Satire English 11B, British and World Literature Spring 2008

Basic Satire Satire recognizes that the real world is full of folly, crime, and injustice, but never doubts that the real world it makes fun of is worth redeeming. Satire can be humorous or vicious.

What is Satire? Ridicules aspects of human behavior. Seeks to arouse in the reader contempt for its object/target. Satire seeks to bring about reform by pointing out the faults (weaknesses, vices, follies) of groups or individuals. Tries to persuade the reader by showing the opposing view as absurd, vicious, or inhumane

Purpose of Satire Satirists write to bring about the improvement of humanity and human society. A satirist’s main goal is to create change! Satire uses wit as a weapon to attack to attack the foibles and follies of mankind. “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Satire and Comedy While both comedy and satire make us laugh, there are some important differences: In comedy, laughter is an end in itself; there is generally not a higher instructive purpose. Satire uses laughter as a weapon against an object outside of the work. Satire aims to laugh us out of our vices, follies, and foibles.

Targets of Satire Society’s institutions (schools, government, business, etc.) A type of person or trends A specific person A place

Vehicles for Satire Prose Poetry Art Drama/Film Fables Critical Reviews Comic Strips Cartoons American Beauty “A dazzling tale of loneliness, desire and the hollowness of conformity." (Edward Guthman, SF Chronicle)

Forms of Satire Direct Satire: the satiric voice speaks in the first person (uses “I”). The work is often an essay or speech, sometimes a pamphlet. http://www.comedycentral.com/video- clips/3rtdos/comedy-central-presents-lewis- black---the-end-of-the-universe

Forms of Satire Indirect Satire: reads like a story and has a plot. The characters make themselves ridiculous by thought, speech, and/or actions. Characters are made more ridiculous by the author’s narrative style and comments. Mean Girls – 7:00-15:00, 29:00-35:00

Satiric Styles Horatian Satire Horace (65-68 BC) Tries to evoke a smile Writer is a sophisticated man-of-the- world Attitude: amused at the foibles of men Often witty and light-hearted Attacks minor problems, follies

Satiric Styles Juvenalian Satire Juvenal (55-130 BC) Tries to arouse anger and moral indignation Writer is a serious moralist and a dedicated reformer Attitude: bitter, denunciatory, attacks the vices of men, ferocious attacks http://www.hulu.com/watch/1389/saturday -night-live-dont-buy-stuff

Satiric Devices and Conventions Caricature: A type of portrait, graphic or verbal, which exaggerates or distorts prominent features of a person without losing the likeness. Political Cartoons

Satiric Devices and Conventions Invective: Direct denunciation or name calling. "Well, of course, this is just the sort of blinkered philistine pig-ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist..." (John Cleese in Monty Python's "The Architect Sketch")

Satiric Devices and Conventions Diatribe: Prolonged invective; bitter and abusive speech or writing. Synonym – Rant

Satiric Devices and Conventions Incongruity: A combination of characteristics or elements that don’t match or fit together. Mean Girls – 29:00-35:00 Saturday Night Live – “Lab Partners” http://www.hulu.com/watch/114945/satur day-night-live-lab-partners Harvard Sailing Team – “Boys will be Girls” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gspaoa ecNAg

Satiric Devices and Conventions Parody: A close imitation of an author’s style or work for comic effect or in ridicule Scary Movie, etc. The Onion – Read Articles

Satiric Devices and Conventions Exaggeration: Representing something as much more than it really is. Brave New World “Neighbors” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZt_d_4O V- Q&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode= 1

Satiric Devices and Conventions Understatement: Deliberately representing something as much less than it really is. Monty Python – “It’s just a flesh wound!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUe- gz690

Satiric Devices and Conventions Irony: Implied attitudes which are opposed to those being expressed. In an attempt to explain their beliefs to a wider audience, the Amish launched a website.

Satiric Devices and Conventions Sarcasm: Caustic and heavy use of apparent praise for actual dispraise. The Colbert Report

Satiric Devices and Conventions Lampoon: A full-length verbal portrait of a person which ridicules him in a biting manner. Harvard Lampoon  National Lampoon

Satiric Devices and Conventions High Burlesque: Treats trivial subject matter in an elevated and serious manner. Moulin Rouge Newspaper Headline: “Loser Spends Entire Day in Bed.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZt_d_4O V- Q&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode= 1

Satiric Devices and Conventions Low Burlesque: Treats serious subject matter in a low and comic manner. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Knocked Up Chicago – “The Cell Block Tango” Monty Python – Sir Lancelot visits the castle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJoM7V54 T-c