Storytelling: Jon Stewart - Term Paper Example

Storytelling: Jon Stewart Type of media text The media text I have selected for this assignment is TheDaily Show with Jon Stewart. This is a late night television program that airs each weeknight at midnight on national broadcasting network CTV. It is a 30-minute show that bases its humour on the news events of the day, occasionally making biting observations on policymakers and other issues. Because of its time-sensitive nature and its dependence on daily news channels as the source of its commentary, a new edition is presented each night. In addition, the show takes a decidedly and unapologetic liberal stance to the more conservatively reported news and events reported elsewhere. The show is produced by Jon Stewart and Ben Karlin with co-executive producers Stewart Bailey and Kahane Corn. The head writer for the show is David Javerbaum who also functions as a supervising producer. Chuck O’Neill is the show’s director. In the show, a single ‘news anchor’, Jon Stewart, recaps the headline news stories of the day, adding comments or making connections to other stories in an amusing way, such as placing a picture of United States President George Bush next to a picture of a monkey and suggesting a family resemblance. This news satire show has been airing in North America since the summer of 1996 and covers such topics as news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports, entertainment and the media. It does this through the use of actual news footage, previously taped field interviews, in-studio guest appearances and live coverage of events when possible. The show employs approximately five other individuals who are placed in a ‘reporter’ type position to cover in-field interviews or other features of the show. By the nature of the jokes, the show is intended for a mature audience who can understand the sarcasm and allusions to previous events, but it is also geared toward attracting the younger audience – the late teens and twenty-somethings. Although it doesn’t at first seem to have any particular slant toward a gendered or racial audience, closer examination of the text and its associated advertising will reveal that this show is geared mostly to the traditional WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant) upwardly-mobile male viewer. Story Background Because this is a news-type program, there isn’t really a continuing story involved from one episode to the next or a background to convey; however, there are frequent references to previous events that have occurred and liberal use of ‘inside’ jokes for those audience members who watch on a regular basis. Most of the headlines covered tend to reflect the upper class of society as stories are focused on politics and the entertainment industry. Its focus on trends and pop culture appeals to those individuals who either are or are struggling to become part of the mainstream crowd while still remaining irreverent enough to appeal to those individuals who buy into the consumer culture, but have a more cynical outlook upon their participation in it. It is primarily this last group of people who gave rise to the show to begin with – educated socially mobile young men who sought an alternative view to the news stories that were being covered in the traditional media outlets and found shorter skits, such as those that appeared on another popular late night television show, Saturday Night Live, highly entertaining but not quite as informative as they wished. As a result, a key feature of The Daily Show is that viewers must be somewhat well-informed if they wish to keep up with the social commentary being made within the text of each edition. This can typically be obtained by watching an earlier traditional news channel, but is sometimes much more difficult to grasp if one has not been following American politics for some time. As has been mentioned, the point of view of the show is decidedly liberal and tends to point out the more obvious faults and common sense omissions made by the mainstream news outlets, feeding the concept of intellectual superiority and practicality sought by an audience base focused on continuously increasing its consumer power. Characters The main character involved in the show is Jon Stewart himself. This is a white male ‘anchor’ figure who makes jokes about the daily news events by making obvious comments upon them that weren’t mentioned by other coverage media. Although he presents his lines in an often dead-pan expression, such as what might be seen on traditional news media, he also allows himself the freedom to laugh (or groan) at his own jokes, make seemingly off-the-cuff comments to the audience and even to mutter unintelligibly from time to time. These comments often have a tendency to reinforce socially determined gender roles and values, such as when he mentions in an aside that such-and-such female actress or activist also has a nice body or that a somewhat smaller man needs to beef up if he wants people to take him seriously. In addition, personal relationships between himself and his guests are frequently exposed through the course of an interview with in-studio guests, reinforcing the concept that a man is more important based upon his associations with other men who consider themselves important. Finally, a wide range of facial expressions are utilized to help or even create the joke, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to Jon Stewart himself rather than the graphics flashed on the screen. Throughout this presentation, then, Stewart is portrayed as a middle-to-upper class professional member of society with a high level of education as well as a great deal of wit or fast-thinking. He is Important (with a capital I) and must be watched/listened to carefully if one wants to be let in on the joke and feel a part of this highly desirable association. In every case, he is presented as having the upper hand and most sensible solution, able to see through the muck and spin of traditional news coverage to present the ‘real’ truth behind a specific issue or event. When he must