Last Week Satire

Satire often consists of the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity usually in the context of current political issues. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver a YouTube series made a segment on Net Neutrality which uses satire to expose the issue that the rollbacks of Net Neutrality laws will have under the Trump administration. Without Net Neutrality laws companies are essentially able to limit users ability to connect to any website they desire. Last Week Tonight’s use of Irony, Sarcasm and ridicule of specific topics attracts viewers into their show for leisurely laughs but they often learn about serious topics after watching the segment. John Oliver’s ability to speak humorously about such

The United States believed that the FCC would consider bending the rules allowing internet service providers or ISPs to violate net neutrality principles by making it easier for Internet users to access certain content. This problem was explained by John Oliver the host of Last Week Tonight explained that, “Without net neutrality rules in place, ISPs like Verizon and Comcast can prevent users from visiting some websites, provide slower speeds for services like Netflix and Hulu, or even redirect users from one website to a competing website. Net neutrality rules prevent this by requiring ISPs to connect users to all lawful content on the internet equally, without giving preferential treatment to certain sites or services”

Ridicule is seen in various forms of entertainment. For example, this was seen with Lisa Colletta in Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, where she referenced the Simpsons by saying, “The creators of The Simpsons ridicule the seductive and manipulative power of television with both the jaded cynicism of Krusty the Klown and the naive gullibility of Homer”(Colletta). Similarly Oliver uses his comedic satire show to expose the exact same seductive and manipulative power of televisions and other form of media. Oliver is able to engage his viewers to take a stand for important issues such as Net Neutrality by ridiculing the audience and saying, “And don't tell me you don't have the time to do this if nothing else the evidence that we all have to much time on our hands and yes I'm talking to you all who posted may the fourth be with you for Star Wars day”(Oliver). Through this use of ridicule and many others like this, Oliver grabs the viewers attention and actively promotes advocacy in the topic of Net Neutrality. With something as relatable as May the fourth be with you or Star Wars Day many people can chuckle at themselves for doing something so pointless with their