Mel Brooks had the right of it. Fascism and Authoritarianism is defeated by satire and mockery. The ideology is too outrageous to survive any such scrutiny.

Why else would the administration be so afraid of a few jokes?

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spl757 an hour ago | parent | next [-]

This is exactly what Gavin Newsom is doing. It holds a mirror up and forces the right to address the ridiculousness of how trump communicates.

	▲	ceejayoz 21 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		But they generally either do not get it or pretend not to get it. The tactic only works on people who have shame. Politicians used to resign for consensual sex.

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Garlef 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

There was loads of pre-WW2 mockery of Hitler. It did not matter a lot in the end.

So: As much as I admire Mel Brooks, this is just wishful thinking.

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uncircle 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Yeah, how did satire fare when Hitler was in power?

Let's perhaps say that if satire doesn't directly prevent authoritarianism, it works as a very effective canary in the mine.

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sharken 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins got away with it in 1944.

https://www.openculture.com/2020/11/before-creating-the-moom...

	▲	ceejayoz 20 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Sure. From Finland.

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perihelions 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The last criticism of Nazism was a very milquetoast 1934 speech by a Nazi, Franz von Papen, who though supporting Adolf Hitler detracted in some (seemingly) lesser ways—decrying the fanaticism of Hitler's personality cult. He was severely punished for it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_speech ("...said to be the last speech made publicly, and on a high level, in Germany against National Socialism...")

An ironic tombstone for freedom of speech:

"They will bear them and follow the Führer with unwavering loyalty, if they are allowed to have their part in the planning and in the work, if every word of criticism is not taken for ill will, and if despairing patriots are not branded as enemies of the state."

	▲	tim333 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		The last high level public criticism within Germany. Nazis of course still got criticism and satire elsewhere. Hitler Has Only Got One Ball and the like leading up to their defeat and Hitler shooting himself in a bunker.

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AndrewOMartin 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Peter Cook, [...] talked about the satirical Berlin cabarets of the ’30s, which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the Second World War.

Tom Lehrer - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7275489-i-don-t-think-this-...

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atoav 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I have read that the Joe Rogan school of comedy, that has grown popular in the past decade, did so on the grounds on fighting liberal "cancel culture". Back then they were rebelling against what was painted as a predominant culture, now that they have overachieved, one wonders if they would also fight cancle culture when it is coming from thr political right. I am not very optimistic about that.

But maybe we get new generations of comedians that will.

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karmakurtisaani 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Their mediocre humor relies on punching down and bashing "cancel culture". That's their only trick and what their audience wants to hear. Without it their "comedy" has no edge, and picking on trans people is a lot less funny when the president is already doing it on national news.

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LeafItAlone an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

>Joe Rogan school of comedy

Joe Rogan, the Fear Factor host turned Right Wing podcaster? Is he know for comedy? I thought his brief failed stint of stand up comedy is why he switched to podcasting.

	▲	tim333 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I've watched Rogan a bit and don't recall him telling jokes. He generally seems quite a neutral interviewer though his guests lean right wing.