Comedy, Camaraderie, and Catharsis: A Reflection on Eighteenth-Century British Periodical Literature, Saturday Night Live, and the Legacy of Political Satire Público
Thomas, Adesola (Spring 2020)
Published
Abstract
This honors thesis analyzes installments of eighteenth century British periodicals, The Tatler and The Spectator alongside NBC’s sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live to demonstrate the way political satire and comedy writ large can foster fellowship among its audiences and better equip those audiences to contemplate societal injustices and personal anxiety. These non-related works have been combined within this thesis to demonstrate unifying elements among disparate works of satire.
I aim to evaluate the identity-shaping power of SNL on American youth in the decades after the Vietnam War and the resonance of Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s periodical literature among the emergent British middle class after the collapse of feudalism in England. I will perform a series of close reading analyses of key SNL sketches which addressed American anxieties after 9/11 and after the victory of President Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential election. I will also discuss the way the epistle form of several installments of The Tatler and The Spectator engendered a sense of emotional intimacy between Addison, Steele and their readers which enhanced the capacity of these periodicals to help middle class readers navigate their uncrystallized role in society.
There is also a plethora of jokes, gags, fun facts and puzzles comedically woven into this thesis.
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1
Comedy………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Three Satires Walk into a Bar…………………………………………………………...14
Aristophanes and Satire…………………………………………………………………16
Political Intent v. Social Impact………………………………………………………...18
The Comic, The Audience and Jests About Society……………………………………21
The Capital W “West” and Comedy……………………………………………………23
Camaraderie…………………………………………………………………………………….26
The Unifying Elements of SNL, The Tatler and The Spectator……………….………..29
The Strategic Use of the Epistle Form………………………………………………….38
The Public Sphere and The Coffeehouse…………………………………………….…39
Periodical Literature as Popular Culture………………………………………………..45
Live From New York: A Brief Overview of SNL’s Episode Structure……...…….…...46
Reframing Live TV as an Environment……………………………………...…………49
The Political in the Seemingly Apolitical and Beloved Recurring Characters…….…...50
Stefon……………………………………………………………………………………51
The 9/11 Cold Open……………………………………………………………………..54
The SNL Effect……………………………………………………………………….….56
How Many Women and People of Color Were Invited…………………………………57
Catharsis…………………………………………………………………………………….……59
Concluding Remarks on Catharsis and Laughter in the Time of Corona……………….68
References……………………………………………………………….………………………70
About this Honors Thesis
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