Here's the little blog's first attempt to sort out why something becomes popular. At the moment - by looking at Google Trends, newspapers and the book purchasing lists - John Stewart presents a very good case study.
High on the most popular NY Times list of articles (Jon Stewart On The Hustings) is a piece that explores this same question - but it misses the mark a little. The piece relies on journalists to make sense of Stewart. But it may be asking too much of journalists, because it's their shortcomings that make Stewart so popular.
Simply put - here's my thesis - a popular trend - in certain cases - becomes popular because it fills a void. Such a truism is almost embarrassing to make note of - but it's necessary in order to examine the nature of that void.
American media does two main things to its detriment - it attends to the extreme and then treats every story as though it contains only two sides. Consequently, it legitimizes insanity. No one calls this out more creatively than Jon Stewart. It's also worth noting that his guests are often authors - as though he's providing the reminder that there still exists substance in the world.
Ironically, he also calls out a third deficit within American news, the herding phenomenon. It's as though the entire American media reads from the same script. The irony is that they and everyone else are beginning to herd around Stewart.
Americans are frustrated with the media - and it's no surprise that the media is unable to recognize or admit its failings. When the media herds - and you're standing outside of it - it's easy to feel alone. Comedy then steps into the void to shout - media, you are insane! Comedy provides the best cathartic release for this condition - because when you laugh the whole world laughs with you - and we realize, we can have power over the herd.
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