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Is Satire Compatible with Free Speech?
- Studies in American Humor
- Penn State University Press
- Volume 4, Number 2, 2018
- pp. 183-191
- Article
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ABSTRACT:
Mark Twain was deeply interested in freedom of speech, and in particular, he was concerned about the utility of satire in furthering the benefits of free speech. A review of some of his commentary suggests that Twain's satire impedes the ability of free speech as a mode of exploration, while his humor—as a much more open-ended kind of expression—facilitates freedom of inquiry.