S A T I R S A T I R EE

S A T I R S A T I R EE

Satire is a genre of literature, graphic images, and performing arts

Satire is a genre of literature, graphic images, and performing artsSatirists Satirists (writers and (writers and artists) expose and ridicule artists) expose and ridicule human behavior or parts of human behavior or parts of our society they want us to our society they want us to recognize as unacceptable.recognize as unacceptable.

Satirists Satirists (writers and (writers and artists) expose and ridicule artists) expose and ridicule human behavior or parts of human behavior or parts of our society they want us to our society they want us to recognize as unacceptable.recognize as unacceptable.

Satire is designed to be funnySatire is designed to be funny The satirist often chooses to The satirist often chooses to

use use humorhumor to make readers to make readers or an audience aware of a or an audience aware of a seriousserious problem. problem.

One could opt for straight-One could opt for straight-forward argumentation to forward argumentation to accomplish the same goal. accomplish the same goal.

But humor sometimes offers But humor sometimes offers a safer way to offer criticism a safer way to offer criticism and may reach a larger and may reach a larger audience.audience.

The Cole Vucurevich Definition (a former LTHS’s student’s wise observation)

The Cole Vucurevich Definition (a former LTHS’s student’s wise observation)

““A writer is A writer is trying to tell trying to tell humans humans how how not to act.”not to act.”

““A writer is A writer is trying to tell trying to tell humans humans how how not to act.”not to act.”

What’s Tricky About SatireWhat’s Tricky About Satire

Because satire often combines anger about a very serious subject with humor, it can be profoundly disturbing.

Because satire often combines anger about a very serious subject with humor, it can be profoundly disturbing.

~2005, Nate Beeler cartoon~2005, Nate Beeler cartoon

What’s Tricky About SatireWhat’s Tricky About Satire

Because its TONE is often ironic or sarcastic, it is often misunderstood.

Because its TONE is often ironic or sarcastic, it is often misunderstood.

In 2008 this In 2008 this satirical satirical New New YorkerYorker cover cover caused great caused great controversy. controversy. Do you think the Do you think the article inside was article inside was criticalcritical or or sympatheticsympathetic of of then-presidential-then-presidential-candidate Barack candidate Barack Obama and his Obama and his wife Michelle wife Michelle Obama?Obama?

In 2008 this In 2008 this satirical satirical New New YorkerYorker cover cover caused great caused great controversy. controversy. Do you think the Do you think the article inside was article inside was criticalcritical or or sympatheticsympathetic of of then-presidential-then-presidential-candidate Barack candidate Barack Obama and his Obama and his wife Michelle wife Michelle Obama?Obama?

The article inside The article inside was about the was about the myths and false myths and false information that information that many believed many believed about the about the Obamas. Obamas.

The article inside The article inside was about the was about the myths and false myths and false information that information that many believed many believed about the about the Obamas. Obamas.

Here, Here, The The Washington Washington PostPost satirizes satirizes The New The New Yorker ‘s Yorker ‘s satire—satire—ridiculing ridiculing the idea the idea that if many that if many thought the thought the cover was cover was serious, serious, perhaps the perhaps the satire failed. satire failed.

What’s Tricky About SatireWhat’s Tricky About Satire

We must remember there is a difference between WHAT an author writes and WHY he or she chooses to write it.

We must remember there is a difference between WHAT an author writes and WHY he or she chooses to write it.

All in the FamilyAll in the Family was a sitcom that was a sitcom that premiered in 1971. Its main character, premiered in 1971. Its main character, Archie Bunker, was a very outspoken Archie Bunker, was a very outspoken bigot, making prejudiced statements bigot, making prejudiced statements about African-Americans, women, Jews, about African-Americans, women, Jews, and others. and others.

It was one of the first true examples of It was one of the first true examples of satire on American television. satire on American television.

All in the FamilyAll in the Family was a sitcom that was a sitcom that premiered in 1971. Its main character, premiered in 1971. Its main character, Archie Bunker, was a very outspoken Archie Bunker, was a very outspoken bigot, making prejudiced statements bigot, making prejudiced statements about African-Americans, women, Jews, about African-Americans, women, Jews, and others. and others.

It was one of the first true examples of It was one of the first true examples of satire on American television. satire on American television.

Disclaimer that CBS ran before the first few episodes of All in the Family

Disclaimer that CBS ran before the first few episodes of All in the Family

“The program you are about to see is All in the Family.  It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns.  By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show— in a mature fashion— just how absurd they are.”

“The program you are about to see is All in the Family.  It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns.  By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show— in a mature fashion— just how absurd they are.”

