Artefact 1

COMEDIANS ON PATRIOTISM, NATIONALISM AND SYMBOLS

The video montage you are going to be shown contains fragments from the routines of three stand-up comedians (George Carlin, Bill Maher and Bill Hicks), as well as a fragment from Charlie Chaplin`s The Great Dictator. All of them express personal views on the issue of patriotism, nationalism and its symbols. After watching the entire video montage, please answer the following questions, on a separate sheet.

1. All of the featured comedians express their views on the topic of patriotism, nationalism and respect (or lack thereof) for its symbols. What exactly is their main argument of each one of them to support their view?

2. What do you think were the techniques employed by each comedian to present their argument (fictional characters, comparisons, hyperbole, spoof, etc)?

3. Having considered their techniques, what emotions and reactions do you think does each one of them wish to stir up in their audience?

4. Whether consciously or not, all of these performers project an image of themselves to the public. How would you describe each performer? (either as a character, or using 5 words to describe his persona).

5. Which of these renditions do you think delivers the funniest point on the topic and how (through the content of their argument or through word play, facial expression, body language, etc)?

 

This is the questionnaire I`ve been handing out to small groups of guinea pigs....sorry...participants...still waiting for a couple of more answers in order to write up my evaluation of the artefact, but the responses so far have been interesting and varied. Also, have a prospective second artefact coming up...