Arrest that comedian! How satire could swing the UK election
From disrupting dam-building to toppling dictators, comedy has shown itself to be a global force for good. Here’s what ‘laughtivism’ could do for British politics
At a protest to mark the inauguration of President Trump, film-maker Michael Moore volunteered an unusual rallying call. “Let’s form an army of comedy,” he cried. “Participate in the ridicule and the satire of the emperor who has no clothes. And we will bring him down.”
Unlike almost every satirised ruler ever, the new US president reacts to jokes – usually peevishly, usually on Twitter. Since he came to office, there has been an open war between the Donald and the nation’s late-night political satirists: John Oliver, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert. Responding to Trump’s daily scandals, this cohort of comics arguably form a more potent opposition than journalism and the Democratic party combined.
Russell Brand’s failure isn’t conclusive. There are plenty of examples of comedy making the world a better place
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