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Rutgers Researcher Lauren Feldman: Comedy is a misunderstood vehicle for serious public engagement that has the potential to ignite social change when used appropriately and strategically.
In her book, A Comedian and an Activist Walk into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice, Feldman highlights how media disruption and digital-era technologies have created ideal conditions for comedy, especially satire, sitcoms, stand-up, and funny documentaries to not only flourish but also play pivotal roles in advocating for issues such as global poverty, climate change, immigration, racial justice, and sexual assault.
Feldman emphasizes that comedy is more than just entertnment; it's a tool capable of engaging audiences and motivating them towards challenging social issues. The positive emotional connections established through humor can lead to greater involvement and action from individuals.
The role of comedy in shaping social justice movements lies not only in its power to influence individual perceptions but also in influencing cultural norms, news coverage, social media discourse, visibility for alternative ideas and marginalized groups, and as a catalyst for collective action.
A case in point is Amanda Nguyen's organization, Rise. Through her partnership with Funny or Die, Nguyen was able to use comedy to highlight the absurdity of existing sexual assault laws. This strategic move drove over 100,000 signatures in support of a bill titled Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights Act, which passed unanimously at both state and federal levels.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Feldman notes how laughter has been instrumental in bringing people together by sharing experiences that everyone. The use of humor provides a much-needed source of optimism and solidarity amidst crisis. While comedy provides a powerful form of critique by mocking unfr policies and power dynamics or reframing marginalized groups.
Feldman offers actionable advice for those seeking to leverage comedy for social justice engagement:
Respect the creative freedom and expertise of professional comedians. Collaboration with experienced humorists is essential rather than attempting this indepently.
Do not dilute the comedic content for safety; humor needs to be maximally entertning for maximum impact on audiences.
Use comedy to critique unfr norms and status quo, not the issues themselves, by mocking policies or power structures.
Comedy's potential for social influence makes it a valuable asset in today's world of rapidly evolving media platforms and societal challenges, where strategic communication can play an integral role in shaping public discourse and facilitating change.
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