Think about how satirical shows like The Simpsons, South Park, Modern Family, Family Guy, Seinfeld, etc. don’t need a disclaimer. We are now inundated by satire on TV, but that wasn’t always the case.

Satire always has a TARGETSatire always has a TARGET At the heart of satire is the At the heart of satire is the

writer’s concern, frustration, writer’s concern, frustration, or rage about a problem in or rage about a problem in society or with human society or with human behavior that he or she behavior that he or she considers to be wrong or considers to be wrong or unfair.unfair.

At the heart of satire is the At the heart of satire is the writer’s concern, frustration, writer’s concern, frustration, or rage about a problem in or rage about a problem in society or with human society or with human behavior that he or she behavior that he or she considers to be wrong or considers to be wrong or unfair.unfair.

Unlike finding Theme…Unlike finding Theme… The satirist IS often advising us The satirist IS often advising us

to change our behavior byto change our behavior by 1) targeting a specific flawed 1) targeting a specific flawed

human behavior, decision, or human behavior, decision, or attitudeattitude

2) making us ask ourselves, “Do I 2) making us ask ourselves, “Do I exhibit that characteristic?”exhibit that characteristic?”

3) hoping we might consider… 3) hoping we might consider… “Do I (or something in society, “Do I (or something in society, such as a law or policy) need to such as a law or policy) need to change?”change?”

The satirist IS often advising us The satirist IS often advising us to change our behavior byto change our behavior by

1) targeting a specific flawed 1) targeting a specific flawed human behavior, decision, or human behavior, decision, or attitudeattitude

2) making us ask ourselves, “Do I 2) making us ask ourselves, “Do I exhibit that characteristic?”exhibit that characteristic?”

3) hoping we might consider… 3) hoping we might consider… “Do I (or something in society, “Do I (or something in society, such as a law or policy) need to such as a law or policy) need to change?”change?”

An important note about this An important note about this unit:unit:Some of the cartoons, stories, or Some of the cartoons, stories, or articles we will look at involve issues articles we will look at involve issues that are controversial, ideas for that are controversial, ideas for which you may have strong feelings.which you may have strong feelings.

An important note about this An important note about this unit:unit:Some of the cartoons, stories, or Some of the cartoons, stories, or articles we will look at involve issues articles we will look at involve issues that are controversial, ideas for that are controversial, ideas for which you may have strong feelings.which you may have strong feelings.

Remember, our goal is to Remember, our goal is to identify and explore the identify and explore the writer’swriter’s or or artist’sartist’s intentintent. . Many of us may not agree with Many of us may not agree with the argument the satirist is the argument the satirist is making—and that’s totally okay!making—and that’s totally okay!

Let’s start practicing analyzing satire.Let’s start practicing analyzing satire. Look at the cartoons in the first Look at the cartoons in the first section of your “Satire Notes” and section of your “Satire Notes” and practice finding the target of each practice finding the target of each cartoon. cartoon.

Complete the first group and then we Complete the first group and then we will discuss them.will discuss them.

Let’s start practicing analyzing satire.Let’s start practicing analyzing satire. Look at the cartoons in the first Look at the cartoons in the first section of your “Satire Notes” and section of your “Satire Notes” and practice finding the target of each practice finding the target of each cartoon. cartoon.

Complete the first group and then we Complete the first group and then we will discuss them.will discuss them.

These two satirical cartoons address similar subjects, but have different targets. Try to identify each cartoon’s TARGET.

THREE Techniques THREE Techniques Writers and Artists Use Writers and Artists Use

to Create Satireto Create Satire

THREE Techniques THREE Techniques Writers and Artists Use Writers and Artists Use

to Create Satireto Create Satire

1. Exaggeration1. Exaggeration Writers and artists will Writers and artists will

typically typically exaggerateexaggerate and and distort elements of the distort elements of the target in certain ways in target in certain ways in order to emphasize the order to emphasize the characteristics he or she characteristics he or she wishes to attack.wishes to attack.

Writers and artists will Writers and artists will typically typically exaggerateexaggerate and and distort elements of the distort elements of the target in certain ways in target in certain ways in order to emphasize the order to emphasize the characteristics he or she characteristics he or she wishes to attack.wishes to attack.

1. Exaggeration1. Exaggeration

With satirical cartoons, people are often drawn as caricatures—portrayed with visual exaggerations.

1859 satirical cartoon lampooning Charles Darwin in a caricature.

1. Exaggeration1. Exaggeration In these next slides, look In these next slides, look

for what is being for what is being exaggerated. exaggerated.

Use this hyperbole to help Use this hyperbole to help you find the target of the you find the target of the satire.satire.

