What happens when some of the world’s sharpest satirical minds get together to talk democracy, tech, comedy and power? Delightfully crass comedy.
In this special session from The Business of Comedy Conference, moderator Dan Ilic (A Rational Fear) leads a hilarious and thought-provoking conversation on why satire matters now more than ever. Joining him on stage are Scott Dikkers, founding editor of The Onion; John Delmenico from The Chaser; and Andrew J. Nash, former HBO Silicon Valley technical advisor and tech entrepreneur.
Scott Dikkers delivers an unforgettable keynote covering the history of satire, from Aristophanes and Jonathan Swift to Monty Python, The Simpsons and The Onion. He shares outrageous behind-the-scenes stories about trolling politicians, getting cease and desist letters from the White House, creating fake Trump government departments and why satire remains one of society’s most powerful coping mechanisms during dark political times.
The panel then dives deep into the modern collision between comedy, politics and technology. They discuss the rise of authoritarianism and attacks on comedians, Elon Musk and the “tech bro” takeover, why satire often scares politicians more than serious journalism, and the changing state of Australian comedy. The conversation also explores social media outrage, censorship, online harassment and why TV networks have become increasingly reluctant to take risks on political satire.
Andrew J. Nash shares fascinating stories from behind the scenes of Silicon Valley, including which real tech billionaires inspired the show’s characters and why the series often felt more like a documentary than a comedy. John Delmenico reflects on The Chaser’s long-running battles with politicians, broadcasters and online outrage mobs, while Dan Ilic discusses the challenge of creating independent satirical media in Australia today.
The result is funny, insightful, occasionally outrageous and surprisingly emotional. More than anything, it is a masterclass in the role comedy plays in keeping democracy healthy.
Featuring Dan Ilic, Scott Dikkers (The Onion), John Delmenico (The Chaser) and Andrew J. Nash (Silicon Valley).