In the Name of Satire

The LSE Sanctuary hit Houghton Street this week, and under new leadership has no doubt pissed off some students already. This Observer is all about the power of satire and poking the establishment in the eye, but nonetheless suspects that lampooning this year’s preoccupation with Israel and Palestine in terms of ‘Badguys’ and ‘Poorguys’ living in a ‘Hellhole’ is somewhat lacking in subtlety. Still, a fair point is raised that the SU focuses a lot of attention on events far removed from London, whilst there are local concerns that could use the same attention such as homelessness in London. We would also like to commend their suggestion that the SU request Batman intervene in the conflict, as the Dark Knight’s skill set seems ideally suited for knocking some sense in Badguy and Poorguy heads by any means necessary.

Featuring what one can only imagine is the eponymous sanctuary on the cover, looking like something out of Tolkien, it may also be a tweak on the Ivory Tower, from which it rains derision upon any establishment within the school. Not the least is our motto, which has been adjusted to become rerum causas ridere (to know the funny causes of things). Other targets are the Students Union (obviously), The Houghton Group, various blowhards within student societies and even British society itself.

This Observer’s favourite bit would have to be the Facebook spoof on page 18. Featuring faux-profiles for Britney Spears, Prince Philip and Fabio Capello, among others, it hits the sweet spot in terms of the greater visibility these types of website provide, along with the false sense of interaction that said sites provide and even a few cheap shots like Britney’s profile pic showing her gleefully shaving her head and excoriating the reader to ‘GIVE ME MY FUCKING KIDS BACK YOU BASTARDS!!!’

There’s a lot more contained within issue 2 of the Sanctuary (not the least being the five full-page ads for higher education and, more oddly, skiing), and if it hasn’t already been shoved into your hand as you walk down Houghton Street (looks like the staff is taking a page out of the London Lite’s handbook there), you shouldn’t have too hard of a time finding a copy – they were far more prevalent than the Beaver during a walk through of Houghton Street this morning. Although the paper will be folding up for the summer, it promises to be back next fall, and perhaps it will have sharpened some of its wits to a bit more subtle of a point by then.