Webinaire "Parodies audiovisuelles" : David Lipson : "The Colbert Report has bark but does it have bite?"
Vendredi 25 juin de 14h à 15h30
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David Lipson : "The Colbert Report has bark but does it have bite?"
Today Stephen Colbert is known for his role as the host of The Late Show (CBS, 2015-present) after he took over when David Letterman stepped down in 2015. But before that he played a conservative character called “Stephen Colbert” on the Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 2004-2015). During the show’s 11 season run the host parodied the typical overbearing right wing pundits heard during the 24 hour news cycle on the Fox News Channel (ex: Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, etc.) and specifically one particularly loud voice: Bill O’Reilly of the O’Reilly Factor (Fox News Channel, 1998-2017).
The Colbert Report is an example of the politainment (politics + entertainment) hybrid format whose goal is to entertain and at the same time educate the viewers about politics. But how effective is parody at informing the viewers and scoring political points while at the same time making them laugh? Can satire and irony, that is saying one thing but meaning the opposite, effectively communicate one’s political message?
This communication will consider these questions and delve into the origins of the “Stephen Colbert” character, take a look at his rise and finally his exit from center stage exploring how the ironic satirical message was actually received by his audience.
DAVID LIPSON is an associate professor of English at The University of Strasbourg. He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and Civilization at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris III. His research interests are documentary films, cinema, history of media, 20th century American history, TV history, late-night television, politainment and political satire. To learn more about his work:
https://langues.unistra.fr/.../enseignants.../david-lipson/