Anatomy of a Laugh: Satire

Satires

Devices

Works Cited

Oxymoron

Parody

Hyperbole

Understatement

A form of irony.

Something less than what it is.

Imitation of an original, often serious work.

• Implicitly comments
• Highlight weaknesses
• Mocks it (author)

e.g Vampires Suck

Words contradict each other

Side by Side.

e.g. Cruel kindness, ridiculously serious, chaotic organization

Exaggeration used for emphasis.

Used to raise awareness of:

• Corruptions
• Contradictions
• Vices in society

e.g I can't live without my phone!

"Satire Writing Tips." YourDictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

"Literary Devices Used in Satire." MindMeister. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

"How to Write a Good Satire Essay: Tips." Bright Hub Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

"Writing: Tragedy, Irony, Satire." Sophia. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

"3 Types Of Social Satire." 3 Types of Social Satire. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

Rosenberg, Harold (1960), "Community, Values, Comedy", Commentary (The American Jewish Committee)

Deloria, Vine (1969), "Indian humor", Custer Died For Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto

Gring-Pemble, Lisa & Solomon Martha (2010) “The Rhetorical Limits of Satire: An Analysis of James Finn Garner’s Politically Correct Bedtime Stories” (Quarterly Journal of Speech)

Griffin, Dustin (1994) Satire: A Critical Reintroduction (University Press of Kentucky)

LaMarre, Heather; Landreville, Kristen; Beam, Michael (2011) “The Irony of Satire: Political Ideology and the Motivation to See What You Want in The Colbert Report” (International Journal of Press/Politics)

L. Ryken, J. C. Wilhoit, and T. Longman, III, eds., “Satire,” in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

(Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998) 762

"Juvenalian satire." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.

Enthereal Chronicles. (2007, January 27). History of Satire. (r. Donnelly, Producer, & Helium, INC) Retrieved October 2014, From Humanities360: http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/history-of-satire-67383/

Rebecca Cantor, A.K. (2007, August 21). Gullivers Travels themes. Retrieved from GradeSaver:http://www.gradesaver.com/gullivers-travels/study-guide/major-themes/

Mastin, L. (2009). Ancient Literature - Aristopanes - The Wasps. Retrieved October 2014, From Classic Literature: http://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_aristophanes_wasps.html

Boler, M. (2008). The Daily Show and Crossfire: Satire and Sincerity as Truth to Power. Digital Media and Democracy: Tactics in Hard Times, 40-40. Retrieved October 4, 2014.

Allusion

Sarcasm

Irony

Juxtaposition

Two opposites side by side.

Highlights the differences- Compare and contrast.

A form of irony.

Used to:

• Mock
• Convey disapproval
• Opposite of what's said

e.g You're so humble.

Indirect mention.

Implicit.

e.g Chocolate is my Achilles' heel.

Opposite of expected, seen, heard or said.

Types:

• Verbal

• Situational

• Dramatic

Types

How do we react

to Satire?

2

1

Types of Satires

• Some people get upset
• Do not appreciate comedic value
• Believe that satirical material is controversial

• Satire is meant to entertain
• Above all else, it is comedy
• Ex. John Oliver, Jon Stewart

3 general ways an

audience will react

3 Main Types:

Juvenalian - political, critical, strong irony and sarcasm towards people/ideas

e.g Lord of the Flies

Horatian - indirect criticism, people/ideas are made fun

e.g Pride and Prejudice

Menippean - mocks mental attitudes of people in general, cultural myths or literary genres

e.g Alice in Wond

http://tinyurl.com/n88y3ey

http://tinyurl.com/pr8fm5k

Examples

3

• ...

http://tinyurl.com/lpmt73f

Menippean

Juvenalian

Horatian

Guess What It Is

Scholarly Analysis

Satire is the oldest form of social study (Rosenberg)

Unpredictable (Gring-Premble)

One study showed satire cuts across ideological lines and can people to both sides of an issue (LaMarre)

The reaction and prevalence of satire can be

a litmus test for the degree of tolerance and

civil liberties in a society

How to Write a Satire

1) Topics

What do you want to address: politics or social issues (sports, celebrities etc.)

1)Choose a topic.

2)What's your goal? Stick to it.

3)Focus on an audience.

4)Use devices to support ideas.

2) Purpose

The goal?

Action, Emotion, Awareness or to entertain.

4) Using Devices

• Don't use all

• Make it appropriate - subtle

• Facts with a twist

3) Audience

Tips:

Creative freedom

Opinions need backup

Persuasion make readers see a certain way

Determines humor. Casual or formal?

• People find different things funny.

• If not relatable to audience, unsuccessful essay.

• Know limits.

Origin

History Of Satire

19th Century Satire

21st Century Satire

Numerous mediums in which satire is found.

• New forms of satire: Novels

• Mark Twain
• Adventures of Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn

• Origin: Latin (Satura)

• Aristophanes

Wasps: 422 BC

• Satirizes the Athenian court system

17th & 18th Century

20th Century

21st Century

19th Century

What is Satire

Golden Era of Satire

20th Century Satire

• Focus on dangers surrounding social changes happening in Europe.

• George Orwell.
• Animal Farm
• Nineteen Eighty Four

• Age of Enlightenment.

• Alexander Pope.

Rape of the lock.

• Jonathon Swift.
• Gullivers Travels.

Distinct Elements

1) An object of attack

2) A vehicle

3) A satiric tone

4) A norm or standard it is living up to

5) Often defined by irony

Purpose

Sophisticated Irony, Sarcasm and humor about a topic.

Factual writing exaggerated and twisted.

Like Reflective essays - personal opinion

Often defined as exposing

vices

Used for:

• Change
• Awareness
• Entertainment

Ethical instruction

Political/personal invective

Education

Laughter