Satire: Purpose and Methods Satire is well defined by author and historian Barbara Tuchman as “. . . a wrapping of exaggeration around a core of reality,” (AZ quotes). The use of Satire in media has become prominent in our society and has been since its origin in ancient Rome. The overarching purpose of most satire, no matter how it is presented, has most always been to bring about social change by attacking or ridiculing specific groups of people. This purpose is attained using many different methods and techniques of satire. Horatian and Juvenalian satire are the most common methods of satire. Horatian satire works to bring about social change using witty humor. It gently ridicules certain attributes of people or things in such a way that …show more content…
Some of these techniques include exaggeration, incongruity, reversal, and parody. Exaggeration is making something larger than normal, or taking it beyond normal bounds to the point of ridiculousness. In satire, exaggeration is implemented to ridicule physical characteristics, decisions or failures of people, or to point out many other details of situations to make them look or sound outrageous. Incongruity is presenting things such as people, objects, or ideas that are out of place compared to their surroundings or situations. Using incongruity in satire can call to attention details that are being satirized and make them seem absurd. Reversal is presenting the opposite of the normal order, such as order of events or hierarchical order, which, when used in satire, can be used to highlight social injustices or other incongruent relationships. Finally, parody is an imitation of something. Parodies of popular culture such as music, movies and TV, and literature are the most common form of parody in satire in today’s society. There are of course other techniques, but these four appear most often in all kinds of …show more content…
One sample of Horatian satire is the comics of “Calvin and Hobbes” drawn by Bill Waterson. These comic strips gently mock the American people through the main character Calvin, who is portrayed as selfish and lazy (but also free), while the rest of the world is personified in Calvin’s father who is the opposite extreme (“Satire”). His antics are always greatly exaggerated, and many of his statements create a humorous incongruity because of the poignance of his words relative to his young age. Not all comics are meant to be humorous, however. Some political cartoons can be considered Juvenalian because they tackle serious issues and satirize the harsh realities surrounding politics. The most aggressive of these cartoons attempt the shock the audience with its vicious content so that a problem will be recognized and hopefully removed from the person or society as a whole
"Satire - Definition and Examples | Literary Devices." Literary Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar.
Harris, Robert. "The Purpose and Method of Satire." VirtualSalt 20 Aug. 1990. 13 April 2001. <http://www.virtualSalt.com/satire.htm>
While the tone may range from playful to angry, satire generally criticizes in order to make a change. Exaggeration, parody, reversal, and incongruity are satirical devices. Author’s use satirical devices to strengthen their central idea.
Satire can be defined as any work in which a human vice or folly is attacked with irony or sarcasm. An example of satire can be found in the song "When the President Talks to God" by Bright Eyes. In this song, the lyrics lay out hypothetical conversations between the President and God, which mocks current President George W. Bush and his use of strong religious influence while in office.
Satirical writing allows the author to express his or her opinion about a problem in society. A writing must follow three rules in order for it to be classified as satirical. First, a continuous focus on one’s subject’s faults. Secondly, instead of telling the reader directly, information must be given indirectly. Thirdly, the writing must have a variety of satirical techniques in general (Festa). With these simple guidelines, an author can demonstrate his beliefs of what he thinks needs to be changed in society.
Satire is form of comedy in which flaws in people or society are chastised in order to prompt change in the objects of criticism. Regardless of how long ago comedy itself may have existed, the concept of satire was introduced by the Roman satirists, Juvenal and Horace. The tones conveyed in their writing characterize the main modes of satire, being Horatian and Juvenalian, and are still used in satire today. Presently, two popular forms of comedy that employ satirical elements include parody news sources and comedic performances. Although satirical writing has evolved throughout history, many aspects of satire are still apparent in both the articles of parody news sources, like The Onion, and the performances of professional comedians, like
...arody is the imitation if a work of literature, art, or music for amusement or instruction. Parody usually uses exaggeration or inappropriate subject matter to make a serious style seem ridiculous.
