Language & Politics

This one goes out to the ladies of Language IV in particular, but anyone interested in the following videos is more than welcome to take a look. As I mentioned in class, I've been wanting to share these clips with you, both of which display American political humor in action. So here goes.

• The first link features Stephen Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report" (pronounced without the final "t," perhaps to sound pretentious...who knows). Here Stephen interviews Andrew Sullivan, a British journalist and blogger, about Obama's achievements regarding foreign policy, health care reform and bipartisanship. I thought of this video during our discussion on written vs. oral language. I think it's a fun and witty example of the ways in which language can be manipulated to bolster an argument. It also offers a glimpse into differing opinions on Obama's presidency, a hot topic nowadays in the U.S.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254667/november-03-2009/andrew-sullivan

• The second clip, this time from CNN, shows a mix of political impersonations from the popular show "Saturday Night Live" (aka SNL). These caricatures and skits were wildly popular during the 2008 Presidential Campaign and were talked about just as much (if not more) than the candidates themselves and their actual interviews and debates. Search online for more--you can view a myriad of skits or even videos that have been edited to compare the actual candidate next to the comedian impersonating said politician. For now, here's the segment from CNN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tb1mk-dixk&feature=related


I wish we could've watched these clips together, but if you get the chance--leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Best of luck with studying :)