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As America marks the
anniversary of
September 11,
here's a look back at how humor helped us cope in the wake of the tragedy.
I've
included my own retrospective on how the terrorist attacks changed the face of
American comedy, as well as a sampling of
some of the cathartic jokes, editorial cartoons, and Web-based parodies that provided a much-needed salve as the country struggled to return to
normal.
Humor
Helped America Heal
For an in-depth look at how America's humorists responded to the tragedy, I invite you to check out
this
article I wrote for the San
Francisco Chronicle, which traces the evolution of humor in the first year
after the terrorist attacks.
September
11 Remembered in Cartoons
The nation's editorial cartoonists added another dimension to our
understanding of the Sept. 11 attacks and aftermath, as evidenced by this
outstanding collection assembled by the Professional Cartoonists Index. For
cartoons drawn to commemorate the anniversary of Sept. 11,
click
here.
David
Letterman's Tribute to New York
Returning to the airwaves a week after the terrorist attacks, David Letterman
dispensed with comedy and instead offered an emotional tribute to the city of
New York. Letterman set a tone the rest of the late-night comics followed as they
sought to strike the right balance between expressions of grief and the need for
levity, and in the months
that followed, late-night jokes made a gradual comeback.
The Onion: Attack on America
One of the boldest, most successful stabs at post-September 11 humor came from
The Onion,
which published a special report featuring such stories as "U.S. Vows
to Defeat Whoever It Is We're at War With" and "Hijackers Surprised To
Find Selves In Hell," and "God
Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule."
Osama bin Laden
Humor
Web humorists targeted Osama bin Laden in a seemingly endless series of cartoons,
email jokes, games,
animations and
song parodies.
War on Terrorism:
Full Humor
Coverage
The war on Iraq and homeland
security measures have provided a steady stream of comic fodder.
More Popular
Parodies and Satire
•
Bin
Laden Has Nowhere to Run (Banana Boat Song Parody)
• New World Trade Center Design
• Taliban TV Guide
• Get Your War On
• World Trade Center
"Tourist Guy"
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