The satirical humor expresses the social criticism on issues about politics. “Satire features a heightened sense of irony, highlighting contradictions, inconsistencies, absurdities, mining them for their humor, and even highlighting flaws and fakeries to people (Day 256).” Satirical humor involved media about politics so it can gain the audience's attention.The satirical humor reveals everything about the hypocrisy and foolishness of
The films Young Frankenstein and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest can be viewed as a critical analysis of society’s issues and dysfunctions in the form of satire and parody using humor. While Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks cinematic version of the gothic novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, uses parody in the form of Horatian satire, which is achieved through gentle ridicule and using a tone that is indulgent, tolerant, amused and witty. The film One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the adaptation of the Ken Kesey novel, uses a form of satire called Juvenalian satire which is demonstrated in the form of attacks on vice and error with contempt and indignation. Horatian satire will produce a humor response from the reader instead of anger or indignation as Juvenalian satire. Juvenalian satire, in its realism and its harshness, is in strong contrast to Horatian satire (Kent and Drury).
Satire is a great tool used by many writers and actors since ancient times. The earliest example that we know about is a script from 2nd millennium BC in Ancient Egypt (Definition: Satire) and since then has evolved into a great part of our society. Satire is used to point out the faults of human vice in order for change and reform in either of two ways. There is a very bitter Juvenalian or a mild and light Horatian. In order to fully understand these forms of satire, method, purpose, and applications will be addressed.
There are two vastly differing works of literature that employ similar elements of satire, whether the story is long or short, an essay or novella. In these two works, the authors bring light to ongoing social, political, and philosophical issues of their time and age. The two works I am referring to are Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay, A Modest Proposal, and Voltaire’s novella, Candide, or Optimism. In both A Modest Proposal and Candide, there is a portrayal of irony, cold logic and reasoning rather than emotion, and misguided philosophy. Exploring the issues within these texts can implement a better understanding of not only the literature itself, but also the historical context and the issues of the time.
One form of satire that particularly stands out is his use of diction. Both speakers are so focused on oppresing on the other group that they allow emotions to invade their arguments. For example in
A simple definition of a parody is an imitation. My personal example of a parody can be seen by referring to my “Fifth Grade Commencement Address.” My piece is ironic in that my address takes place at a fifth grade graduation rather than in high school or college setting. Secondly, I ridicule commencement address clichés such as when I begin to quote Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go (32). Finally, I made the class president Donald Trump’s imaginary son, and throughout the essay I mock Trump. For example, when I write “…some of us will become hall monitors to help keep our halls clear of undesirable new students,” I am mocking Trump’s stance on Syrian refugees as well as Mexican immigration (30). These are only a few examples of how my writing reflects my understanding of
Mad Magazine, The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live. In our society, satire is among the most prevalent of comedic forms. This was not always true, for before the 18th century, satire was not a fully developed form. Satire, however, rose out of necessity; writers and artists needed a way to ambiguously criticize their governments, their churches, and their aristocrats. By the 18th century, satire was hugely popular. Satire as an art form has its roots in the classics, especially in the Roman Horace's Satires. Satire as it was originally proposed was a form of literature using sarcasm, irony, and wit, to bring about a change in society, but in the eighteenth century Voltaire, Jonathan Swift and William Hogarth expanded satire to include politics, as well as art. The political climate of the time was one of tension. Any criticism of government would bring harsh punishments, sometimes exile or death. In order to voice opinions without fear of punishment, malcontented writers turned to Satire. Voltaire's Candide and Swift's Modest Proposal are two examples of this new genre. By creating a fictional world modeled after the world he hated, Voltaire was able to attack scientists, and theologians with impunity. Jonathan Swift created many fictional worlds in his great work, Gulliver's Travels, where he constantly drew parallels to the English government.
Satire is a literary manner built on wit and humor with a critical attitude directed to human institutions and humanity. A successful satiric play will show certain truths about society and then try to improve upon them. Satire is meant to be constructive rather than destructive. Aristophanes uses satire in Lysistrata to convey many different themes such as war and peace, the struggles of power and class, and the life and death issues that are seen in war. Satire is successfully used and seen in Lysistrata by stereotyping women in general and then the different classes of women as well. Double entendres are seen throughout the play to help add humor to the play. Sex is used as humorous tool but only to covey a deeper theme that consists of war and peace and also of life and death.