Satire should make you laugh and squirm. Today, the word conjures
up images of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert or the creators
of South Park, artists who are renowned for deriving hilarity
and controversy out of current events, issues and attitudes.
A particularly memorable example is the South Park episode
in which a cartoon featuring the prophet Muhammad sends the
town into such a frenzy that its citizens bury their heads
in sand. The episode ridiculed the terrorized state in which
the American public lives after 9/11. However, its humour
had a dark undertone that hit a nerve with some audiences.
An earlier example of comedy satirizing current events is
the story of William “Boss” Tweed, a New York
City politician from the late 19th century. He served as chairman
of the City Board of Supervisors and, with a gang dubbed the
“Tweed Ring,” embezzled large sums of money from
public taxes.
Tweed was eventually brought down with the help of Thomas
Nast, a cartoonist with Harper’s Weekly, who drew one
satirical cartoon after another depicting the politician as
a greedy, powerful thief. Nast’s satirical cartoons
helped set the stage for Tweed’s eventual trial and
imprisonment. A Google Images search of Tweed’s name
turns up more of Nast’s cartoons than personal portraits.
JESSE FERRERAS is in his final year of a Master's of Journalism
at UBC. Prior to that he obtained a BA in Film Studies, also
from UBC. His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, the
North Shore News, 24 Hours, Metro and the Ubyssey, where he
served as culture editor in 2006.
With the rise
in popularity of “fake news” shows, journalism
and satire are becoming more and more intertwined. And although
their methods and standards are far removed, the two seem
to share a central ethic: A drive to get at the truth.
It is with this in mind that I turn to Rick Mercer, a Canadian
political satirist who has made a name for himself through
political comedy shows such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Talking
to Americans and now The Rick Mercer Report.
On 22 Minutes, Mercer was a news anchor poking fun at major
Canadian politicians while taking a more serious and hard-hitting
approach in a segment called “Rant” in which he
would tackle sociopolitical issues such as media censorship
and federal politics. The show, which only slightly concealed
its serious undertones, was slapped with a warning before
each broadcast that “some viewers may not share this
sense of humour.”
It’s that warning – and the
reasons for it – that I miss when watching the Rick
Mercer Report.
On 22 Minutes, Mercer found himself among a troupe of satirists
who weren’t afraid to bring up hard facts with big-name
politicians. He didn’t seem afraid to tackle serious
issues such as American ignorance of its neighbour to the
north in his “Talking to Americans” segments.
He didn’t have qualms about reflecting on questionable
ethics in the RCMP as one of the “Special Eds”
with costar Greg Thomey.
The satirical element is one that’s been sadly missing
from Mercer’s latest work. He’s provided with
access to Canada’s most powerful politicians and yet
his interactions shun hard questions in favour of PR opportunities.
Bob Rae, for example, secured one of the most memorable moments
of his 2006 leadership campaign when the two went skinny-dipping.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, meanwhile, found in Mercer
an avenue to show off his lighter side when the comedian slept
over at 24 Sussex Drive. Harper the bogeyman suddenly became
the family man.
In his latest show, Mercer has gone the way of punditry, Through
him we’ve seen a softer side of Harper, a bare-all side
of Rae and a funnier side of David Suzuki. Mercer’s
gentle poking fun of Canadian public figures often makes for
great comedy. But where’s the satire?
It’s unfortunate that a man of Mercer’s standing
in the annals of Canadian satire would let his satirical edge
fade away amidst segments that make great PR opportunities
for federal politicians and other notable countrymen. The
home scenes with Harper could only benefit the politician
– hardly the aim most satire strives for.
It seems like Mercer has allowed his appeal to drain his edge.
The value of satire like Nast’s cartoons is its commitment
to reaching the truth. This often means reflecting on the
shadier facets of public figures, not highlighting their more
appealing sides.
In future, for a laugh I’ll certainly tune in to the
Rick Mercer Report. But if I want biting satire that takes
aim at Canadian politicians in an effort to uncover some sort
of truth, I’ll just turn to The Daily Show and hope
to the memory of Horace that Jon Stewart will take aim at
Harper.
