Why Satire: How the Socio-Political Events of the 70s Let to the Satire Boom

Rowan Jalso* and Jay Malarcher, College of Creative Arts, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Theatre/Drama (Oral-Human Engagement) 

Student’s Major: BA Theatre 

The purpose of this term paper is to explain how the socio-political events in the 1970s let to a rise in satirical media, leading to its prevalence today. The political discontent that arose in the 70s around national events (such as the Vietnam War and Watergate) contributed to a need for the general populace to voice their opinions in a way that safeguarded them from criticism. Comedy is corrective and satire is the most corrective form of comedy, in so far that it highlights the issues that plague a certain topic and allows others to view and discuss those flaws. Not only is the use of satire a “safe” way to criticize a sensitive topic (politics), but the use of satire is a way to bring balance back to the group psychosis of a populace. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment are used to showcase the effects that media trends can influence, and are influenced by, the citizens of a country. This trend of satire, arising from political events and upheaval, is explored in countries outside of America. All this culminates in the conclusion that the prevalence of political satire today, whether in America or in other countries, had its start in the satire boom of the 1970s. 

Funding: 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other Term Paper for Honors Class