Why is Vinny shown to be an effective lawyer? Doe

The Producers (1968)

1. What is the role of humor, particularly satire in politics? Can humor be more powerful

than fear, money, or eloquent speeches/arguments?

Political satire is a type of humor that focuses on gaining amusement from politics. While

it is sometimes playful, satire is also focused on asking questions of the political order and its

various interpretations. Although satire can be cutting and aggressive in tone, the underlying

premise of the text is optimistic. The role of satire in politics is to provide a platform for

addressing society's problems through a humorous lens. The emotions that result from this satire

then trigger political action.

Humor is an effective tool, making it more powerful than other mechanisms like fear,

money, or eloquent speeches/arguments. Media platforms that use humor to stimulate

recognition of politics can increase political discussion and participation. Humor allows an

audience a different perspective to see inefficiencies throughout the political order and strive for

improvements. Using humor allows a liveliness that delivers a message to an audience that does

not necessarily overwhelm them with pressure but allows conversations to develop. Humor also

enables us to forge connections with everyone and not target a specific race, gender, or age,

encouraging more people to participate in politics. Political humor is a powerful technique

because it does more than make people laugh. It allows us to connect with an audience, diffuse

tension, foster trust, and compel others to see someone's point of view.

2. How much does intent matter in media? Are there certain subjects even “insiders” can’t

or shouldn’t joke about?

Intent plays a significant role in media because everyone has a different perspective,

experience, and set of biases that determine their actions. When releasing something into the

media, whether good or bad, an individual risks having it translated in various ways depending

on the connotation. Without stating your specific intentions and not giving context to your

message, people can misinterpret the meaning depending on how they perceive it. Both parties'

intentions and perceptions are valid, therefore giving context is essential when conveying a

message. When Brooks released The Producer, some people found it empowering, and others

took offense. Brooks intended to create something to get back at antisemitic and totalitarian

regimes; however, some viewers found his movie inappropriate. Individuals tend to

interpret a situation based on their personal experiences; therefore, intent is extremely important

in media.

A joke can be cruel at the same time as it is funny. Some people use humor to cope with

trauma, and if they are comfortable enough with making jokes, then I feel that they should be

allowed to do so. However, it is critical to realize that even when you joke about a personal

experience, others may not have a similar take on it, especially if they were in a similar position.

Overall, people should develop the ability to hear meaning beyond words, empathize with others,

and move beyond personal biases and positions to share different perspectives.

3. In your response, discuss what you think is the overall message of the movie concerning

politics and media (films, art, plays, etc.)? Choose two specific scenes to explain and

support your argument.

The overall message Brooks portrays in his 1968 film, The Producers, is to retaliate

against antisemitic and totalitarian regimes. For example, Bialystock and Bloom are

Jewish, yet the film never states that specifically. Brooks hints that Bialystock and Bloom are

Jewish in the scene where Franz Liebkind is introduced. Franz Liebkind is the neo-Nazi and

author of “Springtime for Hitler,” who is portrayed as an inept fool whom Bialystock and Bloom

use and manipulate for their flop production. As the two men walk away from Liebkind’s

apartment, Bloom covers the red-and-black Nazi armband Franz gave them, and both men throw

the armbands in the trash and spit into it. During this period, Jewish people were still anxious

about the prejudice against them. Still, Brooks uses Jewish characters to control and manipulate

people, which contradicts society's discrimination of Jewish people. Thus, Brooks depicts a

message taunting antisemitic regimes because, despite the prejudice against Jews, he created a

plot where he gives power to the people society claimed inferior.

Similarly, Brooks mocks totalitarian regimes during the "Springtime for Hitler" scene

when Roger De Bris feminized Nazis in the Broadway production. Brooks portrayed the S.S.

stormtroopers as dancing chorus girls and Hitler, Lorenzo St. DuBois (L.S.D.), as a mindless

hippie to ridicule and disempower the tyrannical rule. Brooks' message was to mock

totalitarianism by creating a musical about Hitler, claiming it as "a love letter to Hitler," as his

way of expressing rage against Nazis, mocking the beliefs of their racial purity and military

grandeur.