In these next slides, look In these next slides, look for what is being for what is being exaggerated. exaggerated.

Use this hyperbole to help Use this hyperbole to help you find the target of the you find the target of the satire.satire.

EXAGGERATION PRACTICE

1) What is the subject area these cartoons address? (Don’t take a position yet. Just state it neutrally in a few words.)

2) What is being exaggerated or drawn as a caricature in the picture?

3) What concern are the artists expressing?

EXAGGERATION PRACTICE

1) Subject: : money in politics

2) What’s exaggerated: The voting booth is depicted as literally being made of money. In the second cartoon, there is so much money from special interest groups that the artist draws it as a dangerous tsunami

3) What concern are the artists expressing: By exaggerating money’s role, both artists show their concern that monetary contributions are determining election and policy outcomes.

Editorial cartoon from 1960--years after the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision

EXAGGERATION PRACTICE

The artist has exaggerated the size of the door compared to the size of the children.

This exaggeration helps the artist express the concern that society has made far too little progress integrating schools.

EXAGGERATION PRACTICE

YOUR TURN: Complete the analysis for this cartoon in your notes

YOUR TURN: Complete the analysis for this cartoon in your notes

2. Irony2. Irony

Writers and artists will Writers and artists will often use humorous often use humorous situationalsituational irony irony to to attack their target—attack their target—often to point out often to point out hypocrisy in human hypocrisy in human behavior.behavior.

Writers and artists will Writers and artists will often use humorous often use humorous situationalsituational irony irony to to attack their target—attack their target—often to point out often to point out hypocrisy in human hypocrisy in human behavior.behavior.

This cartoon appeared in the Chattanooga Times Free Press after the events and protests in Ferguson, Missouri.

1) Subject: : racial equality / police actions

2) What’s ironic: We expect someone who has been drinking alcohol to have a “designated driver” who provides a safe ride because he or she is sober, preventing the crime of driving under the influence. We don’t expect that someone of color (the speaker in the cartoon) needs a white driver to feel safe.

3) Concern the artist is expressing: The irony helps artist Clay Bennett express the concern that many black Americans—especially men—feel worried that they may be unfairly targeted and stopped by police because of their race.

1) Subject: : education

2) What’s ironic: If a student is going to engage in higher level critical thinking, we don’t expect them to be told by teachers to simply click an answer, an act that requires no thought.

3) Concern the artist is expressing: The irony helps the artist expose the danger of teaching with low expectations. Also, the artist may be raising concerns about how technology can sometimes provide students with answers but robs them of the challenge of critical thinking.

2004 satirical cartoon from when Arnold Schwarzenegger was running for governor of California.

3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)

The writer/artist enthusiastically promotes the attitude or idea he or she wishes to satirize and, by pushing it to an absurd extreme, exposes the illogical foolishness of the original belief or idea.

The writer/artist enthusiastically promotes the attitude or idea he or she wishes to satirize and, by pushing it to an absurd extreme, exposes the illogical foolishness of the original belief or idea.

3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)

It is often employed to discredit arguments that to some, at first, seem acceptable.

It is often employed to discredit arguments that to some, at first, seem acceptable.

3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)

In other words, the writer, or the character created by the writer, argues FOR the idea or behavior he or she is actually against.

The argument is purposely presented in a way designed to makes us see the ignorance of the original idea.

In other words, the writer, or the character created by the writer, argues FOR the idea or behavior he or she is actually against.

The argument is purposely presented in a way designed to makes us see the ignorance of the original idea.

On Comedy Central’s Colbert Report , Stephen Colbert played a character who continually supported and defended particular arguments and ideas.

However, in truth, Colbert was satirizing these ideas—promoting ideas with the goal of exposing their flaws.

This satirical cartoon is from 2010, before the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the US law that allowed the military to discharge soldiers if it was discovered that he or she was gay.

• Subject: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell US military policy• Idea the speaker in the cartoon promotes: The commanding

officer depicted in the cartoon argues that the most important information soldiers need before an upcoming battle is to know the sexual orientation of a fellow soldier.

• Concern is the artist expressing: By arguing that a soldier’s sexual orientation is more important than a troop’s preparation for the actual dangers of war, the artist exposes the irrationality of a policy that dismissed soldiers for reasons that had nothing to do with their ability to serve their country.

• Subject: vaccinations• Idea the speakers in the cartoon promote: The dad and mom

advocate for their right to have their child forgo required vaccinations

• Concern is the artist expressing: The artist attempts to point out the danger of the parents’ belief by depicting their child as sick with measles, a serious but preventable disease.