determine a ‘side’ to come down on, he is always found on the hip, cool, most popular and younger side of an issue – such as whether marijuana should be legalized or not. While he doesn’t actually answer the question outright, he gives every indication that he would vote toward the more liberal of the options available. Incorporating guests as well as his ‘correspondents,’ Stewart is always in control of the situation and always given the final word. Through this single application of character, the show is able to make a strong appeal to the single, white, upwardly mobile young men of the country by presenting them with an ideal of knowledge, sarcasm, common sense, power and success all combined in one figure. While Jon Stewart is undoubtedly the ring-leader throughout the entire program, he does employ several ‘correspondents’ to contribute ‘expert’ testimony on issues or events as well as providing in-field coverage of trends and lifestyles. Each of these correspondents conforms to the same dead-pan yet sarcastic approach assumed by Jon Stewart, again reinforcing his superiority over the entire cast. While often presenting wildly ridiculous viewpoints to the various news items being covered, this technique is used to highlight Stewart’s intelligence and common sense as opposed to that demonstrated by everyone from world leaders to analysts to celebrities of all types. Regardless of their role in the greater society, each individual interviewed is almost forced to joke along with the correspondent, whether they realize they’re doing so or not. This only adds to the perception that the show is based more solidly in the ‘real’ world than that occupied by world leaders who have lost touch with the rest of society. Emphasizing the concept that only white professional men can appropriately comment on the news, the majority of the ‘correspondent’ staff reflects this same gender/race demographic. Male correspondents include Dan Bakkedahl, John Oliver, Rob Riggle and Jason Jones. Canadian female actress Samantha Bee is the only female on the cast and is perhaps constrained most to Stewart’s brand of presentation. Recently added to the group is Rassif Mandvi, the only other ethnicity represented in the show (outside of guest appearances). While the stories these latter two correspondents cover do not seem to be divided from others based upon gender or ethnic lines, innuendo and jokes following their presentations can often be seen as gender or racially based slurs, re-establishing the concept that white man, particularly Jon Stewart, remains superior to them in every possible way. Although similar treatment is given to the other correspondents, these jokes are not seen as devaluing them based on gender or racial lines, but simply upon specific individual differences. Story Outcomes While the treatment of the two non-conforming correspondents – the woman and the minority – might be seen as devaluing because of the jokes following their reports, the fact that jokes are made of every correspondent and their stories differ little in terms of importance, comic appeal, interest or favorability from those reported on by the other correspondents, it can be argued that the purpose of this news show is to indicate that all people who take themselves too seriously are opening themselves up to jokes, irrespective of any particular defining characteristics such as race or gender. Those individuals who escape the show unscathed are those who are able to take a step back from the serious business of which they are speaking and acknowledge the humour behind any shortsightedness observed. For example, the author of a serious book such as A Long Way Gone (an autobiography of a child soldier) featured on the show is better off if he can retain a lighthearted attitude even as he discusses the serious nature of the problems presented in the text of his book. While humour is continuously emphasized, the lessons coming out of this particular show serve to promote the traditional ideals of material success, power and influence while still keeping everything on a real-world basis, considering the effects particular actions might have, weighing the real benefits of a given action and with an eye more toward the common man of the middle class, who is presented as making up the bulk percentage of society. Rather than buying into the concept of every man for himself, the show tends to emphasize a spirit of ‘we’re all in this together’ by adopting the language, sarcasm and general observations expressed in the wider general public. While it rarely agrees with the policymakers, it also doesn’t typically convey the issues of the poor. While it doesn’t necessarily support the greed of the wealthy, it also doesn’t tend to advocate the support of charity. In focusing on trends and celebrities, it pokes fun at the consumer culture even as it highlights the importance of keeping up with the ‘in’ crowd. Advertising environment The show’s placement on late-night television automatically marks it as being appealing to those individuals, primarily young white men without young families, who are most likely to be caught in the consumer culture ideals of constantly acquiring more material goods and the need to look and feel part of the popular crowd. Emphasizing its appeal to younger men, advertisements seen during this program tend to focus on consumer items that might be of strong interest to them, such as sexy videos of girls on the beach, hair replacement therapy, medications to increase sexual drive or weight loss remedies. Because of its trendy spin, the show is wide open to fostering all kinds of other products as well including cars, clothes, singles vacation spots or tours and other consumer goods. Marketers feel confident advertising a wide array of upper tier products during this program because the level of education and interest involved among the targeted audience members suggests a strong consumer base with sufficient disposable income and flexibility of lifestyle to take part in the activities supported by celebrity features and upper middle class expectations. Read More