Monday, November 22, 2010

The Carnival of Politics

Our Country, also known as the land of the free, where we can say what we like and practice what we want as long as it does not hurt another(s) is one of the few countries in the world where its citizens can make fun of its own government and political leaders on a daily basis if they so choose. For example, if a politician or executive leader in our country does something to alert attention or is controversial, the media will be there to cover it and along with the media are the skeptics who make fun and ridicule current political situations such as what happens on Saturday Night Live (SNL). This article talks about SNL and the tactics it does to make fun of political leaders and organizations. This article specifically talked about the Transportation Security Administration or TSA. The TSA has added extra security precautions for traveling with airlines such as screening pat-downs to ensure safety for every passenger. Politicians such as Incoming House Speaker John Boehner however, were able to go right around the metal detectors and scanners as well as avoiding the pat-downs, during one of his most recent flight trips. Of Course, this triggered SNL to make a skit over the actions of the TSA in adding these extra procedures. SNL made a skit where cops were patting down attractive women and the narrator saying "spending time with a TSA agent couldn't be easier. Simply book a flight departing from any American airport." And "The TSA: It's our business to touch yours." SNL does a great job at the carnivalesque.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/22/political.circus/index.html

1 comment:

  1. SNL is a great example of the carnivalesque because it does skits on so many politicians and politcial events. Its also a good example of politicians using the media in a way to get followers that they usually wouldnt connect with. When they themselves are seen on shows such as SNL or a funny skit of that politician, they meet the inattentive public that they never would have before helping their popularity and possibly their ratings.

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