Comedy has been here since forever. In ancient Greece it was the past time of the common folk, in medieval France it amused the elites and mocked them behind their backs during the revolution. Comedy has been explored by everyone be it be Shakespeare or present stand-up comedians. In this ear, comedy is an increasing way to draw attention to politics and social situations. This is an increasingly popular genre. Here are 5 comedians who talk about things that matter and make it entertaining.
1. Hasan Minhaj
Well known for his Netflix Special, Patriot Act, Hasan Minhaj is the embodiment of woke comedy. He received a surge of fame after becoming a correspondent on The Daily Show. His stand-ups are about American politics, global affairs, and popular culture. Patriot Act his most famous work has 32 episodes. He addresses almost everything from Saudi Arabia to elections across the world. He was invited to White House correspondent’s dinner in 2017 and was listed among the Time’s 100 most influential men. He is not just a comedian but someone who influences politics through the expression of his viewpoint.
2. John Oliver
A man who can tackle the most complex of issues and still make it amusing for his audience, John Oliver is a British comedian who started on The Daily Show. He has received immense attention for his series, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that discusses political and current events. The show is so significant that it created something called the “John Oliver effect”, which describes the influence he can have on political decisions.
In one of his episodes, he discussed a highly complex subject about net neutrality. He argued that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had the power to solve complications of internet regulation. The segment managed to change the FCC’s stance on its previous proposal. That is the power of journalism, right there. Oliver stresses however that he is not a journalist. Nonetheless, he has brought comedy, journalism, and politics further together.
3. Trevor Noah
There is a Gupta on my stoep, American Vandal, That’s racist are the only handful of Trevor Noah standups that are fan favorites. The greatest political comedian of today Trevor Noah has been an inspiration to comedians like Hasan Minhaj. Just like all other he started on The Daily Show but ended up a successor to Jon Stewart. Trevor Noah in return says that Hasan Minhaj is one of the comedians who inspired him, so we have gone full circle there.
Noah is the author of Born a Crime. The book received an amazing response and is soon to be turned into a movie. Noah has managed to create the most influential and hilarious episodes on The Daily Show. He gives a dimension to what he speaks, even when his segments are about rather serious issues, he tackles it with both maturity and humor. That is the essence of waking.
4. Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is known to open the door for many comedians. Trevor Noah and John Oliver are two of them. Stewart on various occasions has used The Daily Show to discuss many causes. The best example of his influence can be in 2009 when he criticized the American government for removing veterans who have private insurance Veterans Administration roles. The next day this plan was canceled. Stewart criticized Fox News for its distortion of news and biased delivery. He is a legend when it comes to media, The Independent, called him the “satirist-in-chief”, which is not far from reality.
5. Russell Brand
Known for his passionate gestures and outspoken nature, Russell Brand is an artist of the moment. He openly speaks about the revolution trying to decrease economic disparity. On his show, The Trewshe openly explores political injustice and internal corruption. He has never backed down from criticizing the injustice coming from authorities. He is a deeply elaborate political pundit who has not remained silent on any kind of injustice. His conversation with the Westbrow Baptist Church members, an extremist group, is still an exemplary display of how to battle extremism with patience and peace.
