The Elements of SatireThe Elements of SatireSatire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound

with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

-Lady Mary Wortley Montagu-Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

What is satire?What is satire?• Comes from the latin word Comes from the latin word saturasatura, meaning “dish of , meaning “dish of

mixed ingredients”.mixed ingredients”.• A technique in which a writer ridicules or criticizes a A technique in which a writer ridicules or criticizes a

person, group, institution or event using certain person, group, institution or event using certain literary devices. literary devices.

• Usually witty.Usually witty.• Almost always sarcastic or ironic.Almost always sarcastic or ironic.• Usually has a tone of “mock-approval” – sarcastically Usually has a tone of “mock-approval” – sarcastically

supporting the very thing it is criticizing. supporting the very thing it is criticizing. How does the definition of satire relate to its latin root? How does the definition of satire relate to its latin root?

Forms of SatireForms of Satire• Drama (Drama (TartuffeTartuffe – Moliere, – Moliere, The Importance of Being The Importance of Being

EarnestEarnest – Oscar Wilde ) – Oscar Wilde )• Journalism (Journalism (The Onion)The Onion)• Fiction (Fiction (A Modest Proposal A Modest Proposal – Jonathan Swift, – Jonathan Swift, The The

Lowest AnimalLowest Animal – Mark Twain) – Mark Twain)• Poetry (Poetry (The Rape of the LockeThe Rape of the Locke – Alexander Pope) – Alexander Pope)• Graphic Arts (editorial cartoons)Graphic Arts (editorial cartoons)• Television programs (Saturday Night Live, The Television programs (Saturday Night Live, The

Colbert Report) Colbert Report) • Music (Music (With God on Our SideWith God on Our Side – Bob Dylan, Weird Al) – Bob Dylan, Weird Al)

Examples of Satire in Pop CultureExamples of Satire in Pop Culture

Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live’s Weekend Update’s Weekend Update The Daily Show The Daily Show Scary Movie Scary Movie Austin Powers Austin Powers Political cartoons Political cartoons This is Spinal Tap This is Spinal Tap Songs by Weird Al Yankovich (Songs by Weird Al Yankovich (White and White and

NerdyNerdy)) The SimpsonsThe Simpsons

Satirical TechniquesSatirical Techniques

• SarcasmSarcasm• IronyIrony• ParodyParody• BurlesqueBurlesque• Elevated word choiceElevated word choice• PunsPuns• Hyperbole/exaggerationHyperbole/exaggeration

Methods of SatireMethods of Satire

Pun: play on wordsPun: play on words Hyperbole: overstatement often used to show how ridiculous a situation is.Hyperbole: overstatement often used to show how ridiculous a situation is. Burlesque is an imitation of a person or subject by exaggeration or distortion. Burlesque is an imitation of a person or subject by exaggeration or distortion.

a frivolous subject may be treated with mock dignitya frivolous subject may be treated with mock dignity a weighty subject might be handled in a trivial stylea weighty subject might be handled in a trivial style character who should use formal, intelligent language speaks like a fool character who should use formal, intelligent language speaks like a fool

or a character who is portrayed as uneducated uses highly sophisticated, or a character who is portrayed as uneducated uses highly sophisticated, intelligent language. Ex: Princess Bride – “Marriage, marriage”, giant intelligent language. Ex: Princess Bride – “Marriage, marriage”, giant who rhymeswho rhymes

Parody mocks not a person or subject, but a specific literary work or style, by Parody mocks not a person or subject, but a specific literary work or style, by imitating features and applying them to trivial or incongruous materials. Weird imitating features and applying them to trivial or incongruous materials. Weird Al song, Beat it ---Eat it.Al song, Beat it ---Eat it.

Pair SharePair Share

By definition, satire is _____________. By definition, satire is _____________. One technique utilized to create satire is One technique utilized to create satire is _______________. One example of satire _______________. One example of satire I have seen, read or heard is I have seen, read or heard is _______________________________. _______________________________.

Apple Hard At Work Making iPhone ObsoleteApple Hard At Work Making iPhone ObsoleteFEBRUARY 12, 2007FEBRUARY 12, 2007

