A Conservative Walks Into a Bar : The Politics of Political Humor

Conservative critics argue that modern political satire, in the age of The Daily Show, has a liberal bias. A quick review of the humor landscape shows that there are very few conservative politicalsatirists and, using personal interviews with political humorists, this book explains why. The book explores the history of satire, the comedy profession, and the nature of satire itself to examine why there is an ideological imbalance in political humor and it explores the consequences of this disparity. This book will appeal to Daily Show and Colbert fans, political junkies, and anyone interested in the intersection of politics and media.Dr. Alison Dagnes is a professor of Political Science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She is the author of several books on political media and has also edited two books on political scandal, a topic that continues to keep her busy. She is interviewed frequently in the national media and gives public talks on political behavior. Prior to receiving her doctorate in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Dr. Dagnes was a producer for C-SPAN in Washington, DC. Conservative Critics Argue That Modern Political Satire, In The Age Of The Daily Show, Has A Liberal Bias. A Quick Review Of The Humor Landscape Shows That There Are Very Few Conservative Political Satirists, And Using Personal Interviews With Political Humorists This Book Explains Why. The Book Explores The History Of Satire, The Comedy Profession, And The Nature Of Satire Itself To Examine Why There Is An Ideological Imbalance In Political Humor And It Explores The Consequences Of This Disparity. This Book Will Appeal To Daily Show And Colbert Fans, Political Junkies, And Anyone Interested In The Intersection Of Politics And Media.--publisher's Website. Who Brings The Funny? -- Data, Experiments, And Proof -- Mirroring The Political Climate: Satire In History -- Art And Profession -- Being Funny And Being Right, Being Left And Being Right -- Conclusions. Alison Dagnes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [225]-234) And Index. Conservative critics have argued that in the age of The Daily Show, modern political satire has a liberal bias. Using personal interviews with comedians from both sides of the aisle, in combination with research on satire and media, this book explores the ideological imbalance within political comedy. The combination of the history of satire, the comedy profession, and the nature of satire supports the investigation of this disparity. Politics junkies and Daily show and Colbert fans will find this study of satire's importance in the political landscape illuminating. Book jacket Front Matter....Pages i-xv Who Brings the Funny?....Pages 1-40 Data, Experiments, and Proof....Pages 41-78 Mirroring the Political Climate: Satire in History....Pages 79-132 Art and Profession....Pages 133-164 Being Funny and Being Right, Being Left and Being Right....Pages 165-207 Conclusions....Pages 209-219 Back Matter....Pages 221-239 This book examines why there are so few conservative political satirists today and explores the consequences of this imbalance.