A less funny post, with a slight reflection on what I’m looking at
Listen Now: Colbert Cancelled – Comedy Communications
Where to begin this week? That was the question that’s faced me since last Sunday. After nine weeks, and nine posts, would I finally be stumped by the tenth? The answer? A resounding maybe! But like I’ve said before, the best way to write is by writing, and the best way to start is by starting.
I’m up to a lot these days, especially this past week. I hosted the usual election night watch party, with guesses and games galore. Were our guesses close? Heavens no. Additionally, my table sized, laminated map of the Canadian electoral districts was 100% worth it (thank you World of Maps!). All in all, an extremely interesting election, even if you aren’t happy with the results, it certainly was a fascinating one.
I’ve also been doing a lot of reading (and listening). Right now, I’ve got three books and a report on the go, four books if you want to count listening to audio books. Presently I’m reading On Book Banning from Ira Wells, How to Read Like You Mean It from Kyle Conway, and Indigenous Rights in One Minute from Bruce McIvor. I’m also listening to Rick Mercer’s second biography, The Road Years. I’ve started all of these books, and by God, if I could read them all right now simultaneously I would.
This past week I finished listening to Rick Mercer’s first biography, Talking to Canadians. It reminded me just how much I enjoy Rick Mercer, and wish he was still on television doing what he does best: talking to Canadians and showing off the country. Perhaps Rick Mercer can unite us all once again? Either way, I do highly recommend giving his books a listen. The fact that he narrates the books himself is an additional bonus. He has a way with words that transports you exactly where he was all those years ago.
The report I’ve been looking forward to, and just had printed, is far less rosy than Mercer’s upbeat and comical audiobooks. It’s a report on Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The report paints a rather bleak picture of what’s happening to press freedom under the Trump administration, with attacks on news outlets, and a tightening grip on the press gallery. It does not exude confidence, and instead is raising the alarm for fair and free press and democracy as we know it.
Keeping with the theme, on Sunday I went to an event. The Ottawa International Writers Festival is in full swing, and Sunday afternoon’s topics included Book Banning with Ira Wells, From Truth to Reconciliation with Bruce McIvor and Rose LeMay, and Canada in the New World Order with Senator Peter M. Boehm and Lloyd Axworthy. The speakers were, as to be expected, very thought-provoking. They too sounded the alarms on democracy and increasing censorship, much like The Committee to Protect Journalists did with their report.
It dawned on me today that perhaps I’ve come full circle, back to exactly what I’ve always wanted to look at: censorship and freedom of the press. After all, that’s why I chose comedy news and late-night shows. I felt as though they had the liberty, the freedom to critique the government in a unique way. I believe they can impart legitimate knowledge to their viewers, and perhaps provide a chuckle in trying times, but they can also more aggressively show absurdity where it lies. If someone can’t accept a laugh at their own expense, do we want them to represent us politically? Will attacks against journalists and the media include those offering us a laugh?
Now I realize none of this has anything to do with theory, and very little to do with comedy. Theory is great, we can all love a little theory, but presently the reality of press, freedom, and democracy, is certainly at odds with some voices, and I think that’s an important topic to cover in communication. As I transition a little away from weekly news reviews and into a little more substance and data, I hope I can continue to deliver meaningful, and thought-provoking writing for readers.
Comedy Communications 