Humor and Satire

What is Satire? Satire (Noun): A literary manner which combines humor with criticism for the purpose of instruction or the improvement of humanity

Modern Satirists

Early Western Satirists Jonathan Swift (1667-1745): In the most famous piece of satire in the English language, Swift criticizes English society and humanity as a whole in Gulliver’s Travels, a book that has become mistakenly known as a children’s story. Voltaire (1694-177): Voltaire criticizes European colonialism in his tale about a moron who becomes a hero in French society.

Famous American Satirists Mark Twain: the most famous and controversial of American authors. In his most famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain criticizes everything from slavery, school, religion, and parenting. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.: Vonnegut used absurdist humor combining such things as time travel, aliens, optometry, and babies to give a scathing critique of the allied bombing of Dresden in World War II in his famous work Slaughter-House Five.

Types of Satire Satire can be either good natured criticism or bitterly cynical denunciation Horatian Satire: named after the Roman poet Horace, it uses mild, light hearted humor to expose the absurdity of a situation or institution. Juvenalian Satire: named after the Roman poet Juvenal, a harsher form of satire that uses anger and invective towards its subject which is supposed to enrage its audience. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok

Characteristics of Satire All satire is criticism Concerned with ethical reform and attacks corruption. Makes vice laughable. Satire uses extremes to make its audience aware of political dangers or wrongs. To reform, persuade and convince To analyze To strip away false impressions

The Targets of Satire Satire can be directed at several kind of TARGETS: THE INDIVIDUAL -- the author make fun of one person’s behavior and beliefs because he feels that they are foolish or malicious. THE GROUP -- the target can be a political party, a club, a social class, a profession, even a whole society. THE “SYSTEM” -- this often involves large systems of beliefs, such as religion, or human nature in general. One example is Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.”

Forms to Use FANTASY -- the setting of the satire is an imaginary world or time. It softens the criticism by removing it from reality. The idea behind it: people are more willing to consider criticism if the finger isn’t pointing directly at them. MOCK HEROICS -- take the realistic problem or dispute and turn it into a highly exaggerated epic battle. FORMAL PROPOSAL -- prepare a highly serious, highly rational proposal for action on this problem, but make it totally unreasonable and exaggerated. PRAISE / BLAME -- take something that is bad and praise it without boundary, or take something good and cut it to shreds. Either way, the reader will appreciate the irony the author intends.

Satirical Techniques Direct Satire Irony Sarcasm Ridicule Exaggeration / Diminutization Caricature Parody Utopianism / Dystopianism

Direct Satire = stating a direct criticism humorously Direct Satire = stating a direct criticism humorously. This is the oldest and, historically, most common form of satiric writing Comedian Trevor Noah rants on his show, The Daily Show, are an excellent modern example of direct satire.

Irony - language that has two levels of meaning; the first is superficial or literal; the second is critical and often the opposite of the superficial meaning. Sarcasm - extreme techniques of satire; bitter and spiteful comments are made to deliberately hurt the subject

Ridicule - technique used to satirize the faults of others; ridicule makes fun of the subject or derides it with contempt .

Caricature = An exaggerated portrayal of the weaknesses, frailties, or humorous aspects of an individual or group

Saturday Night Live is known for its caricatures of politicians and celebrities, which have even at times shifted the national conversation.

Parody = a work of literature that mimics another work of literature, usually as a way of criticizing it. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Austin Powers Scary Movie/Epic Movie/Date Movie Vampires Suck

“Zoolander” “Anchorman” Exaggeration = The portrayal of something trivial or unimportant as very important, usually to emphasize its triviality. Diminutization = the portrayal of something perceived as important as something trivial/unimportant to show its unimportance. “Zoolander” “Anchorman”

Utopia, by Sir Thomas Moore Gulliver’s Travels, Book II Utopianism = A criticism of the status quo through comparison with a superior kind of society that highlights the weaknesses of one’s own. Utopia, by Sir Thomas Moore Gulliver’s Travels, Book II “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carrey portrays a fake utopia.

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Dystopianism = A criticism of certain aspects of society through comparison to an inferior society that adopts some of these aspects. George Orwell’s 1984 Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Veronica Roth’s Divergent Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games * Both Dystopianism and Utopianism use contrast to make point.

Warning: Gallows Humor Ahead! A WARNING ABOUT SATIRE: Satire is the most misunderstood of rhetoric. Many times satirists are blurring the line between absurdity and reality so much that their humor can be misconstrued for honest opinion. As you read the satire in this unit, consider how satire can make us laugh, make us angry, and challenge our assumptions all at the same time.

Satire Analysis Practice Watch the following video clips. We’ll discuss the questions as a class once we’re done watching! Satire Clip #1 Satire Clip #2 Brief summary of clip Who is the target audience (the individual, the group, or the “system”)? More specifically? What techniques are used? What is the ACTUAL statement trying to be made?