SatireSatire

Why are these funny?Why are these funny?

What is satire?What is satire?

In satire, human or individual vices, follies, In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses or shortcomings are held up to find abuses or shortcomings are held up to find fault with by means of ridicule, mockery, fault with by means of ridicule, mockery, irony, or other methods, ideally with the irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement. intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is meant to be funny, the Although satire is meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.the weapon of wit.

What? Paraphrase, please…What? Paraphrase, please…

What is satire?What is satire?

SatireSatire: Making fun of : Making fun of some aspect of culture, some aspect of culture, society, and/or human society, and/or human nature to hopefully nature to hopefully improve it or inspire improve it or inspire change.change.

……Isn’t that comedy?Isn’t that comedy?

Satire Satire differs from differs from comedy comedy in that:in that:

– SatireSatire seeks to correct, improve, or seeks to correct, improve, or reform throughout ridiculereform throughout ridicule

– ComedyComedy aims simply to amuse its aims simply to amuse its audienceaudience

– Satire uses laughter as a weapon against Satire uses laughter as a weapon against something that exists outside the work something that exists outside the work itself.itself.

SNLSNL Episode Episode

Satire on SNL: “School Visit”Satire on SNL: “School Visit”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZZ6wPdcYG4

What is being satirized? What is being satirized?

Types of satireTypes of satire Horatian satireHoratian satire--Satire in which the voice is --Satire in which the voice is

tolerant, amused, and witty (funny/clever). The tolerant, amused, and witty (funny/clever). The speaker speaker gentlygently ridicules the absurdities and ridicules the absurdities and problems of human beings, aiming at producing problems of human beings, aiming at producing in the reader a smile or laugh. (Aims to correct in the reader a smile or laugh. (Aims to correct through humor). Named after the writing style of through humor). Named after the writing style of the Roman poet Horace.the Roman poet Horace.

Juvenalian satireJuvenalian satire--Formal satire in which the --Formal satire in which the speaker speaker attacksattacks problems and error with problems and error with disrespect and anger. Juvenalian satire in its disrespect and anger. Juvenalian satire in its realism and its harshness is in strong contrast to realism and its harshness is in strong contrast to Horatian satire. Named after the Roman poet Horatian satire. Named after the Roman poet Juvenal.Juvenal.

More SNLMore SNL

What is being satirized here?What is being satirized here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5

7dzaMaouXA

Satirical CommericialsSatirical Commericials

Horatian or Juvenalian?Horatian or Juvenalian?

Coca-Cola commercial:Coca-Cola commercial:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHhCP5ad-zM

Iphone 5sIphone 5shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNBP18nrRdw

Devices of SatireDevices of Satire

The chief device of satire is The chief device of satire is irony.irony.

What are the three types of irony?What are the three types of irony?

JuxtaspositionJuxtasposition the arrangement of two or the arrangement of two or

more characters, ideas, or more characters, ideas, or words side-by-side for the words side-by-side for the

purpose of purpose of comparison, comparison, contrast, or contrast, or character character developmentdevelopment

Some examples of juxtaposition are (Shakespeare):Some examples of juxtaposition are (Shakespeare): the young and the old;the young and the old; peasents and aristocrats;peasents and aristocrats; the quiet whispers of lovers and the loud sounds of thethe quiet whispers of lovers and the loud sounds of the

crowdscrowds

ParodyParody

poking fun at something by poking fun at something by mimicking or imitating itmimicking or imitating it

“ “Born this Way”Born this Way”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_BmTGv43M

““White and Nerdy”White and Nerdy”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdwwww.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

CaricatureCaricature

poking fun at a character by poking fun at a character by exaggerating its personal exaggerating its personal

characteristics in drawing or characteristics in drawing or narrative narrative

SarcasmSarcasm

taunting on a personal level by taunting on a personal level by saying something and meaning saying something and meaning

the opposite the opposite

Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.Well, this day was a total waste of makeup. Well, aren’t we just a ray of frigging sunshine?Well, aren’t we just a ray of frigging sunshine? Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we? Don’t bother me. I’m living happily ever after.Don’t bother me. I’m living happily ever after. This isn’t an office. It’s Hell with fluorescent lighting.This isn’t an office. It’s Hell with fluorescent lighting. I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me.I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me.

InnuendoInnuendo

a derogatory suggestion that is a derogatory suggestion that is not literally spoken but rather not literally spoken but rather

hinted athinted atInnuendo in natureInnuendo in everyday lifeInnocent InnuendoAccidental InnuendoSexual Innuendo

GrotesqueGrotesque

Morbid humor

UnderstatementUnderstatement A figure of speech in A figure of speech in

which a writer or which a writer or speaker deliberately speaker deliberately makes a situation seem makes a situation seem less important than it is. less important than it is.

An Army officer has just lost his leg. An Army officer has just lost his leg. When asked how he feels, he looks When asked how he feels, he looks down at his bloody stump and down at his bloody stump and responds, "Stings a bit.“responds, "Stings a bit.“

ExaggerationExaggeration To represent as greater than is

actually the case; overstate

Analyzing Satire in 5 easy Analyzing Satire in 5 easy steps!steps!

1. What's the tone of the satire? (grim, cheerful, sardonic, mock serious, optimistic,

etc.)

2. What type of satire is this? (horatian or juvenal)

3. What is the writer satirizing? (what aspect of society are they trying to criticize?)

4. What is the writer's purpose in satirizing this subject?

(what do they want to change?)

5. What literary techniques does the writer use in

this satire? (hyperbole, understatement, irony, sarcasm, etc.)

ExamplesExamples

http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/video/nascar-coach-reveals-winning-video/nascar-coach-reveals-winning-strategy-drive-fast,14154/strategy-drive-fast,14154/http://www.theonion.com/video/http://www.theonion.com/video/report-american-schools-trail-behind-report-american-schools-trail-behind-world-in-apti,14199/world-in-apti,14199/http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjfxEejS2Yv=jOjfxEejS2Y