1. Presentation by Katie Holbrook
Understanding Satire
Presentation by Katie Holbrook

2. What is satire?
Satire: The use of humor to attack or ridicule something, such as a person, habit, idea, institution, society, or custom that is, or is considered to be, foolish, flawed, or wrong.
The goal of satire is to improve society and/or behavior.
Satire attempts through humor and laughter to inspire individuals, institutions, and humankind to improve or to encourage its readers to put pressure on individuals and institutions so that they may be improved for the benefit of all.
IN OTHER WORDS: A satire makes fun of something or someone in order to make a point.

3. Satirical “Advertisement”
Look at the satirical advertisement on the next slide and ask yourself:
What or who is the subject of the satire?
What comment is the satire making?

4. Satirical Ad:

5. Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
What is the subject of this satire?
McDonald’s / Big Macs
Real Big Mac ad 

6. Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
What comment is the satire making?
Big Macs and McDonald’s food are unhealthy and will eventually kill you by giving you a heart attack.

7. Satirical Techniques
There are certain techniques that satirists (writers of satire) use to create satire.

8. Satirical Techniques Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen.
Caricature—exaggerating physical traits

9. Satirical Techniques Parody
To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing in order to ridicule the original.
Parody of Rick James
The real Rick James

10. Satirical Techniques Reversal
To present the opposite of the normal order. Reversal can focus on:
The order of events
hierarchical order

11. Satirical Techniques Oxymoron (Contradiction)
To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings.

12. Satirical Techniques Other techniques: List
Silly or inherently funny words
Sarcasm / verbal irony
Understatement
Pun (Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.)

13. Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
What techniques does the satire use?
Parody: the ad makes fun of the slogan “Big Mac Attack” by changing its meaning from wanting a Big Mac to dying from a heart attack

14. Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
What techniques does the satire use?
Contradiction: the McDonald’s golden arch or “M” is used on a heart monitor instead of where we normally see it (on signs, on ads, etc)

15. Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
What techniques does the satire use?
Exaggeration: while Big Macs are definitely unhealthy, one Big Mac will not cause a heart attack. Most likely, McDonald’s food is not the only cause of a person’s heart attack.

16. What do satirists attack?
7 Deadly Sins:
Pride
Greed
Violence
Laziness
Lust
Jealousy
Gluttony
Other Vices:
Stupidity
Poor decision making
Prejudice
Self-centeredness
Selfishness
Corruption
Wastefulness
Hypocrisy
Dishonesty

17. Assignment: You will analyze satirical ads to determine:
The subject of the satire
The comment the satire is making
The technique(s) the satire uses
Why? Satire is prevalent in our culture and a critical way that people make statements about our world. Analyzing it in ads will prepare us to analyze satire in writing as well as to create our own satires.

18. Directions: First, you will see the original advertisement.
Second, you will see the satire of the advertisement or company.
Write:
The subject of the satire
The comment the satire is communicating
The technique(s) used to satirize – identify and explain one technique (most ads will use more than one)

19. Satirical Ad #1 – original ad

20. Satirical Ad #1 Subject of the satire:
2. Comment the satire is making:
3. Technique(s):

21. Satirical Ad #2 – original ad

22. Satirical Ad #2 Subject of the satire:
2. Comment the satire is making:
3. Technique(s):

23. Satirical Ad #3 - original

24. “Less cars, more world. Rivers wanted.”
Satirical Ad #3
“Less cars, more world. Rivers wanted.”
Subject of the satire:
2. Comment the satire is making:
3. Technique(s):

25. Satirical Ad #4 – original ad

26. Satirical Ad #4 Subject of the satire:
2. Comment the satire is making:
3. Technique(s):

27. Satirical #5 – original ad

28. Satirical Ad #5 Subject of the satire:
2. Comment the satire is making:
3. Technique(s):

29. Extra Time?
If we have extra time, we will also analyze the following ads.
If not, turn in your assignment for a grade.