PressEthic

CNN’s Showbiz Tonight raised the issue of whether it is too soon to make jokes regarding the recent hurricanes. They sited several examples from talk show hosts Jay Leno and Jon Stewart. Stewart said that Rita, like most sequels, was “less compelling than the original”… it’s the “Ghostbusters 2 of hurricanes.” A poll ran throughout the show asking viewers, “Katrina and comedy: Is it too soon to be joking about it?” 64% of viewers said yes.

After interviewing several comedians the conclusion was drawn that the use of humor is acceptable as long as it is done it good taste. Jokes regarding the death toll and the devastation for instance should be off limits. Humor that causes widespread offence cannot be defended.

However it is important to realize that humor can be an extremely powerful discursive technique. Satire is the ultimate tool for undermining those who abuse their power or use it ineffectively. Humor has power because it entertains and at the same time makes poignant criticism.

For instance, The Onion, used political satire in the September 7th publication to demonstrate the slow response to Hurricane Katrina. The writing in The Onion does at times border on being insensitive but does draw attention to serious issues in a unique manner. For instance a caption beneath a photo of people sitting on porch while a rescue helicopter flies above says:

FEMA representatives call out to survivors, "Show us your tits for emergency rations!"

This humorous caption reveals the feeble response by FEMA to Hurricane Katrina. To ‘get’ the joke, the reader is made aware of the issue. To me this is a very effective way of making a political point. By satirizing FEMA’s response, the institution is undermined and questioned.

The reaction to comedy is always personal, but when used effectively it can play a very important role in democratic discourse. Of course comedians have to be incredibly careful when referring to such tragic disasters, but it can be very effective at drawing widespread attention to an issue.