Smith & Waugh Talk About Satire

In an unprecedented episode for unprecedented times, Jo & Adam "meet" in Zoom to reflect on the role of satire in the Age of Covid-19. From Animal Crossing to 'gramming endless loaves of sourdough, from PE with Joe Wicks to Yoga with Adrienne, the world has changed an awful lot since episode 2.6 was released just 6 weeks ago. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is satire, and the way it pla...

In episode 6 of season 2, Jo and Adam talk to Dr Sarah Burnage, curator of Fairfax House , about the peculiar challenge of presenting historical satire to contemporary audiences. Is satire more dependant on context than other literary forms, comedic or otherwise? What happens when satire is severed from its moment of production? When does satire becomes propaganda or misinformation? Sarah talks ab...

In episode 6 of season 2, Jo and Adam talk to Dr Sarah Burnage, curator of Fairfax House , about the peculiar challenge of presenting historical satire to contemporary audiences. Is satire more dependant on context than other literary forms, comedic or otherwise? What happens when satire is severed from its moment of production? When does satire becomes propaganda or misinformation? Sarah talks ab...

In episode 5 of season 2, Adam and Jo talk to comedian Janey Godley, about satire, swearing, and elitism. Janey hit the headlines in 2016 when she held a sign stating that “Trump is a C*nt” during Donald Trump’s visit to the Turnberry Golf Resort, but she’s also been a successful stand-up comedian for over 20 years, as well as a regular on Have I Got News for You and Radio 4’s Just A Minute and th...

Many of our guests have talked about the need for satire to 'punch up', but do you already need to be quite far up to punch with satire? Why are so many figures associated with satire and its illustrious history not only men, but privately educated ones? Jo and Adam speak to comedian Janey Godley about her booming career as a female comedian from Glasgow and the role social media has played in her...

In the first episode of 2020, Jo and Adam pick out the biggest moments of satire from the past 12 months. This was the year that saw Alan Partridge return to the small screen, Chris Morris return to the big screen and Stewart Lee return to the stage. In the news, it also gave us #Hairgate, Fact Check UK and a Brexit that was always just around the corner. For full episode details, visit our blog....

In their very first Christmas episode, Jo and Adam take a break from asking whether satire is dead, and imagine what it might have been like if it had never been born at all. No expense has been spared on members of the cast, as they take a rollercoaster ride through a very partial history of satire. They then discuss the satirical possibilities of Christmas itself, and are joined by Dr Matt Colbe...

In their very first Christmas episode, Jo and Adam take a break from asking whether satire is dead, and imagine what it might have been like if it had never been born at all. No expense has been spared on members of the cast, as they take a rollercoaster ride through a very partial history of satire. They then discuss the satirical possibilities of Christmas itself, and are joined by Matt Colbeck...

In episode 1 of season 2, anonymous Twitter account DM Reporter commented that you can't be a satirist if you write for the Daily Mail . In this episode Adam and Jo talk to Andrew Doyle about that argument, and about Andrew's own satirical Twitter account, "Titania McGrath." Who are his targets, and how does he hope to change their minds? Is there any hope for the future? And exactly what was wron...

When people are deciding who is or isn't a satirist, how much of that decision do they base on the actual content being produced and how much on perceived political or intellectual bias? How do you satirise a target who believes themselves to be virtuous? And does Adam Smith really think everyone is a massive snowflake?  Find out on the 14 November, when Adam and Jo will be joined by comedian...

In the first episode of their second season, Smith and Waugh talk to the anonymous author of long-running Twitter parody @DMReporter.  In this episode Adam and Jo (and @DMReporter) talk about: Alan Partridge Andrew Doyle Boris Johnson Brexit Carrier bags The Daily Mail Deliveroo Emma Thompson Extinction Rebellion Fox News George Orwell Guido Fawkes Have I Got News For You James Bond John O'Fa...

Adam and Jo talk about their plans for season 2, who their guests will be and why it will be slightly different talking to practitioners than to scholars.  This episode may or may not have been sponsored by Shropshire Farm Foods.* *It wasn't. 

The new season drops on 24th October, featuring interviews with Andrew Doyle (Spiked journalist, comedian and creator of Titania McGrath), Janey Godley (comedian and person who approached Donald Trump with a sign saying "Trump is a C**t"), the anonymous host of popular satirical Twitter account @DMReporter and many more... 

With Season 1 wrapped, Jo wants to ask a question: Was this secretly a podcast about the eighteenth century all along? And if not, why are so many of our guests all of to the International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies International Congress on the Enlightenment...? 

Has satire ever really been a “man’s game”? Does satire work differently when written by women? Or when women are the targets? How is sexuality treated by satire? Adam and Jo are joined by Professor Karen Harvey (University of Birmingham) to talk about satire, sex and gender.   In this episode Jo & Adam & Karen talk about: Alexander Pope ( The Dunciad,  “Essay on Man,” “The Disco...

Has satire ever really been a “man’s game”? Does satire work differently when written by women? Or when women are the targets? How is sexuality treated by satire? Adam and Jo are joined by  Professor Karen Harvey  (University of Birmingham) to talk about satire, sex and gender.  Episode available: Monday 2 September 

Should satire make us laugh? Is satire always funny? Why do we laugh at things anyway? Adam and Jo are joined by  Dr Kate Davison  (University of Sheffield) to talk about the social history of laughter, and the various satires of the eighteenth-century tavern keeper Ned Ward.   In this episode Jo and Adam and Kate talk about:  Adam’s Funny Game Adam Smith (from the eighteenth c...

Should satire make us laugh? Is satire always funny? Why do we laugh at things anyway? Adam and Jo are joined by  Dr Kate Davison  (University of Sheffield) to talk about the social history of laughter, and the various satires of the eighteenth-century tavern keeper Ned Ward.  Episode Available Monday 26 August!

Do you need words to do satire? If a picture can say a thousand words, how much satire can it do? Adam and Jo are joined by  Wendy McGlashan  (University of Aberdeen) to talk about eighteenth-century print-maker, miniaturist and satire merchant, John Kay.   In this episode Adam and Jo and Wendy talk about:  Adam McKay Beavis and Butthead Boris Johnson Charlie Hebdo David Camero...

  What is the difference between a satirical novel and a novel with satire in it? Adam and Jo are joined by  Dr Helen Williams  (Northumbria University) to talk about one of the best known satirical novels of all time: Laurence Sterne’s  The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent .  In this episode Adam and Jo and Helen talk about: A Cock and Bull Story Alan Partridge...

Jo and Adam are joined by  Gráinne O’Hare  (Newcastle University) and  Katie Snow  (University of Exeter) to talk about the relationship between satire and celebrity and consider the position of the woman as satirist and the subject of satire.   In this episode Adam and Jo Talk to Gráinne O’Hare and Katie Snow About: Alexander Pope Bluestockings Breastfeeding Celebrit...

Adam and Jo start at the very beginning with the biggest question of all: what even is satire? What did it used to be in the olden days and what is it now, in the age of Twitter, Trump and Brexit?  In this episode Adam and Jo talk about: Alexander Pope Ali G Armando Iannucci A Modest Proposal  Brass Eye Brexit Brexit 50p Chris Morris David Schneider  Definitions of satire The Death...