Satire Criticism Through Laughter

What Is Satire? Satire is a kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, vice, or folly in order to bring about social reform. Satire is a kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, vice, or folly in order to bring about social reform. –Satires can be works of fiction, nonfiction, drama, or poetry. © Vince O’Farrell

What Are the Functions of Satire? –To make readers feel critical of themselves, of their fellow human beings, or of their society –To make readers laugh at human foolishness and weakness –To make fun of vicious, selfish, mean-spirited people in the hope that we will see ourselves in such people and mend our ways –To expose errors and absurdities that we no longer notice because custom and familiarity have blinded us to them

Two Major Types of Satirist 1. Horatian- the optimist (to heal of reform vices) –sees themselves as a physician –tells truth with a smile so as not to repel them, but to cure them of their ignorance which is their worst fault. 2. Juvenalian - the pessimist (to punish or destroy) –hates or despises most people –purpose is not to cure but to wound –sees themselves as an executioner

MOTIVES Personal hatred or grudge Personal hatred or grudge - usually disclaims this by saying that it is for the public good Prejudice from a bad experience Prejudice from a bad experience - ethnic, religious, gender Aesthetic motive (for art’s sake) Aesthetic motive (for art’s sake) - pleasure of manipulating own material - own special pattern as an artist

Modes and Means Low Burlesque Low Burlesque - making someone or something important look trivial High Burlesque High Burlesque - making someone or something low look important - blowing something out of proportion; exaggeration - complaints, stories from friends

The Seven Satiric Tones Wit Wit - Wounds w/ neat unexpected stoke - Reader is surprised, comically shocked Ridicule Ridicule - Good tempered and under control - Must confine itself to lighter things Irony Irony - The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. Sarcasm Sarcasm - Essentially incidental and verbal - More crude than irony, more blunt - Sometimes not recognized in written form

The Seven Satiric Tones Cynicism Cynicism - A cynic is a person that believes all people are motivated by selfishness - Expressing or exhibiting scorn or bitter mockery Sardonic- scornfully or cynically mocking Sardonic- scornfully or cynically mocking * both cynicism and the sardonic stem from a deep sense of dillusion * both cynicism and the sardonic stem from a deep sense of dillusion - sardonic would rather weep than laugh; his laughter is on the verge of anger, bitter laughter Invective- the anger the sardonic manages to keep under control burst forth from the invective Invective- the anger the sardonic manages to keep under control burst forth from the invective -extreme of satiric spectrum; direct and unremitting attack on its subject. - sometimes comes to abuse and name calling

Devices of Satire Exaggeration Overstating Overstating Stereotyping groups of people and focusing on faults Stereotyping groups of people and focusing on faults Making things appear ridiculous and unattractive Making things appear ridiculous and unattractiveHyperbole Using wild exaggeration Using wild exaggerationUnderstatement Saying less than what is really meant or saying something with less force than is appropriate. Saying less than what is really meant or saying something with less force than is appropriate.

TARGETS OF SATIRE Society and or its institutions Society and or its institutions Type of Person Type of Person Person Person Place Place Events Events