Bakhtin, Colbert, and the Center of Discourse: Is There No “Truthiness” in Humor?

The Colbert Report, a contemporary appropriation of the carnivalesque, is a potent agent in bearing witness to shortcomings of the political realm. Colbert as carnival challenges authoritative claims to the “center” of discourse—in this context, official knowledge distributed by traditional news venues and information practices. Carnival laughter positions audiences as insiders, in contrast to their traditional roles as outsiders of official discourse and authorized modes of communication. In challenging the rational practices and normative values of traditional information industries, the Colbert Report operates as a critic of the press, as well as a unique site of media literacy education.