Samantha Bee: Full Frontal
Bee also asks direct questions to viewers. Regarding the all-time low of people not voting in Calfornia, she asks, “Where were you?!” Bee uses humor throughout her commentary, but is really asking of the audience, ‘what are you doing? How are you being active?’ Her questions are challenging Americans to get involved, and calling attention to the fact that the United States is a democracy, and people need to act to see any change. Through the eyes of laughter, the stakes are not as high, allowing for a conversation to take place surrounding these immensely sensitive issues and topics. Bee pushes people to think critically and realize they hold the agency to make a difference.
“12%?? That’s less than percent of Los Angeles that turned out to audition for the Mr. Belvedere reboot. What the shit ‘Angelinos’!? Were you too busy pariscoping your avocado toast from the set of your web series to ensure that this guy, an actual candidate for Mayor, didn’t wind up in charge of your city—Where were you?!...If you don’t vote you ding-dongs… it’s not enough to just yell your opinions…you need to vote! [3:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm6CnP8CsCw]”
As the New Yorker calls Samantha Bee, “America’s new Comedian-in-Chief” her voice goes beyond her show, pointing out issues such as late night shows being completely male dominated, as Vanity Fair highlighted with their cover of 10 “titans of late-night television” where she improved the image:
Bee tackles the stigmas surrounding refugees, by combining the outrageous news clips that depict refugees and migrants as terrorists having to be directly involved with ISIS in some way, purely because they are Muslim, come from Syria or just the middle east in general.
Bee breaks into the complicated and grueling 18-24 month refugee process, by going to Jordan and speaking directly with refugees at camps and with the organizers of various refugee programs, “Person doing the vetting: Kate Dorsh [International Organization for Migration, Jordan], ‘The Refugee program undergoes the most amount of security screening than any other immigrant visa” (3:10). Bee asks investigative questions about the actual process, actively seeking the truth.
She reports the info back, using different forms of humor to inform the public. In this piece, she sets up a video game type of sketch (4:40), of the ridiculous process that the media acts like refugees go through to beat the 'system' when that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Bee recognizes and points to the false media depictions of Refugees just waltzing into the United States, when in actuality it is an incredibly difficult process. By Bee digging into these false stereotypes, through a vehicle of humor and utilizing the tool of satire, she raises awareness and educates the public on the realities surrounding Refugees. They are human beings, just like you and me, and deserve to treated with respect and dignity.
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- Introduction to the Truth Tellers Mary Lopez
