The Colbert Show, Culture and Politics - Essay Example

 The Colbert Show, Culture and Politics Amarasingam defined the Colbert as satirical television program that airs comedy. Its main character is Stephen Colbert, a political humorist. Therefore, it aims at producing entertainment rather than any substantive political change (Amarasingam 1-3). However, this can be politically meaningful, because fan projects promote collective action. In addition, they promote political activities like voting and protesting. Moreover, they promote political reformation by encouraging critical thinking. Significantly, the comedy show has gained global popularity due to its entertainment and political commentaries. Research by Amarasingam revealed that, numerous television programs follow the same format in reviewing top news stories as well as analyzing politicians and the media through satires (15).Symbolically, my document explores the effects of the Colbert show in today’s culture. In addition, the document highlights numerous ways in which the elite have used the show to sway people towards varied opinions and its impact on the views. Research by Schiller has postulated that, the Colbert show has profoundly influenced on people’s culture (Schiller 15). It asserts that, the Colbert show play two critical roles in communication. Research by Amarasingam postulated that, the Colbert show transmits information by objectively reporting news hence transmitting information to the masses without including external viewpoints. Significantly, the show disseminates information in packaged formats across vast distances. Notably, the show employs numerous ritualistic viewpoints of communication in presenting its message. Accordingly, it places its communication in a cultural context. Particularly, it subjectively report news in numerous ways in order to portray its information. Consequently, the Colbert show integrates numerous cultural viewpoints in its reporting of news. Therefore, it creates an element of a community amongst its audience. Additionally, the show creates change on the value views of the audience. For instance, the cheering of the audience during the report on the segments illuminates the community’s feelings. In addition, due its excitable attitudes in is reporting, the show creates numerous feeling of passion hence causing deeper emotional connections with its reporting news events. Moreover, the show pushes limits on journalism and gives the audience a critical look on prevalent affairs in the society. Jones’ research revealed that, Colbert comedy has significantly influenced our daily culture (Jones 115). For instance, it has mobilized its viewers to participate in numerous activities such as voting; especially the time 100 online polls (Jones 117). Consequently, its impacts have significantly enhanced international markets. In response, numerous entrepreneurs have embraced the show for its intrinsic worth. It has also engaged its viewers in numerous projects that demonstrate figurative resistance and questioning the authorities. For instance, some people have created remixes of the Colbert’s show content, while others have propagated its neologisms. Moreover, numerous viewers have helped the Colbert in formulating new neologisms. Politically, the Colbert show has significantly altered numerous opinions of various people’s. Accordingly, various elite use it to sway the masses towards numerous opinions. For instance, its partisan message has profoundly influenced American politics. The Colbert support politicians regardless of their party allegiances. In addition, the character betrays his conservative ideologies for the sake of his personal achievements (Schiller, 21). Symbolically, he celebrated the victorious success of the democrats during the 2006 elections. As an ultraconservative, he should have been disappointed at the results, but instead he celebrated. Significantly, this marks a turning point in American politics. Additionally, the show explores myriad ways on how people can restore sanity and fear. Consequently, it has encouraged the viewers to take part in traditional political activism as well as nonpartisan activities. Kelso and Colgan have argued that, considerably the Colbert’s satire encourages a reasonable and extensive political debate (Kelso and Colgan 122). For instance, although the Colbert involved praising irrationality and extremism, it however did not support any political movement. In addition, the message on rampant partisanship does not explicitly support any politician ideology or controversial issues. Moreover, the show has profoundly influenced traditional activism. Normally, the fans participate in voting elections. Typically, the campaigns normally follow a unique pattern. For instance, in online polls, fans use Colbert as a writer-in candidate in naming things. He then reports on their efforts and ecncourages others to join in. Consequently, more fans join the campaign as the Colbert continually reports on their success. Another critical role of the Colbert show is its role in everyday activism. Apart from challenging fans and empowering them to participate in traditional political activities, it also promotes citizenship. It encourages a critical assessment of information sources especially the elite. Traditionally, the elite have separated facts from fiction hence encouraging fans to determine whether certain political information is relevant. Consequently, Colbert has profoundly influenced citizenship and has transformed citizens from being participatory to passive citizens. Similarly, it undermines the executives thus empowering ordinary citizens in formulating their opinions. Lastly, the elites have embraced the Colbert show to attract political engagement of the citizens. Significantly, contemporary activism heavily relies on digital media. Accordingly, the political elite have embarked on encouraging citizens to participate in e-mailing, virtual petitions, and face book groups. In response, this has transformed both social and political traditional activism. Consequently, the elite have utilized the internet to provide numerous ways of counteracting the declining social life. For instance, they have formed new online places for social networking ( Holt 16). In conclusion, my document has clearly revealed myriad reasons as to why numerous politicians are endorsing the Colbert show, and the influence of appearances on their public evaluations. This document has also highlighted document the influence of Colbert daily shows on news mainstream coverage. Significantly, it has described the importance of the program to the viewers. For instance, it has highlighted that the audience has benefited from learning politics hence they rate the program more valuable than other media sources. Additionally, the document has commented the Colbert as an excellent political pundit. It has asserted that, the show represents only a one-third talk. The show reserves the remaining two-thirds for the host’s wicked political satire hence it is wicked. Generally, the document extensively relies on a pop cultural theory to explain the impacts of the Colbert show on today’s culture. Finally, it has relied on neo-Marxist perspective to reveal how the elite can use the show to influence people’s opinions. Works Cited Amarasingam, Amarnath. The Stewart/Colbert Effect: Essays on the Real Impacts of Fake News. New York: Library of Congress, 2011. Print. Holt, Jason. The Daily Show and Philosophy: Moments of Zen in the Art of Fake News. Malden: Blackwell, 2009. Print. Jones, Jeffery. Entertaining politics: satiric television and political engagement. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2010. Print. Kelso, Tony, and Cogan Brian. Encyclopedia of Politics, the Media, And Popular Culture. New York: ABC-CLIO, 2009. Print. Schiller, Aaron. Stephen Colbert and Philosophy. Chicago: Open Court, 2009. Print Read More