Humor and Satire Humor is used not only to make people laugh, but also to make a point. When humor is used to make a point, we call it satire.

Humor is simply the quality of something being amusing.

Satire Satire is a type of writing that pokes fun at or ridicules an individual, a group of people, a behavior or attitude, or a cultural or social institution by pointing out weaknesses in a humorous way.

The Ingredients Necessary for Satire… Humor. It has to have something that has the quality of being amusing Criticism. Criticism is the act of passing judgment on the merits of something. So, in essence, satire is pointing out a perceived flaw and judging it A Moral Voice. Satire asserts a superior morality to something. When something is mocking or criticizing alone, it is not truly satire.

The Satiric Manner The satiric manner is often ironic or sarcastic. The satiric manner can be good natured criticism or bitter cynical condemnation. The satiric manner always takes issue with deception and hypocrisy. The satiric manner often references things which society finds taboo or disgusting (bodily functions, sexuality, etc.)

A Satirist’s Tools Direct satire Indirect Satire Irony Parody Caricature Exaggeration/Understatement Utopianism Dystopianism

Direct Satire Direct Satire is stating a direct criticism humorously. This is the oldest and, historically, most common form of satiric writing.

For Example… Comedian Dennis Miller’s popular series of books, Rants, are an excellent modern example of direct satire.

The Death of Common Sense For Example… The Death of Common Sense “You can't get in your car and not run into another idiot who pulls into the gas station with his fuel tank on the wrong side and then has to get instructions from a NASA team at Houston Control to figure out how to maneuver his car so that the tank is on the correct side. And you can't open a paper without reading about a mondo idiot who gets hurt or killed at a railroad crossing because they had to try and beat the train to get home in time to watch Charlene Tilton's salute to porcelain clowns on QVC.”

Irony Irony is a literary device that exploits reader’s expectations; it occurs when what is expected turns out to be quite different from what actually happens.

For Example…

Parody Parody is a work of literature that mimics another work of literature, usually as a way of criticizing it.

For Example… Monty Python and the Holy Grail Austin Powers Scary Movie/Epic Movie Shrek The Princess Bride Wicked

Reversal A reversal, or sarcasm, is when the satirist uses or describes the opposite of what he or she actually wants to happen in order to make a point.

From “Why I hate literature, and why you should too” by Ansab For Example… From “Why I hate literature, and why you should too” by Ansab “Books however, are essentially faulty. Literature is the worst of it, and if me and my intelligent brethren don't do something about this horrible plague, who knows what could become of our uneducated humans who read these atrocities.”

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

For Example… Caricatures of the presidential candidates by Saturday Night Live cast members in ‘03 year actually changed the way that the candidates performed in public.

Exaggeration The portrayal of something trivial or unimportant as very important, usually to emphasize its triviality.

For Example… Zoolander and the “fashion world”

Understatement When something perceived as important is portrayed as something trivial or unimportant to show its unimportance.

For Example… Recent dark comedy “Burn After Reading” The Rape of the Lock (A. Pope)

Utopianism A criticism of the status quo through comparison with a superior kind of society that highlights the weaknesses of one’s own.

For Example… Utopia, by Sir Thomas Moore Gulliver’s Travels, Book II

Dystopianism A criticism of certain aspects of society through comparison to an inferior society that adopts some of these aspects.

Both Dystopianism and Utopianism use For Example… George Orwell’s 1984 / Animal Farm Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Lois Lowry’sThe Giver Suzanne Collins’The Hunger Games Both Dystopianism and Utopianism use contrast to make point.

Know for the Quiz 4/12/2017… Caricature Direct Satire Dystopianism Exaggeration Humor Irony Parody Reversal/Sarcasm Satire Understatement Utopianism The necessary ingredients for satire. What a “satirist’s tools” are What makes up the “satiric manner” The difference between humor and satire