Unit 1: The Basics of Political Satire
Chapter 1: What is Political Satire?
Chapter 2: Political Satire and Historical Crisis
Unit 2: Forms of Political Satire
Chapter 3: Visual Satire
Chapter 4: Satire News
Chapter 5: Direct Satirical Interventions in Politics
Unit 3: The Effects of Political Satire
Chapter 6: Crossing the Line
Chapter 7: Satire and Political Impact
Chapter 8: Satire’s Effects on How We Think About Politics
Biography
Sophia A. McClennen is Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature at Penn State University and founding director of the Center for Global Studies. She has published 14 books, including Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t (2023), Pranksters vs. Autocrats: Why Dilemma Actions Advance Nonviolent Activism (2020, with Srdja Popovic), and Globalization and Latin American Cinema (2018).
"Satire and comedy have long been a form of respite and relief for society, allowing comedians and audiences to make sense of a patently absurd world. But where did it come from? What are its historical roots? And how does it connect to our modern world? Sophia McClennen brilliantly lays out the technical craft and artistry of political satire, its historical context, and why it’s so valuable in modern society. I have spent my entire career loving political satire, making comedy slideshows, and Sophia’s work is a dazzling love letter to the craft I cherish dearly. This is a fantastic and much needed book codifying the machinations and inner workings of an art form that is so deeply needed now more than ever."
--Hasan Minhaj
"This book delivers exactly what it promises: a smart, interactive, in-depth introduction to the complex practice of modern political satire. As a collaborative work of teacher and students, this textbook offers essential instructional tools such as keywords, infographics, and “dig deep” group activities designed to ensure accessibility in the classroom. As an academic work by an expert in the field, this overview insightfully covers the Basics, the Forms, and the Effects of political satire. Modern Political Satire is a perfect combination of teaching and scholarship that will prove indispensable to any course on satire."
--Kirk Combe, Denison University
