1. A brief overview Night class – Spring 2013

2.  Satire is a style of rhetoric that exposes vices and foolishness in people and society  Satire generally uses humor, irony, sarcasm, and other techniques to get an emotional reaction from the audience  Satire often aims to create political or social change  Here are a few techniques that may be used in satire…….

3.  Hyperbole Also called exaggeration In satire, hyperbole is used to make an idea or situation seem ridiculous by taking it to the extreme Examples: Google opt-out - http://youtu.be/lMChO0qNbkY KFC Double Down - http://youtu.be/YZ9Yy3NgABY http://youtu.be/lMChO0qNbkY http://youtu.be/YZ9Yy3NgABY

4.  Reversal Presenting the opposite of what people are used to experiencing Makes the audience think about what they consider “normal,” and why Example: Marriage ban - http://youtu.be/wVeGUSGkhfw http://youtu.be/wVeGUSGkhfw

5.  Parody Imitating someone for comedic effect Often includes the use of other techniques (hyperbole, irony, etc.) Example: Brad Paisley/LL Cool J - http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night- live/video/weekend-update-ll-cool-j-and-brad- paisley/n35546 http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night- live/video/weekend-update-ll-cool-j-and-brad- paisley/n35546

6.  Incongruity Putting things together that normally wouldn’t go together This can be used to make ordinary things seem ridiculous Example: Obama teleprompter - http://youtu.be/aXQTaWjMoFw http://youtu.be/aXQTaWjMoFw

7.  Irony Using words in a way that conveys the opposite of their literal meaning Can be used to show difference between appearance and reality Example: Star Trek reviews - http://youtu.be/02LgdXVkXgM http://youtu.be/02LgdXVkXgM

8.  Sarcasm Like irony, but more “mean” Usually used to mock a person, situation, or idea Example: Stephen Colbert - http://youtu.be/aFf1lYyKE04 http://youtu.be/aFf1lYyKE04

9.  Understatement Like hyperbole, this is a type of exaggeration Can be used to make a situation or idea seem less important than it really is Example: “Just right” - http://youtu.be/y_HiX5eUfNo http://youtu.be/y_HiX5eUfNo

10.  Misunderstanding: Audience may think the satirist is being serious  Misuse: People hide behind the idea of satire to get away with saying really stupid and cruel things  Missing the Point: Too much satire can distract the audience from the “real” message

11.  Subject: What is the main idea?  Occasion: What current event/trend is the author reacting to?  Audience: What person/group is the satire targeting?

12.  Purpose: What is the “real” message behind the satire?  Speaker: How does the author create credibility? Why should we trust this person?