"You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it." - Art Buchwald
Satire vs. Evil
Can political humor and ridicule change the world? When police teargas citizens for simply standing in a public square and "democratic" elections revolve around choosing the lesser evil, it may be one of the very few options left for meaningful public discourse and social progress.
Satire vs. Evil is about the world as it is and the world that could be, as seen through the eyes of political satirists from around the globe. It pokes fun at politicians, at the media, and at itself. A satirical film on political satire -- doesn't get any more meta than this (except, of course, for Abed's movie, ABED).
This film was born out of a senior thesis research project at Princeton University on the topic of political satire as cultural resistance to ideological hegemony. Over a dozen artists, activists, and academics around the world from Japan to France to Israel to the US have been interviewed, numerous original sketches shot and edited, and an original soundtrack composed by the talented Stephen Martis!
A lot of the groundwork has already been done, including the accumulation of student debt for completing the first part of this project. A small final push and together we can produce a film that is fun, provocative, informative and inspiring.
People interviewed for the film include:
Artists / Satirists
- Paul Krassner, Youth International Party "Yippies" Co-Founder USA (http://paulkrassner.com/)
- Matthew Filipowicz, Internet Talk-Show Host & Comedian USA (http://matthewf.net/)
- Lee Camp, Comedian & Activist USA (http://leecamp.net/)
- Ruben Bolling, Cartoonist USA (http://gocomics.typepad.com/tomthedancingbugblog/)
- Mysh, Cartoonist Israel (https://www.facebook.com/myshillustration)
- Ram Mizrachi, Actor Israel
- Yuda Brown, The White Soldier Israel (http://www.whitesoldier.com/)
- Jean Plantureux, Caricaturist Le Monde France (https://www.facebook.com/Plantu.page.officielle)
- "Lee Tabasco," Lead Singer Frying Dutchman Japan (http://fryingdutchman.jp/)
- Okometakeru, Satirical Performance Group Japan (http://www.okometakeru.com/)
Academics
... and more!
What We Need & What You Get
Most of the filming and research for this film has been completed, as well as a good amount of rough editing. The majority of the funds raised through this campaign will go toward post-production (i.e. professional editing). A small portion up to $500 will fund preliminary marketing (submission to festivals, private screenings, trailer promotion).
This is a flexible funding campaign. All funds raised - even if the goal is not reached - will go toward post-production efforts. The more money we raise, the faster the process will be, but either way the film WILL BE PRODUCED! Any extra funds will go to marketing Satire vs. Evil and producing more awesome political satire for the masses.
What is Satire?
All art is political, but satire is special. It aims to establish a dream-world between reality and fantasy, a window of opportunity to perceive at once the world as it is and as it could be.
Satire is an artistic genre characterized by the adoption of an exaggerated viewpoint for the purpose of ridiculing and criticizing it in a way that is humorous, witty, and ironic.
Ridicule:
Humor:
Wit:
Irony:
Exaggeration:
(Images by Ben Saar)
Want to see some cool examples of satire from around the world, including from the artists interviewed for the film? Check out the Satire vs. Evil Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SatireVsEvil