British satire, everyday politics: Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci and Charlie Brooker. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brassett, James; Sutton, Alex
• Is Part Of: British journal of politics and international relations. Volume 19:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 245
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: British politics -- British satire -- comedy -- critique -- everyday politics -- resistance; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1997-2007 -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.094105
• DOI: 10.1177/1369148117700147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1481

Abstract

This article develops a critical engagement with the politics of British satire. After first engaging the mainstream critique of satire—that it promotes cynicism and apathy by portraying politicians in stereotypically corrupt terms—we develop a performative approach to comedy as an everyday vernacular of political life. Beyond a focus on 'impact', we suggest that satire can be read as an everyday form of political reflection that performs within a social context. This argument yields an image of Morris, Iannucci and Brooker as important critics of contemporary British politics, a point which we explore through their interventions on media form, political tragedy and political agency.