Making fun of other people comes naturally.

The purpose is always to ridicule. Satire is controversial and offensive. There is always a target.

"Satire is stealthy criticism." -Wikipedia Satire tries to persuade the reader to believe or to do something by showing the opposite view as absurd, vicious, or inhumane. Satire is partially so complex, because it addresses multiple audiences at once, with multiple intents. There are three audiences:1. Those whom the author (or artist) believes to already be in agreement with their viewpoint. (aka those on your side)2. Those whom the author (or artist) would like to ridicule for their opposing viewpoint. (aka those whom you will stealthily ridicule)3. Those whom the author (or artist) believes may be persuaded through exposure to the satirical work. (aka the "swing" audience) So, in keeping with the three audiences above, there are three intents for the author:1. To show yourself intelligent and accomplished to those on your side.2. To make those whom you disagree with look foolish.3. To persuade to your point of view, those who are intelligent enough to understand irony and recognize the ridiculous (thereby "swinging" them to your side).

Because the defining characteristic of satire is social or cultural criticism, satire typically has more than one target (setting it apart from parody, which focuses on mocking one specific target). Additionally, if the satirist spreads criticism among many targets, then the satire may seem more objective--and therefore more rhetorically effective--because the satirist is not discriminating against any one individual or group.

The above clip of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart presenting at an awards ceremony offers a succinct example of target-rich satire. In just two minutes, they cleverly mock awards shows, award show audiences, Hollywood, reality television, political pundits, religion, and more. Their diffuse criticism and use of irony make the satire seem less pointed than if they had used invective against one particular target. Thus, the audience within the room laughs even though they know that they are a target, and they are less likely to take offense at the criticism.

Satire's potential for social resistance is perhaps the best argument for its rhetorical value. Irony creates a distance between literal meaning and implied meaning, and this distance can provide a satirist with a sense of safety that allows them to criticize power structures and unify resistance against them. Satire can be edgy and dangerous, but it can also allow a commoner to criticize a king without being imprisoned or executed.

Social SatireThe SimpsonsSouth ParkFamily GuySaturday Night Live

SpoofBased on one specific genre

○ Haunted House Parody

Based on one specific work○ Mad Magazine○ Saturday Night Live○ Songs

Let it GoHelp Me Build a Snowman

What flaws or faults are revealed about a topic/target?

Does the author use irony or humor to reveal these faults?

What does the author want you to understand and think about?

What are the underlying assumptions of this piece?

What flaw or foolishness or wrong human action or aspect of society is being lampooned?

What would the argument look like striped of its humor?

i.e The Substitute

Exaggeration/Hyperbole: making a small blemish bigger or a hidden vice or folly larger in order to make it visible is one of the best ways to point out its existence to the audience or to the target itself. Some specific types of exaggeration include the outrageous

suggestions and proposals which often characterize satirical pieces and the writer’s exaggeration of the customary diction and syntax of an individual, an agency, a text, or a publication.

Distortion: twisting or emphasizing some aspect of a condition, individual, or event tends to highlight it. A type of distortion may include the juxtaposition of inappropriate or

incongruous ideas or things.

Understatement: when the folly or evil is so great that further exaggeration is impossible, understatement shows its true extent.

Innuendo: a valuable tool for the satirist because it allows him to implicate a target by a completely indirect attack. This is especially useful when the target is dangerous, for it is often possible to deny the insinuation.

Diction: Use of silly or inherently funny words like “newt” and “nostril” can enhance satire.

Pun/ Malapropism: Any construction capable of conveying a double meaning is likely to be employed in satire, since multiple meanings form the basis of much of satire.› -double entrendre

Oxymoron used satirically makes for a pointed emphasis on some contradiction in the target's philosophy.

Juxtaposition places two things next to each other to provide a direct comparison or contrast between the items.

Verbal-stating something but meaning the opposite› Sarcasm –verbal irony with the intent to

injure Situational-a situation that runs

contrary to what was expected Dramatic-the audience is aware what is

going on, however, the characters are oblivious

Vice (n): any kind of anti-social behavior from moral depravity and corruption (ex. prostitution) to a habitual and trivial defect or shortcoming (ex. nose-picking). Because it covers everything from outright wickedness to petty foibles, almost all humans suffer from some kind of vice; thus, the satirist is never at a loss for material.

Folly (n): a lack of common sense, prudence, and foresight. (ex. The folly of man is that he doesn’t understand that history repeats). “Folly” and “fool” come from the same French medieval root, fol. The good satirist knows that everyone, even the satirist himself, in time will do something really stupid.

The Seven Deadly Sins 1. Pride/arrogance/hubris 2. Avarice (greed) 3. Wrath (anger, violence, sullenness/sulking) 4. Sloth (laziness, indolence, slovenliness, sloppiness) 5. Lust 6. Envy 7. Gluttony (excessive love of material comforts, food, drink, etc.)