Sophia A. McClennen
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Sophia A. McClennen is professor of comparative literature, Spanish, and women's studies and affiliate faculty of the School of International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University. Her books focus on cultural responses to social conflict such as that associated with war, imperialism, dictatorship, and globalization. This interest in culture and conflict has led her to write on things as varied as the literature of exile and the satire of Stephen Colbert. She is most fascinated by the ways that authors and artists creatively respond to crisis. Her latest book is, America According to Colbert: Satire as Public Pedagogy.

Blog Entries by Sophia A. McClennen

Nancy Pelosi Succumbs to the Power of Colbert

3 Comments | Posted February 24, 2012 | 02/24/12 04:02 PM ET

After stating that she would never, ever go on The Colbert Report, after cautioning Democratic Representatives to avoid talking to Colbert, Nancy Pelosi finally came around. She appeared on The Colbert Report on February 22 saying that her decision was "part of my Lent resolution...

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Where's the Outrage? It Takes Comedians to Stand Up to Newt's Hypocrisy

44 Comments | Posted January 27, 2012 | 01/27/12 11:34 AM ET

It's this simple. Newt Gingrich has not upheld family values by any reasonable definition of the term. This fact may not have been much of an issue except that Gingrich has tried to advance his career by questioning the values of others -- most notably those of Bill Clinton.

...
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What's So Funny? Why Colbert Is Funny and Cain Is Not

4 Comments | Posted January 23, 2012 | 01/23/12 11:50 AM ET

On January 20, 2012 Stephen Colbert announced on The Colbert Report that he intended to explore the possibility of running for President of South Carolina. After transferring control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart he was free to become a candidate.

But there was...

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PAC Daddy: Colbert Makes Civics Lessons Fun

17 Comments | Posted January 16, 2012 | 01/16/12 03:28 PM ET

Last Thursday, January 12 offered the latest twist on comedian Stephen Colbert's involvement in the 2012 presidential campaign. That night he learned from Trevor Potter, former FEC commissioner and general counsel to the McCain campaign, that he could not keep his Super PAC and also explore a presidential campaign at...

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Merry Christmas From Colbert: Satire's Special Gift

Posted December 23, 2011 | 12/23/11 12:33 PM ET

As Stephen Colbert signed off for the holiday season on December 15 his fans, no doubt, felt the let-down of upcoming reruns. With the Republican primary in full swing, The Colbert Report has been one of the premier sources of insight into the primary race and Colbert's spin...

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Has the Colbert Nation Occupied Wall Street?

Posted November 14, 2011 | 11/14/11 06:37 PM ET

Across the globe and from U.S. city to U.S. city, we watch daily as waves of protesters, many of them young, take to the streets. Such images seemed impossible five years ago. Back then the mainstream buzz was that the youth were "stoned slackers" -- too narcissistic and tech...

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