SATIRE

A N AG E N T O

F CH A N G E

Warning:The nature of satire requires the use of language

that is normally not appropriate for the classroom. Such language can and should be studied and understood for academic and historical reasons; however, in studying coarse language you are not given carte blanche to use such language willy-nilly in the classroom. All conversation is to be mature, responsible, and respectful. If you cannot abide by that principle during this unit, you will be removed from the classroom. In this unit you may encounter swear words, crass jokes, sexual references, and scathing insults. That does not give you permission to use that kind of language for anything other than intellectual examination. Questions?

SATIREHolding up to ridicule the follies and vices of a people or culture in order to affect change.

I.E. making fun of something with in the hope of improving it.

LAMPOONA broad satirical work that attacks a particular group or type of person.Example: The Daily Show

FARCEA light-hearted work that exaggerates a character or faults of the group being satirized. A farce puts more emphasis on humor than on affecting change.Example: The Colbert Report

PARODYA composition imitating and lampooning (in a nonsensical fashion) another serious work or publication.

Example: The onion.com

CARICATUREA representation in which the subject’s distinctive or unique features are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect visually or in print.

Example:

IRONYThe difference between what the audience expects from a work and what actually happens in that work.

All satire is ironic, but not all irony is satire.

DISPARAGEMENTTo speak in a

slighting way; to belittle or insult.

Placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast.

JUXTAPOSITION

The humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications. A play on words.

PUN

MALAPROPISMA misuse of speech resulting from the confusion of one word for another which resembles it.

Example: “It’s all just schematics” instead of “It’s all just semantics”

EUPHEMISMA more agreeable, less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant or uncomfortable word or concept.

Example: saying a person “didn’t apply himself” when in fact the person was just being lazy.

ABSURDITYThe state of being

ridiculous or demonstrably false.

HYPERBOLEExtreme exaggeration

UNDERSTATEMENTWhen what is literally

said is obviously only a fraction of the severity or magnitude of what is being discussed.Example: The U.S. Government spends slightly more than it takes in each year.

INCONGRUITYA surprising contrast occurring through situation, image, allusion, character, diction, etc.

INVECTIVEHarsh, abusive language directed against a person or cause. Invective is a vehicle, a tool of anger, the bitterest of all satire.

DEFLATIONThe author gives an object or person an elevated status and then treats it in such way that the reader’s respect for the object/person decreases.

PARADOXA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

SARCASMAn exaggerated form of verbal irony; bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.

STEREOTYPINGA conventional,

formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image usually based on some hurtful prejudice.