Thus began Chris Morris' career as a satirist in 1993 with "The Day Today". This phrase seems to permeate his entire oeuvre, for when the actual, purported 'real' news is routinely as bizarre and (as sites like IMC have exposed) completely divorced from the reality they claim to reflect, satire and ridicule is the only response.
The hypocritical hysteria over the distorted threat of child molestation, generated by the establishment and taken up by the populist elements, has cast an unpleasant shadow over the entire decade.
The genius of Morris and his team is to point out that, far from being overblown exagerations, the media techniques that he parodies, are very much being used for real. Watch any episode of "Brass Eye or "Day Today" and then immediately turn to a 'genuine' current affairs program such as "Newsnight" or "Tonight". Almost impossible to distinguish the 'real' from the parody, isnt it ? (I really wish I'd made some recordings of "The Day Today". If anyone has a copy, especially the "WAR" edition, do let me know)
It comes as no surprise that the ex-Stalinists in Blair's entourage are scheming to bring in new censorship rules, even though it transpires that many of them havent even seen the item on trial. Not that this discrepancy will stop them; "I have no wish to see that which you have no right to see"... the fundamental hypocrisy of censorship is very clear.
We may perhaps hope that Chris Morris has finally called a halt to the ever creeping forces of demonisation, and look forward to a serious debate, and It is sad that he has had to put himself and his career at some considerable risk from howling lynch-mobs and howling politicans to do it. Under the pretence of protecting 'poor little kiddies', Britain remains a nation not noticeable for its good treatment of children in general. The old Victorian days of giving them a beating and a bible reading for breakfast may have faded, but the general authoritarian, gerontocratic mentality remains. If we want children to be 'safe' they should be given the confidence to lead their lives in a spirit of freedom, not constant fear of latter day bogey-men.