Satirical London

If you happen to be in London this summer, you can feast on an exhibition of a few centuries of British satire. Maybe it's because they still have royalty, who provide rich opportunities to "afflict the comfortable", and know their history so well, or perhaps because we share a language, Americans have long appreciated British satire since King George "lost" the colonies.

The London Museum hosts "Satirical London" until Sept. 3. Alan Riding in the NY Times, satire "may be more necessary than ever":

That, at least, is one conclusion offered by "Satirical London," an exhibition at the Museum of London through Sept. 3, which explores "three centuries of satire, sex and scandal." The show pays little heed to literature, focusing on graphic satire, like prints and cartoons. Nonetheless, it is a healthy celebration of irreverence.

And that's where today comes in. In an atmosphere of growing religious intolerance and social conformity, sustained by fear, political correctness and electoral apathy, satire can probably aid democracy by stretching the limits of the acceptable. That this may offend is precisely its value. Satire should disturb as well as amuse.

It is not always possible. In dictatorships it can be positively foolish to mock rulers, although satire can sometimes be disguised as parody or allegory. And in many parts of the world there is no tradition of questioning authority through wit or caricature; in such countries two preferred targets, religious and political power, are usually taboo for satirists.

A reminder of this was the angry Muslim response to those infamous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad after they were published in a Danish newspaper. If their intent was to satirize the way terrorism has exploited and distorted Islam, they were in practice viewed by many Muslims as insulting Muhammad. And when the Vatican and some Western leaders also criticized the cartoons, it was apparent that a line had been drawn.

Yet, as "Satirical London" demonstrates, the whole purpose of satire is to cross the line, to enter dangerous territory, to upset those singled out and to hold up a mirror to the foibles of individuals and society.

So, we are always dancing around danger with satire, but who would want to live in a society with no sense of humor or appreciation of human frailty?

And for solidarity with Danish cartoonists, view Chicago Hitchens-inspired Rally Pix here and here.