CUPERTINO, CA—Only a month after the much-heralded announcement CUPERTINO, CA—Only a month after the much-heralded announcement of the iPhone, Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed that his engineers were of the iPhone, Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed that his engineers were already working around-the-clock on the touchscreen smartphone's far-already working around-the-clock on the touchscreen smartphone's far-superior replacement. "We looked at [the iPhone's] innovative user superior replacement. "We looked at [the iPhone's] innovative user interface, the paradigm-shifting voicemail, the best-in-class mobile interface, the paradigm-shifting voicemail, the best-in-class mobile browser, and we realized we could make all that seem ridiculously browser, and we realized we could make all that seem ridiculously outdated by the time the product becomes available to customers in June," outdated by the time the product becomes available to customers in June," said Jobs, who described the project as "Apple reinventing the iPhone." said Jobs, who described the project as "Apple reinventing the iPhone." "When the second-generation iPhone comes out this fall, we want iPhone "When the second-generation iPhone comes out this fall, we want iPhone users to feel not just jealous, but downright foolish for owning such users to feel not just jealous, but downright foolish for owning such laughably primitive technology." Jobs also hinted that the second iPhone laughably primitive technology." Jobs also hinted that the second iPhone device would not be compatible with existing Mac computers, third-party device would not be compatible with existing Mac computers, third-party peripherals, or any future Apple products.peripherals, or any future Apple products.

Sample ResponseSample Response

In order to mock/ ridicule In order to mock/ ridicule technology technology companiescompanies, this article utilizes , this article utilizes sarcasm sarcasm and ironyand irony. For example, . For example, Jobs supposedly Jobs supposedly states that apple wants “states that apple wants “users to feel not just users to feel not just jealous, but downright foolish for owning such jealous, but downright foolish for owning such laughably primitive technology."laughably primitive technology."

Factual Error Found On InternetFactual Error Found On InternetMay 22, 2002 |May 22, 2002 |

LONGMONT, CO—The Information Age was LONGMONT, CO—The Information Age was dealt a stunning blow Monday, when a factual dealt a stunning blow Monday, when a factual error was discovered on the Internet. The error error was discovered on the Internet. The error was found on TedsUltimateBradyBunch.com, was found on TedsUltimateBradyBunch.com, a a Brady BunchBrady Bunch fan site that incorrectly listed fan site that incorrectly listed the show's debut year as 1968, not 1969. the show's debut year as 1968, not 1969.

Caryn Wisniewski, a Pueblo, CO, legal secretary Caryn Wisniewski, a Pueblo, CO, legal secretary and diehard and diehard Brady BunchBrady Bunch fan, came across the fan, came across the mistake while searching for information about mistake while searching for information about the show's first-season cast. the show's first-season cast.

Attempts to contact the webmaster of "Ted's Ultimate Attempts to contact the webmaster of "Ted's Ultimate Brady Brady BunchBunch Site," identified as Ted Crewes of Naugatuck, CT, Site," identified as Ted Crewes of Naugatuck, CT, were unsuccessful. The page has been taken offline by its were unsuccessful. The page has been taken offline by its host, Cheaphost.net, which released a statement Tuesday. host, Cheaphost.net, which released a statement Tuesday.

"We at Cheaphost were deeply saddened and disturbed to "We at Cheaphost were deeply saddened and disturbed to learn that one of the millions of pages we host contained a learn that one of the millions of pages we host contained a factual discrepancy," the web-posted statement read. "Please factual discrepancy," the web-posted statement read. "Please be assured that we are doing everything within our power to be assured that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that nothing of the sort happens again. We will not ensure that nothing of the sort happens again. We will not rest until the Internet's once-sterling reputation as the rest until the Internet's once-sterling reputation as the world's leading source for 100 percent reliable information world's leading source for 100 percent reliable information is restored." is restored."

Paul Boutin, senior editor of Paul Boutin, senior editor of WiredWired, said the error is likely to , said the error is likely to have a profound effect on how the Internet is perceived. have a profound effect on how the Internet is perceived.

"Will we ever fully trust the Web again?" "Will we ever fully trust the Web again?" Boutin asked. "We may well be witnessing the Boutin asked. "We may well be witnessing the dawn of a new era of skepticism in which we dawn of a new era of skepticism in which we no longer accept everything we read online at no longer accept everything we read online at face value. But regardless of what the future face value. But regardless of what the future holds, one thing is clear: The Internet's status holds, one thing is clear: The Internet's status as the world's definitive repository of as the world's definitive repository of incontrovertible fact has been jeopardized." incontrovertible fact has been jeopardized."

Pair SharePair Share

In order to mock/ ridicule In order to mock/ ridicule ____________________, this , this article utilizes article utilizes ________________________. For . For example, example, _________________________._________________________.

Why Satire?Why Satire?

Now that you know the elements of satire, Now that you know the elements of satire, what do you think makes satire effective? what do you think makes satire effective? Why do writers use satire instead of Why do writers use satire instead of criticizing the person, group or institution criticizing the person, group or institution directly?directly?

Your TurnYour Turn

Read the letter to Puff Daddy and find Read the letter to Puff Daddy and find examples of satirical devices. What group examples of satirical devices. What group or type of people is the writer of the letter or type of people is the writer of the letter comically criticizing?comically criticizing?