material for the story once I got back to my office in California.

Jon Stewart, Daily Show satirist in chief

When it came time to put it all down in words, I didn't want to produce a simplistic "wow, I was at the Daily Show" piece. I was cognizant of the significant contributions The Daily Show and other satirical programs and publications make to healthy, civic discourse. Just because they make us smile or nudge a laugh out of us, doesn't diminish their serious -- and seriously healthy -- role in society.

Given the ridiculous Sony hack over the comedic film "The Interview" in November and this week's horrific murders of journalists working for Paris' satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, the time is right to celebrate satire.

Pointing a pointed finger at ourselves and laughing together out loud and in public may be the most patriotic act many of us commit in a given day.

As historian and writer Simon Schama put it this week: "Irreverence is the lifeblood of freedom."

And as a professor I interviewed back when I wrote the Daily Show profile explained, it's good for us.





Published in Cal State East Bay Magazine (fall 2010)

Daily dose of satire is good for U.S., expert says

By Monique Beeler 

Assistant Professor Grant Kien, advisor for the communications graduate program, says The Daily

GRANT KIEN

Show and host Jon Stewart are carrying on an enduring American tradition in political satire.

“Satire is a biting critical analysis in which the obvious flaw of any idea or philosophy is exposed,” Kien says. “Mark Twain is probably one of the most famous satirists in American history.”

Parodying politicians and policy, he says, is a sign of national political health.

“The ability to satire leadership in America is taken as an indication of our freedom as a people,” Kien says. “We should all be proud of the contributions of our institution to American political discourse.”

Writer J.R. Havlan clowns around on set with host Jon Stewart. (Photo: Jesse Cantley)

Read the full profile of comedy writer J.R. Havlan:

Daily Showmanship: Tour “The Daily Show” with writer J.R. Havlan ’87 as he contemplates college, comedy, and where to keep all his Emmys