Laughing Matters

<p>This book examines the role of humor in modern American politics. </p><p>Written by a wide range of authors from the fields of political science and communication, this book is organized according to two general topics: </p><ul> <p> </p> <li>how the modern media present political humor</li> <p> </p> <li>the various ways in which political humor influences politics.</li> </ul><p><em>Laughing Matters</em> is an excellent text for courses on media and politics, public opinion, and campaigns and elections.</p> <p><strong>Section 1: Foundations: Humor and Politics </strong>1. The Influence of "Infoenterpropagainment:" Exploring the Power of Political Satire as a Distinct Form of Political Humor <em>Rachel Paine Caufield </em>2. Serious Comedy: The Expanding Boundaries of Political Discourse <em>Geoffrey Baym</em> 3. More than Laughing? Survey of Political Humor Effects Research <em>Josh Compton </em><strong>Section 2: Political Humor in the World Beyond Television </strong>4. Political Cartoons: Zeitgeists and the Creation and Recycling of Satirical Symbols <em>Alleen Pace Nilsen and Don L. F. Nilsen</em> 5. New Humor, Old School Style: A Content Analysis of the Political Cues Offered by The Onion, on the 2000 and 2004 Elections <em>Geoffrey Sheagley, Paula L. O'Loughlin, and Timothy Lindberg</em> 6. Vote for Pedro: Film Comedy, Youth and Electoral Politics <em>Eric Shouse and Todd Fraley </em> 7. Air Amusement Vs. Web Wit: Comparing the Use of Humor in 2004 Political Advertising on Television and the Internet <em>Monica Postelnicu and Lynda Lee Kaid </em>8. American Youth and the Effects of Online Political Humor <em>Jody Baumgartner</em><strong> Section 3" "Ready for Prime Time?" Televised Political Humor </strong>9. Our First Cartoon President: Bill Clinton and the Politics of Late Night Comedy <em>David Niven, S. Robert Lichter, and Daniel Amundson </em>10. Political Punditry in Punchlines: Late Night Comics Take On the 2004 Presidential Debates <em>Josh Compton </em>11. A Culture War in TV Land? The Sitcom Viewing Habits of Bush and Kerry Voters <em>Peter L. Francia </em>12. The ABCs of the The Simpsons and Politics: Apathy of Citizens, Basic Government Leaders, and Collective Interests <em>Nicholas Guehlstorf, Lars Hallstrom, and Jonathan Morris</em> 13. Saturday Night Live and Presidential Elections <em>Ben Voth</em> 14. The Daily Show as The New Journalism: In Their Own Words <em>Dannagal Goldthwaite Young </em><strong>Section 4: Does it Really Matter? The Effects of Late-night Televised Humor </strong>15. Late-night Comedy Television Shows as News Sources: What the Polls Say <em>Paul Brewer and Xiaoxia Cao </em>16. ‘It's Better than Being Informed': College-Aged Viewers of The Daily Show <em>Brandon Rottinghaus, Kenton Bird, Travis Ridout, and Rebecca Self</em> 17. The Political Effects of Late-Night Comedy and Talk Shows<em> Patricia Moy </em>18: <em>The Daily Show </em>and Attitudes Toward the News Media <em>Jonathan S. Morris and Jody Baumgartner</em> 19. Conclusion: Why Political Humor is Serious Business <em>Doris Graber</em></p>