The Activist Potential of Networked Satire: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and the Struggle for Net Neutrality

Abstract

In the fifth episode of Last Week Tonight,John Oliver satirized an FCC proposal to alter net neutrality leading to a surge in public comments, a groundswell of media attention, and the proposal’s defeat. In 2017, the FCC considered the proposal again and, despite Oliver’s redoubled efforts, voted against net neutrality. These engagements illustrate how satire like Oliver’s leverages the inventional resources of networked rhetoric to captivate audiences and direct shared sentiments toward activism by drawing attention to, creating, and extending moments for activism, revealing and engaging adversaries, and challenging discursive barriers that can foster engagement with public policies.

Keywords:

• Digital Activism
• John
• Net Neutrality
• Networked Rhetoric
• Oliver
• Satire

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Broadcast programs like the Late Show or the Tonight Show typically are not included in “satire TV” because they tend to be less biting than cable, premium, and streaming programs. With Stephen Colbert moving to CBS’s Late Show and Seth Meyer’s run on Late Night, this convention, too, may be changing.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew R. Meier

Matthew R. Meier (Ph.D., Bowling Green State University) is an Associate Professor of Communication & Theatre and Director of the Center for Speaking & Listening at DePauw University.

Suzanne V. L. Berg

Suzanne V. L. Berg (1981-2018; Ph.D., Bowling Green State University) was an Assistant Professor of Communication at Newman University.