The Beauty of satire English IV - Ms. Dott

A satirical piece of fiction, not scientific prophecy

POLITICAL SATIRE, NOT a HOW-TO BOOK ON TOTALITARIANISM

Satire: A piece of literature designed to ridicule the subject of the work. While satire can be funny, its aim is not to amuse, but to arouse contempt. Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and several other techniques are almost always present.

Satire is created by using: Humor Irony – What are the 3 kinds? Exaggeration Ridicule

“Reading Brave New World elicits the same disturbing feelings in the reader which the society it depicts has vanquished.” What does this mean?

Huxley exploits anxieties about Soviet Communism and American capitalism. The price of universal happiness will be the sacrifice of honored shibboleths of our culture: “motherhood,” “home,” “family,” “freedom,” even “love.”

Brave New World, just like 1984, is centered around control and manipulation He instills the fear that a future world state may rob us of the right to be unhappy.

propaganda, censorship, conformity, This novel is more applicable today than it was in 1932. This is a time of: propaganda, censorship, conformity, genetic engineering, social conditioning, and mindless entertainment This was what Huxley saw in our future. His book is a warning!!

Do we have a modern soma? Consider the number of ads for prescription drugs which are permitted only in the United States and New Zealand Doctors and consumer advocates believe these ads drive up health-care costs and seduce millions into asking their MDs for drugs they don’t need for diseases they had never before heard of, like restless leg syndrome

Whatever is wrong, there’s a drug for you, or so TV ads say

Catching patients’ eyes Lipitor: Dr. Robert Jarvik, inventor of the artificial heart, rowing on a beautiful lake Lamisil: ugly yellow creatures tucking themselves under your toenails Lunesta: a luna moth

Nearly 1/3 of that TV ad money was for what type of medication? In 2005, drug companies spent more than $4 billion on what is termed direct-to-consumer advertising, according to the Government Accountability Office. That’s about 1/7 of the amount the companies spent on research and development Nearly 1/3 of that TV ad money was for what type of medication? Sleep aids

Gauging ads’ impact 78 percent of MDs said patients asked them to prescribe drugs they had seen on TV Patients most often asked for advertised drugs for acid reflux, impotence, allergies and insomnia, the mainstay of TV ad lineups Source: Consumer Reports survey of doctors on direct-to-consumer advertising

Let’s think about it… Were Huxley and orwell correct? Did/does society need a warning? Why or why not? Were their satirical novels effective? Why or why not?

Let’s Practice…what’s being satirized?

President Bush https://youtu.be/anDLXdaO6TI?list=PLkGKEc_zcqixA2fjx4LgNuYEhI29kR5lG What’s being satirized, and what are the techniques being used?

Apple- Think Different(ly) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2l_Q1AR_Q&index=3&list=PLkGKEc_zcqixA2fjx4LgNuYEhI29kR5lG What is being satirized?

Jimmy Fallon and Justin timberlake at their best… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57dzaMaouXA&list=PLkGKEc_zcqixA2fjx4LgNuYEhI29kR5lG&index=4 What is being satirized?