Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Kent Menzel
Second Advisor
Rebecca Schindler
Third Advisor
Smita Rahman
Abstract
This thesis addresses an existing line of study surrounding the effects that political satire programs have on their audiences. More specifically, this paper focuses on HBO’s fictional satire program Veep (2012-2019) and its potential to influence viewers’ perceptions of current Vice President Kamala Harris. This study uses focus group survey responses to an interview Vice President Harris gave on April 5th, 2021 and compares survey responses taken prior to and following a viewing of Veep season 2 episode 8 “First Response.” In so doing, this study aims to determine if viewing fictional satire programs has any immediate effect on viewers’ perceptions of the political reality while also analyzing individual viewers’ recognition of Veep as a performance of satire and their ability to determine whether a satirical text has influenced their worldview.
Recommended Citation
Hlade, Alexander J., "The Impact of Political Satire Programs on Viewers’ Perceptions of US Politicians: A Study of HBO’s Veep" (2022). Honor Scholar Theses. 202, Scholarly and Creative Work from DePauw University.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/studentresearch/202
