Comedy, done in the right way, can contribute to social change.
He says comedy can play an important role in inspiring people to tackle important social issues. Lauren FeldmanAssociate Professor, Rutgers University Faculty of Communication and Information Studies.
Co-author of Comedians and activists walk into bars: Comedy’s critical role in social justice The disruption of media and technology, combined with a newly energized call for justice, has pushed the boundaries, allowing socially critical comedy to not only thrive in the entertainment market, but also efforts to draw attention to global poverty. He said that this created ideal conditions for him to play a strategic role. , climate change, immigration, racial justice, and sexual assault.
Feldman talks comedy and what the show is like Last week tonight with John Oliver and dark It can be used for serious advocacy efforts against injustice.
Why is comedy so misunderstood as a vehicle for serious social participation?
People often mistakenly assume that because comedy is funny and entertaining, it is inappropriate for communicating about serious issues, or that it can serve as a distraction from important issues.But according to our research, it’s exactly because Because comedy is funny and funny, it can engage and motivate people about difficult issues. Comedy draws people in and creates positive emotional connections, which in turn can drive engagement and action. Recently, comedy mediated in the digital age, including satirical news, sitcoms, skits, stand-up, and funny documentaries, has exerted a powerful influence on contemporary social justice issues.
How can it help shape a social justice movement?
Through its impact on audiences, comedy can contribute to social change by attracting attention, alleviating audience anxiety, reducing resistance to persuasion, breaking down social barriers, and stimulating sharing and discussion. can. In addition to its impact on individuals, comedy has a broader cultural impact, shaping news coverage and social media debates, giving visibility to alternative ideas and marginalized groups, and encouraging collective action. Acts as a resource. Given comedy’s potential for social impact, activists and advocacy groups are increasingly using comedy in their strategic communications efforts.
Can you give me an example of how to do this properly?
rise An organization that advocates for the protection of civil rights for sexual assault victims. Amanda Nguyen, a sexual assault survivor at Harvard University, founded the organization after being appalled by the challenges she faced navigating the criminal justice system. In 2016, Nguyen partnered with Funny or Die. sketch comedy videos It exposed the absurdity of existing laws regarding sexual violence. The video was designed to promote a new bill in the Senate called the Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights Act. This garnered him over 100,000 signatures on his Change.org petition in support of the bill, which Rise submitted to Congress to demonstrate the people’s demands. The bill ultimately passed unanimously at the federal level and was signed into law by President Obama in October 2016. Nguyen attributed this success in part to the attention the comedy skit brought to the issue.Rise partners with Funny or Die for second comedy video In 2017, we launched the organization’s national campaign, and in 2018 we launched our international work with the United Nations with a third video to respond to the #MeToo movement.
What have you seen during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how much we need humor in times of crisis. Comedy unites people by highlighting our common experiences. For example, funny social distancing memes and videos can remind us that others are going through the same thing and bring a sense of optimism and togetherness. Crisis comedy helps remind us that what’s happening right now isn’t and shouldn’t be normal, and motivates us to take action and do our part. Of course, as we argue, comedy also provides a powerful form of critique. For example, comedian Trevor Noah (daily show), John Oliver (last week tonight), Hasan Minhaj (patriot act) has provided critical information and perspective on the pandemic, denounced misinformation, and held leaders to account.
What are some practical recommendations for people who want to use comedy to improve the world?
First, it’s important to respect comedians’ creative freedom and their expertise. If advocacy groups want to leverage comedy in their social justice efforts, they shouldn’t just try to do this on their own. Comedy is a learned skill. Advocates should partner with and hire professional comedians and give them creative license. The purpose of comedy is not to convey an important message or learning point. It is the realm of fact sheets and policy summaries. Rather, comedy offers the ability to creatively express emotion and tell relatable stories that reach people. Also, strategic communication professionals sometimes want to dilute the humor to make it “safe,” which is usually not a good idea. It turns out that in order to captivate the audience, comedy needs to be as funny and funny as possible. Finally, comedies that seek to involve people in social justice issues must not minimize the issues themselves. Because it can be trivialized. Rather, comedy should be used to poke fun at the status quo, by mocking unjust policies and power relationships, and by reframing and humanizing marginalized groups.