This House Believes Satire Is The Most Revolutionary Form of Art | Cambridge Union

This Debate took place on Monday 12th February 2024 at 8pm in the Debating Chamber.

From Have I got News for You to Private Eye to Saturday Night Live, political satire has enjoyed something of a renaissance. Since the grotesque portrayals of the loth century pioneered by Gilray and images that floated on the streets of Paris, Satire has often be an instrument of political subversion and dissent. But is there perhaps another side to this?

Many satirical programmes, and comedic appearances, have been used to humanise politicians, such as Boris Johnson and Trump, and propel their careers. And in an era of increasingly outrageous behaviour from our politicians and truth sometimes stranger than fiction, satirical programmes have struggled to keep up; the new spitting image was a shadow of the programme that terrified the politicians of Thatcher's era.

Is there still a role for revolutionary political satire? Or has it completely lost its saliency? This debate is done in conjunction with the art show being held at the Union this week.

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Proposition:

KATHRYN LAMB

Kathryn Lamb is a cartoonist and satirist. She has been published in Private Eye since 1979, and has illustrated many of its famous sections, including Pseud's Corner, a feature that makes fun of the pompous and the pretentious.

Kathryn Lamb has illustrated a variety of books, ranging from Spike Milligan's poetry in 'Condensed Animals' to a series of Arab proverb books. Most recently in 2021 she illustrated 'The Authority Gap' by Mary Ann Sieghart. She is an active member of the Professional Cartoonists Organisation and has recently donated two drawings for their fundraising effort in aid of refugee children.

EWAN WOODS

Ewan is a third-year student reading HSPS at Corpus Christi College. Ewan is the Speakers-Elect for the Conservative Association. He won the right to speak through an open audition.

Opposition:

JOSHUA SHORTMAN

Joshua is a third-year student reading HSPS at Gonville & Caius College. Joshua is a former head of Caius Politics Society. He won the right to speak through an open audition.

MORGAN DUVAL RICHARDS

Morgan is a PhD student reading Law at Gonville & Caius College. He was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 2022 and is President of the Metal and Punk Society. He won the right to speak through open audition.

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