Political Humor: Blowing Off Steam

Political humor has likely been around since the start of politics themselves. It serves both as an outlet for creators and audiences or readers to vent their political frustration and blow off steam and as a friendly way to nudge people into considering political issues. In a performance theory class I took this semester we talked about the “pressure valve” theory as an explanation for the existence and function of comedy in societies; i.e., comedy functions as a way for societies to release any built up tension or frustration in a healthy, harmless way. I think this theory can definitely be applied to political humor: politics are very serious, important and often controversial and troubling, so naturally an outlet for people to release their worries and frustrations about politics is necessary. I would even make the argument that political humor becomes more prevalent and heightened in times of heightened political stress or tension. For example, John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate during last year’s presidential election caused an extreme reaction among American voters, and at the same time, Tina Fey’s comic Saturday Night Live impression of Palin skyrocketed to instant and lasting fame.



Almost all political humor is a little biting, as this clip is-- not overly harsh, but definitely edgy. I think this is necessary because, again, humor serves as a place for its participants to voice things that viewers or readers may not. The advantage of humor is that it can go overboard without being considered serious or extreme. Political humor historian Gerald Gardner, as quoted in an NPR article on political humor, says “You can make a case for the fact that humor — at least in politics — is most effective when it is drawing a little blood. Mind you, it shouldn't be a battle-ax, it should be a rapier.” However, I do think that in addition to being an outlet for release of frustrations, political humor can also serve as a tool for instigating people to think about issues they may not have considered otherwise because they are presented in a different, friendlier format.

-Miranda