Mike Judge and Mark Twain
If you’ve been trying to find someone who compares to Mike Judge’s brand of satire, I’m pleased to suggest that he may actually share the most similarities with the father of American literature—Mark Twain. Consider the following:
Humor.
Not all satire is funny. The primary intent of satire is to discredit vice or folly, but both Twain and Judge were humorists. Both men use comedy in their attempts to expose the least flattering social mores of their day. Twain’s short stories are especially sarcastic. And Judge uses film and animation as the venue for his wise cracks.
Realism.
Both Twain and Judge speak in language that can be understood by audiences of all ages and education levels. Even when they use exaggeration, the characters are grounded in realism that is universally relatable. Mark Twain, though intelligent as any physicist or philosopher of his day, spoke in a voice that the common man could hear loud and clear. And Mike Judge’s biggest fans are those working class Americans who are often the inspiration for his satire.
Quotability.
This one is slightly subjective, but Mark Twain’s quotes have long been known as being of the highest caliber one-liners in history. Example: “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.” In similarly ironic fashion, take this Hank Hill quote: “You, uh, you’re my son, you know, with everything that entails… feelings of fondness and more… You know what I mean, don’t you, boy?” We could go on and on with more quotes from both Judge and Twain of course, but stay tuned to Judge Ye Not for the former.
Irony.
One would think that this attribute would be a given, since they’re both satirists. But not all satire employs irony as well as these two. Huck’s conscience told him that he was doing the wrong thing by helping Jim escape slavery. Bobby only wants to make his dad proud, but all of his personal interests are denounced by his father. If Bobby actually does attempt to play football, he simply embarrasses his father to an even greater degree. If Hank would only approve of Bobby pursuing his own interests, perhaps he’d be successful and make his father proud.
Subversive.
Their satire is not a blatant one. Twain and Judge make their most pungent attacks beneath the surface of their narratives. Unlike South Park or Jonathan Swift who wallop audiences over the head with a satirical shovel, Judge and Twain subtly and slowly sneak drops of poison into your tasty drink whenever your head is turned. It’s initially hard to tell if they’re satirizing something, and they are equally easy to misinterpret.
Moralism.
Mark Twain saw things that were wrong with late 19th-century America. Mike Judge sees things that are wrong with the current state of America. Neither of them preach at their audiences, but they both created biting commentary on the wrongs they saw in their respective cultures, be it politics, religion, art or society at large. Twain and Judge maintain an ethics that is cynical but inspired by conviction.
Twain enjoyed wild popularity though, and for decades at a time. Mike Judge has yet to experience personal fame on such a level. Even though he voiced Beavis and Butthead, the second most popular cartoon characters of the 90s (after the Simpsons), his characters are more loved than he is himself.
But this is actually why I started this tumblr. I believe that Mike Judge deserves to be celebrated. He may never reach the heights of Twain, but I’m hoping that the next few decades are kinder to Judge the man. A great mind should be appreciated on great levels. When our interest in reality television and celebrities blows over, Mike Judge should [hopefully] be on the better side of this farce that is American culture.
