Intelligence Squared

Armando Iannucci, Jess Phillips and Jan Ravens on Satire in an Age of Absurdity

Feb 28, 2020

Armando Iannucci, celebrated comedy writer behind 'Veep', joins Labour MP Jess Phillips, known for her fierce political voice, and satirist Jan Ravens of 'Dead Ringers'. Together, they tackle the evolving role of satire amid rampant political absurdity and fake news. The trio debates whether humor can still hold power to account. They also dive into how the norms of political satire adapt in today’s media landscape, reflecting on the sensitive balance between critique and comedy, especially regarding female public figures.

01:06:38

Creator website

Episode guests

Jan Ravens

Jess Phillips

Armando Iannucci

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Power of Satire in Society

14min

The Blurred Lines of Satire and Politics

9min

The Mechanics of Successful Business: Simplifying Sales and Budgeting

2min

Crafting Satirical Characters from Reality

3min

Satire and Sensitivity in Political Discourse

13min

The Evolution of Satire in Politics

16min

The Power and Limits of Satire

4min

The Role of Satire in Media Literacy

2min

Has satire lost its power in this new world of fake news and ‘alternative facts’ - when our leaders lie so blatantly and frequently, and still manage to get away with it? Or is humour a more important tool than ever to hold those in power to account? We were joined by celebrated comedy writer and producer Armando Iannucci, Labour MP Jess Phillips, and satirist and impressionist Jan Ravens to unpack these questions live on stage at the Union chapel in London. The event was chaired by journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed.

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