Whether we like it or not, we’re on the brink of a changing of the guard for those who dominate our comedic spaces. Due to political pressure, changing economic landscapes, an evolution in comedy’s primary audience, and more, the transformation of the comedy world has already begun.
Nevertheless, still going strong amongst the old guard is that behemoth of satire, The Onion. which parodies traditional news outlets with stories about real and fictional events. While the publication has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, you’d be hard pressed to name another comedic publication that is more quintessentially Generation X and core to American comedy than The Onion.
Ultimately, that enduring appeal is what Christine Wenc’s recent book, Funny Because It’s True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire, aims to document. How did The Onion become the standard for modern American satire? How has it managed to navigate changing political and media landscapes? What makes it “sticky”—why can you and I (and most people walking down the street) recite at least one headline that has graced its front pages?
Undeniably, Wenc’s commitment to conducting a staggering number of interviews, engaging in serious historical background research, and writing with minute detail on the blow-by-blow development of the paper leaves the reader immersed in the culture and moment that produced The Onion. This is a worthy cause, especially for the culture and writing nerds among us.
Histories like this one serve a necessary and important purpose—not only do they entertain, but they also provide a map of sorts, an opportunity for the reader to find a blueprint for their own goals and dreams.
With that said, there are a few ways in which Funny Because It’s True falls short. First, Wenc is a part of the history of The Onion herself, serving among the original staff from 1988 to 1990. However, I found it hard to keep track of how her personal involvement with the paper fit in with the larger scope of the book. It’s not that she shouldn’t get her flowers for her role—quite the opposite—but that it’s difficult to follow her role due to some clumsy moments of narrative flow.
Similarly, this book is full of explored rabbit holes. While reading, I never had to wait very long before I was taken down a side street to learn the history and etymology of something adjacent to the primary topic at hand. This is, of course, a critique that can flip both ways. Those who love to get the bigger picture will be excited to indulge in the historical world-building Wenc puts so much effort into. For me, however, these tangents were distracting.
Finally, given that this book is oriented toward popular and not academic audiences, there’s a case to be made that Wenc provides detail to a degree that is simply overwhelming. I often found myself feeling like there was too much to keep track of—even in regard to the story at the heart of the text.
Still, Funny Because It’s True has a lot to offer any reader or comedy fan in this moment. After all, when the world in front of us is unclear, there tends to be value in looking back.
A Few of Our Favorite Headlines from The Onion:
“Financial Advisors Recommend Throwing Away Unopened Bills”
“Bored National Guard Goes Door To Door Asking If Chicagoans Have Any Order They Need Restored”
“Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Race Of Skeleton People”
“Winner Didn’t Even Know It Was A Pie-Eating Contest”
“American Life Turns Into Bad Jerry Bruckheimer Movie”
“Call Ignored in the Order It Was Received”
“It’s Not a Crack House, It’s a Crack Home”
“Drugs Win Drug War”
“World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100 Percent”
“Perky ‘Canada’ Has Own Government, Laws”
“Dolphin Spends Amazing Vacation Swimming With Stockbroker”
“Area Man Passionate Defender of What He Imagines Constitution to Be”
“Fall Canceled After 3 Billion Seasons”
“War On String May Be Unwinnable, Says Cat General”
“Man Thinking About Just Packing Up And Making Exact Same Mistakes Someplace Far Away”