Why Cartoons Make Great Satire

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FURTHER READING (please consider using these links if you'd like to purchase these books. It helps the channel).
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MUSIC
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The Time to Run (Finale) - Dexter Britain
Add And - Broke for Free

Other music provided by Musicbed & Epidemic Sound

[daniel_netzel]

Loved this. I remember growing up watching shows like South Park and The Simpsons, waiting to inevitably outgrow these cartoons, but the older I got the more I found to love. It's strange how disarming they can be, they present themselves as silly little shows but end up getting at deeper truths than even 60 Minutes. I think it's why those two in particular have been on the air for so long, whenever we feel lost looking around at our current society we can always turn to these shows for guidance in the face of real world absurdity. Great video Will, your channel may very well be my favorite on all of YouTube.

[felcorn]

I think always sunny does a great job too.

[ElwoodDowd]

No mention of Futurama? Might be one of the best examples.

Other than that, phenomenal video essay!

[ShaedeReshka]

I think satire runs a severe risk of nihilism, but not all satire is inherently nihilistic. It really depends on whether or not something shines through after all the layers have been peeled away by critical and comedic analysis. If you have nothing left, then the satire was nothing but nihilism.

A show like The Simpsons has a heart beating underneath. You've ultimately got a loving family despite its dysfunction. It's a theme that comes again and again throughout the series, even in its decline. The same is true for its spiritual successor Futurama, and for other satires like Bojack Horseman or King of the Hill.

Many, less nuanced satires rarely or never offer hope in the center of it all. South Park teeters on the edge of nihilism here because of its unwillingness to get involved with anything. As said in the video, the characters are almost always on the sidelines between two extremes, leaving the characters and the viewer watching helplessly as everyone who actually has values makes the world worse for it. Family Guy and its spin-offs are similar. They don't really have a lot to say, and when they do say something, it has little nuance. I think using satire as a blunt instrument rather than a precision tool results in a lot of collateral damage and you end up threatened with the possibility of having smashed all meaning away for a punchline.

Then you have something like Bojack Horseman, which pulls no punches because it's stripping away all the layers of the world that aren't important to reveal the fragile and heartbreaking beauty underneath. That's the whole point of it; like with all good satire.

[LikeStoriesofOld]

Thanks again for another great video Will! I'm going to show this to my dad because he still thinks South Park is childish even though I've consistently tried to argue that it's filled with meaningful social commentary

[jeremiahs.]

Always good to see a new video in my notifications this time of year! Really appreciate your stuff.

[bito]

Satire rarely works in a live action adult environment because, it's so much more restricted limiting the things you can parody/joke about.

Animated shows with children allow for commentary on controversial subjects without the viewer choosing to stop watching because it goes against their beliefs. (Nobody takes children and cartoons as seriously).

[nickh]

I'm a simple man. I see a Will Schoder upload, I click

[comedychrises]

Great video. Just discovered this channel yesterday with your BoJack video and it's exactly what I've been looking for from my YouTube content. You got yourself a subscriber!

[Vininsky]

Love your content, wish there were more people like you on this platform

[HarrysMovingMedia]

How the HELL does this video only have 28k views?! What a fantastic video - again! Your content is always worth the wait buddy, keep up the good work - I've always wondered why I love cartoons so much.

[ftuT]

You're a great spokesman and essayist. Keep it up.

[at.]

Great video man, I hope your channel gets way more views next year.

[xervoo]

Your channel is one of those I always forget I'm subscribed to, but then when I see a video I remember why I am. Insane quality.

[jasonandersonn]

I've been watching your videos for a few months now and I've loved everything you put out. Regardless of the topic, it's the thought that you put into everything and the questions you raise even if there aren't always answers.. that's what I love. Keep up the great work

[AlaskaBoyAlex]

I absolutely love your stuff man! I really hope you keep it up; I would definitely support a pratreon

edit: the way you broadly explore a theme about media instead of exploring a single show or trope is surprisingly informative and very intriguing!

[rostovskypeter]

Spent this morning watching your videos. Great work, thank you very much.

[GumshoeGamer]

WOOT! New video!!! Love these videos, I can tell you spend awhile making them! Keep up the great work :D

[Brianfreedman]

Will, this was incredibly well done. Keep up the amazing work. Happy New Year.

[FooshigiMLGlol]

Excellent video. Channels like yours help me put my love for things into words better, and based on that phrasing I need all the help I can get.