SATIRESATIRE

A work that ridicules its subject A work that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques through the use of techniques such as exaggeration, reversal, such as exaggeration, reversal, and incongruity.and incongruity.

SATIRESATIRE Satire is a literary device that uses Satire is a literary device that uses ironyirony or or witwit

usually in a usually in a humoroushumorous way, to way, to comment oncomment on or or criticizecriticize a person, group or event. Usually the a person, group or event. Usually the intention of satiric writing is to force a change in intention of satiric writing is to force a change in behaviour or to sway public opinion.behaviour or to sway public opinion.

Satire often involves elements of both parody Satire often involves elements of both parody and caricature, but it is usually more complex and caricature, but it is usually more complex than either of them. While satire often intends to than either of them. While satire often intends to be humorous, its ultimate goal is usually serious. be humorous, its ultimate goal is usually serious. Satire has been used to call attention to Satire has been used to call attention to dangerous living conditions, hypocritical public dangerous living conditions, hypocritical public figures and business leaders’ illegal actions. figures and business leaders’ illegal actions. A A good satire makes its audience laugh and good satire makes its audience laugh and causes them to reconsider an issuecauses them to reconsider an issue..

Analyzing a CartoonAnalyzing a Cartoon What issue is this What issue is this

cartoon asking cartoon asking people to people to reconsider?reconsider?

How is irony How is irony and/or wit being and/or wit being used?used?

Whose attitude is Whose attitude is this cartoon calling this cartoon calling attention to? attention to?

What is being What is being criticized?criticized?

Some Techniques of SatireSome Techniques of Satire

ExaggerationExaggeration

ReversalReversal ( (When the satirist uses/describes the opposite of When the satirist uses/describes the opposite of what he actually wants to happen in order to make a point)what he actually wants to happen in order to make a point)

IncongruityIncongruity (1. Lacking in harmony; incompatible: a joke (1. Lacking in harmony; incompatible: a joke that was incongruous with polite conversation. 2. Not in that was incongruous with polite conversation. 2. Not in agreement, as with principles; inconsistent: a plan agreement, as with principles; inconsistent: a plan incongruous with reason. 3. Not in keeping with what is incongruous with reason. 3. Not in keeping with what is correct, proper, or logical; inappropriate: incongruous correct, proper, or logical; inappropriate: incongruous behaviour.)behaviour.)

Parody Parody (Weird Al: http://www.youtube.com/watch?(Weird Al: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_BmTGv43M)v=ss_BmTGv43M)

Sarcasm Sarcasm (Oscar Wilde wrote, “I am not young enough to (Oscar Wilde wrote, “I am not young enough to know everything.”)know everything.”)

Quickly, jot down a list of what Quickly, jot down a list of what you did yesterday…you did yesterday…

Example: woke up, had a shower, at Example: woke up, had a shower, at breakfast, got ready, went to school, breakfast, got ready, went to school, went to class, had lunch, more went to class, had lunch, more classes, went to gas station, bought classes, went to gas station, bought groceries, went home, played with groceries, went home, played with kids, ate supper, went for a walk, did kids, ate supper, went for a walk, did baths, kids to bed, marking, watched baths, kids to bed, marking, watched TV, got ready, went to bedTV, got ready, went to bed

Pay Attention to What Pay Attention to What Happens to This Family...Happens to This Family...

Why might Why might The SimpsonThe Simpson begin with these events:begin with these events:

Bart writing on the boardBart writing on the board Bart on his skateboardBart on his skateboard Homer leaving and driving home Homer leaving and driving home

from workfrom work Marge at the supermarket checkoutMarge at the supermarket checkout Lisa playing the saxophoneLisa playing the saxophone The family racing for the couch in The family racing for the couch in

front of the televisionfront of the television

What might these events be What might these events be satirizing?satirizing?

Bart writing on the Bart writing on the boardboard

Bart on his skateboardBart on his skateboard Homer leaving and Homer leaving and

driving home from driving home from workwork

Marge at the Marge at the supermarket checkoutsupermarket checkout

Lisa playing the Lisa playing the saxophonesaxophone

The family racing for The family racing for the couch in front of the couch in front of the televisionthe television

Public EducationPublic Education ChildhoodChildhood Plight of the Working Plight of the Working

ManMan Consumerism Consumerism

(Maggie costs (Maggie costs $847.63)$847.63)

Restrictions of public Restrictions of public education and free education and free thoughtthought

Impact of Television Impact of Television on the Modern Familyon the Modern Family