Mockery - making fun of something Sarcasm - Harsh, personally directed comment; using praise to mock; usually aims to hurt Example: to refer to a 98 pound weakling as a “real he- man”; “nice outfit, did you buy it at Goodwill?” Hyperbole - say more than is meant; exaggeration Example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Verbal Irony - saying one thing, yet meaning something else Example: In Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo asks Mercutio if his wound is slight, Mercutio responds, “Aye, a scratch.” Understatement - saying less than is meant; opposite of hyperbole Example: “I’m going to take a little trip up Mount Everest.” Parody - imitation of a person, literary work, logo, movie, song, event, etc. that usually involves mocking Examples: Next slide

You should be familiar with parody… T.V.  Saturday Night Live Music  “Weird Al” Yankovic Film  Scary Movie 1, 2, 3, and 4  Not Another Teen Movie  Dance Flick  Epic Movie

Verbal irony Understatement What devices of satire are used?

What device of satire is used?

We sell our souls for oil. What devices of satire are used?

Satire Defined A literary genre based on criticism of people and society Ridicule and mockery are mixed with humor throughout a work of satire

What is satire?  A type of writing, film, or other kind of entertainment that ridicules the shortcomings of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about a change.  Satire makes a serious point, usually through humor, while attacking some aspect of society.  Satire often uses irony and exaggeration to make its point.  Satire can sometimes use parody to make a point (but not all parodies are satire!)

And you should be familiar with satire… Film  Idiocracy Television  The Simpsons  The Daily Show  The Colbert Report  Family Guy  South Park

What makes satire satire? Social commentary. That is, the writer ridicules or pokes fun at certain aspects of society he or she finds repugnant in hopes of changing it. Targets? The Usual Suspects. Vanity, hypocrisy, religion, bigotry, human vices, sentimentality, greed, celebrity worship, materialism, hubris, dumbing down of education, snobbery, foolishness, cruelty, insensitivity, laziness

Purpose of Satire PurposeThe satirist aims to influence change by laughing scornfully at those being mocked-- and being witty enough to allow the reader to laugh, also. The object of satire is usually some human frailty; people, institutions, ideas, and things are all fair game for satirists.

Purpose of Satire Purpose, Continued The satirist's goal is to point out the hypocrisy of the target By highlighting inconsistencies the target is made to look ridiculous

Targets of Satire Works of satire usually attack the following: –human frailty –people –institutions –ideas

Style The satirist may insert serious statements of value or desired behavior However, most satires rely on its audience to understand what is right versus what is wrong

Style Style, Continued Many of the techniques of satire are devices of comparison, to show the similarity or contrast between two things. Examples include: a list of absurd items, an oxymoron, metaphors, sarcasm, irony and exaggeration (hyperbole)

There is no such thing as too thin. What devices of satire are used?

Examples in Literature In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the racism of the deep south is satirized. Huckleberry’s conscience – warped by the racist world he has grown up in, often bothers him most when he is at his best. Ironically, he is prepared to do good, believing it to be wrong.

Examples in Literature Examples in Literature, Continued Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World satirizes a future where people don’t have serious relationships People no longer have opinions and are classified from birth into a caste

Examples in Literature Examples in Literature, Continued George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm Animal Farm mocks communism/Marxism and the Russian Revolution In both of Orwell’s works a society is satirized where government has complete authority over the people

Examples in Television Examples in Television and Popular Culture Stephen Colbert’s television program, The Colbert Report satirizes both other television personalities and a variety of aspects of society Most notably Colbert satirizes political candidates and political decisions

Examples from Film Almost all spoof movies at least partly fall into the category of satire Some of these films might include: Scary Movie franchise, Naked Gun franchise, Airplane, This is Spinal Tap and many others

Advantages of Satire Most miss author’s true intent; therefore, censors don’t “get it” and author stays out of prison Nice change from “preachiness” of other approaches to reform “Stealth” weapon useful when taking an unpopular stance in repressive society Short and punchy

Satire In Action Remember: Satire often pokes fun at some institution, person or aspect of human weakness In the following cartoons, try to specifically point out what is being satirized. Also try to come to a conclusion about what the artist/author wants his audience to think about by viewing the cartoon

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Possible Responses: What is being satirized? –The artist is satirizing our youth’s preoccupation with games, computers and other technology. It is also satirizing parents who allow their children so much access to these distractions. What change does the artist possibly want to inspire? –The artist wants children to play less games and for parents to step in and make their children focus on activities that will help them later in life.

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

Satire in Action What is being satirized? What change does the artist possibly want to inspire?

David Sedaris’ “Christmas is For Giving”

Irish author/satirist Jonathan Swift (1667) is a case in point. His “A Modest Proposal,” (one of the greatest works of sustained irony) suggests that poor Irish parents be encouraged to sell their own children as food. His true purpose, of course, is to attack indifference to the plight of poor. Also wrote Gulliver’s Travels.