SATIRE

Satire definition

Vices and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society into improvement

Satire

Found in many artistic forms of expression, including literature, plays, commentary, lyrics and cartoons

Two Types of Satire

Horatian- playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild and light-hearted humor. It directs wit and exaggeration toward folly, rather than evil

Juvenalian- contemptuous and abrasive, it addresses social evil through scorn and outrage

Examples

Horatian = The Simpsons, The Onion (satiric weekly newspaper)

Juvenalian = A Modest Proposal, Lord of the Flies, 1984

Satire

Satire was explored minimally in the Middle Ages in the form of moral satire. Unchristian behavior was mocked as seen in The Canterbury Tales

The Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries advocated rationality and produced a revival of satire in Britain- notable writers- Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope

Jonathan Swift

One of the greatest Irish satirists, and one of the first to practice modern journalistic satire. In Gulliver’s Travels he writes about the flaws in human society in general and specifically English society

Contemporary satire

Stephen Colbert- satirically impersonates a self-righteous commentator

South Park relies on satire to address issues in American culture including homophobia, political correctness etc.

Contemporary satire

The Simpsons parody modern family and social life- often criticizing some aspect of society

Contemporary Satire

The Onion is a contemporary form of satire, which attempts to sound like a legitimate news organization but with satirical undertones

When Satire is misunderstood

The television show All in the Family, created a character Archie Bunker, who was meant to poke fun at narrow minded and racist individuals. He became somewhat of a hero however, to people who actually agreed with his views

When Satire is misunderstood

The 2006 film Borat was a “mockumentary” which satirized everyone. It came under fire after it was claimed that it was anti semitic, even though Sacha Baron Cohen (the creator and star) is Jewish

Satire causes change

A Doonesbury cartoon strip satirized a Florida law that stipulated that all minorities must carry a passcard. The law was repealed in an act nicknamed The Doonesbury Act

Parody- A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/107500/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-firelight

Juxtaposition

An act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Double Entendre

a word or expression used in a given context so that it can be understood in two ways, especially when one meaning is risqué.

Traffic Sign: Slow Children Crossing.

Police authorities are finding the solution of murders more and more difficult because the victims are unwilling to cooperate with the police.

Testimonial from an insurance firm: My husband and I took out a home

insurance policy with your company. In less than a month our house accidentally burned down. I consider it a blessing.

Exaggeration

An overstatement