Comics wield unprecedented pop culture power?

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on June 18th, 2007

Meta Wagner, writing in her Vox Pop column for PopMatters entitled “Surrender yourself to the attack of the comedians,” seems somewhat surprised that comedians…

…through a combination of smarts, talent, and chicanery, have managed to infiltrate and conquer just about every field of entertainment, where they were once relegated to the role of “funnyman,” and have even made inroads into the media, where they were once only the subject of reviews.

We’ve maintained all along that comedians have, since the days of vaudeville, acquired and maintained plenty of power. With the explosion of media choices via the internet and other modern doo-dads, their power has grown proportionately.

We’re thinking of Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Danny Thomas, Milton Berle as examples of some, among many, who, from their notoriety in radio or television’s early days, were able to roll it up into power, wealth and influence. Even in the days before standup was fully formed as it is today, Charlie Chaplin was one of the United Artists who ran a studio and Will Rogers dined with kings and presidents.

Wagner seems to think that the power derivers from some fanciful “speaking truth to power” formula. “It may at first seem absurd and more than a little frightening that comedians—people who tell jokes for a living—would have such sway in our culture.” she says. It’s hardly absurd and not at all frightening. But it’s not as complicated and heavy as she makes it sound.

It’s all about the funny. Babies can smile at birth and smiles have been spotted on babies in the last trimester of pregnancy, says an article on the Parenting website. Would it not make sense that people who specialize in provoking smiles– and out and out laughter– might wield tremendous power in the business of show?

from → News • 0 Comments - Let's discuss! • Print-Friendly • Back To Top