Founding Contradictions, Contemporary Expressions: Political Humor in American Culture

This chapter examines the interplay between humor and culture in a time of political polarizationPolitical polarization and division in the United States. IncongruityIncongruity is a primary way that humor is enacted in general and all the more so for political humorPolitical humor in America. Rubin’sRubin, Louis D. concept of “The Great American JokeGreat American Joke, The” is offered as a lens through which to view comedyComedy in America with a focus on the incongruityIncongruity between the stated ideals of the country’s founding and the lived reality of the people. Americans frequently fail to see that the gap between the ideal and the real in America involves willfully ignoring reality or redefining it to suit a different view. Those seeking to narrow the gap as well as those who want to maintain it can use humor to explore and express this condition. Humor that exploits this gap between the ideal and the real is found in diverse texts of American humor. Examples: The fictional politicsFictional politics of Parks and Recreation depicts an idealized and exaggerated look at local government; the rhetorical use of humor by politicians, particularly Donald TrumpTrump, Donald, shows how rhetorical humor functions. Finally, an examination of “cancel cultureCancel culture” demonstrates how American comedyComedy wrestles with free speech and accountability.