Topic: Clarify comedy’s political effects in contemporary US society and distinguish the present situation from ancient Athens.
Essay Prompt
(Defend, Challenge, or Qualify the following claim) Comedy is unhealthy for US democracy and decreases its ability to achieve justice. (800-1,000 words)
Please follow the essay outline below.
Please remember to write your total word count at the end of the essay
Number your sections like the outline (I, II, III)
I. Introduction
Thesis (Links to an external site.) and “roadmap” of your main argument
II. Analysis
Is comedy unhealthy for US democracy (or US society) and does it decrease our ability to achieve justice?
Think of each body paragraph as an argument for why we should support your thesis.
Provide real-world examples to support your reasoning.
In your analysis above, consider what (if anything) is unique about the political effects of comedy in contemporary US democracy (or US society) versus ancient Athens.
Cite 1-2 examples from the Week 2 reading to support your reasoning.
Helpful questions to brainstorm before you start writing:
Does comedy serve a positive role in today’s society? Why/why not?
What is the goal of comedy? What does comedy do?
What effect has comedy had on news, social media communication, and the public’s ability to think critically about solving political conflicts?
Consider the political effects of different kinds of comedy such as tv, films, influencers, comedians, pranks, memes, satirical news, etc.
Does political comedy such as satirical news increase the quality of our civic engagement?
What role did comedy play in the 2016 and 2020 US Presidential elections?
Does comedy contribute to the functioning of a healthy democracy?
III. Objection & Response
Objection: Consider your opposition’s best reasons and evidence against your thesis.
Response: Then, strengthen your overall argument by defending your position against the opposition’s strongest critique.
Example:
Diogenes the Cynic:
https://aeon.co/videos/cynicism-was-born-when-diogenes-rejected-materialism-and-manners
Diogenes the Cynic (read vii-xiv, skim pages 1-44)
Greek Comedy:
Aristophanes’ Clouds (introduction)
School of Life: Why comedy matters? (7:11)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgsErxFEPSE)
Is it better to be just or unjust?:
School of Life: Plato (6:29)
Cynic Comedy
Who is America? (featuring Sacha Baron Cohen)
Prank on Georgia State Representative (5:26)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k4pMTsa1Kw)
Prank about arming school children to stop school shootings (10:50) (Links to an external site.)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkXeMoBPSDk)
Jimmy Kimmel interviews Sacha Baron Cohen (8:01) (Links to an external site.)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgepxyAAnps&t=9s)
Nathan for You (featuring Nathan Fielder)
Fitness Movement Prank (10:22)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNxvUrWQ_Q)
Toy Company Prank (7:04)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNuuiydKlI0)
Collection of the most viral pranks from Nathan for You (18:51)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4tt17lt6Y)
Here is some criticism of this style of comedy
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/06/pranks-and-masculinity-on-who-is-america-and-nathan-for-you
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/who-is-sacha-baron-cohen-satirizing/565397/
https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/11/17/why-nathan-for-you-isnt-for-everybody/
https://www.avclub.com/nathan-for-you-s-star-confronts-the-a-v-club-mom-who-s-1798285604
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