Spring Break
Twain: greater than Colbert
Political satire did not start at Comedy Central, it has been around much longer.
By: Tracey Wallace
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Features
Type in the name "Stephen Colbert" on any Internet browser and one infamous, historic and possibly over-used word pops-up alongside every hit: satirist.
Perhaps rightly so, after all, he is the only man in presidential history to falsely run for president while possibly gaining more support from Americans than Bush did during his 2004 re-election (as if that would be terribly difficult).
If that says nothing about the incompetence of American voters, it says everything about the genius of Colbert marketing. His name has become household and there isn't much anyone would put past him. There isn't any person, group or religion he wouldn't offend. Basically, he's South Park in newscast form - on speed.
College students worship him for his ability to combine apparent knowledge and lack thereof into a money-making TV show that allows him fame, fortune and the general ability to laugh in the face of all those "idiots" we elect to represent us.
But political satire isn't Colbert's lightbulb invention; he is by no means the Thomas Edison for the rhetoric that illuminates the ridiculousness in whatever society people revere. The technique manifested itself many moons ago in diaries, journals, novellas and books whose authors are too numerous to list. Satire is found everywhere and in every culture.
Surprise young adults of America, you aren't the first to jump on the bandwagon by following the most sarcastic celebrity of the time - though, you may be the first to do so via television.
It is no doubt that Colbert will go down in the books for his politically racy comments, but, as many of the best often do, Colbert knows the previous masters of his trade. In a Time magazine article, Colbert, along with an entire array of SNL comedians, John Stewart and most of Comedy Central's employees, credited Mark Twain as their biggest influence.
The July 2008 a Time article noted that Americans are responding better to sarcastic comedy on issues than they are to the issues themselves.
Perhaps rightly so, after all, he is the only man in presidential history to falsely run for president while possibly gaining more support from Americans than Bush did during his 2004 re-election (as if that would be terribly difficult).
If that says nothing about the incompetence of American voters, it says everything about the genius of Colbert marketing. His name has become household and there isn't much anyone would put past him. There isn't any person, group or religion he wouldn't offend. Basically, he's South Park in newscast form - on speed.
College students worship him for his ability to combine apparent knowledge and lack thereof into a money-making TV show that allows him fame, fortune and the general ability to laugh in the face of all those "idiots" we elect to represent us.
But political satire isn't Colbert's lightbulb invention; he is by no means the Thomas Edison for the rhetoric that illuminates the ridiculousness in whatever society people revere. The technique manifested itself many moons ago in diaries, journals, novellas and books whose authors are too numerous to list. Satire is found everywhere and in every culture.
Surprise young adults of America, you aren't the first to jump on the bandwagon by following the most sarcastic celebrity of the time - though, you may be the first to do so via television.
It is no doubt that Colbert will go down in the books for his politically racy comments, but, as many of the best often do, Colbert knows the previous masters of his trade. In a Time magazine article, Colbert, along with an entire array of SNL comedians, John Stewart and most of Comedy Central's employees, credited Mark Twain as their biggest influence.
The July 2008 a Time article noted that Americans are responding better to sarcastic comedy on issues than they are to the issues themselves.
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