Scott Weem Analysis

Equally important, satire and comedy address societal flaws as well as serving as a mechanism of persuasion. Cognitive neuroscientist and author, Scott Weems’ suggests humor “is it’s a great way for us to have evolved so we don’t have to hit each other with sticks” (O’Hara 105). Physical dismantling of social inadequacies, such as riots, are not as persuasive as the subtlety of satirical humor. Humor deflates animosity and provides room for contemplation. The objectification of women seems a terribly outdated societal norm, yet beauty pageants remain as a staple in our culture, and engage in objectification. Oliver 's segment further expresses contempt by his humorous, satirical delivery, as he discusses the conflict between reality and perception of the Miss America Pageant

He declares, “right yeah well you need to see them in bathing suits because as we all know the intelligence portion of the brain is located somewhere on the upper thigh” (Oliver 5:41). His use of humor tackles the misperception in a less intrusive or destructive manner and allows viewers to follow his way of thinking. As O’Hara contends, society has grown more reliant on humor to make us feel better—we use it as a coping mechanism. In this way, it affects the way we feel and act and changes our mindsets about certain topics. According to Ramon Lopez’s article, “Why Jon Stewart is Bad For America,” news/comedy shows such as, The Daily Show should start to gravitate toward being more like Oliver’s, Last Week Tonight (162). The reason for this is “Oliver has found a way to encourage activism and political engagement” (Lopez 162). Instead of creating a cynical view, like Jon Stewart’s methods created, “Oliver devotes enough time and care to provide context to the story (Lopex 62). Oliver has mastered persuasion since he is straight-forward and his use of forthright mockery and his ability to reveal absurd motives of the Miss America Pageant is a clear example of his compelling