Humor for the Intelligent Sort  Understanding Satire Humor for the Intelligent Sort 

What is satire? One of the oldest forms of literature and one of the most enduring. A constructive art that seeks not merely to destroy but to rebuild; the aim is to inspire reform Humor + criticism = inspired reform Assumes that the audience is reasonably intelligent, educated, and rational

Satire v. Sarcasm Satire = a blend of criticism and humor for the purposes of correction or improvement Sarcasm = simple abuse consisting of a series of insults or insincere language

Three Golden Satire Questions 1. What institutions, practices, and/or groups are being satirized? What method(s) does the author employ in constructing his/her satire? What is the tone of the satire?

What institutions, practices, and/or groups are being satirized? A group or organization Individuals A “sort” or type of person A social class, political party, etc A prevailing philosophy Social manners Modern progress Mankind

What method does the author employ in constructing his/her satire? Parody– mocking an original work intended to be taken seriously by copying its style (Ex: Scary Movie, SNL) Irony Verbal – what you say is different from what you mean (Ex: Saying, “Gee, thanks mom!” when your mom forgets to pick you up from school) Situational – when the opposite of what you expect to happen happens (Ex: a fire hydrant catches on fire) Dramatic – when the audience knows something the characters don’t (We know that Juliet is only asleep, but Romeo thinks she’s dead!) Mock Epic – Mocks a subject by treating it in an inappropriate, grandiose manner (Stephen Colbert takes on Wheat Thins)

Caricature – exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics Travesty –presents a serious subject in a trivial or frivolous manner (Hello, South Park!) Fable - A usually short narrative making an cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans (Animal Farm, The Butter Battle Book) Burlesque – another word for parody Lampoon – verb which means to satirize someone or something (EX: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)

Persona- employing a special kind of character or mask This is the character through whom the action is observed or related This is not the author’s voice or true character of the person preforming the satire

What is the tone of the satire? Horatian –aims to correct through broad laughter Cheerful urbane tongue--in—cheek Optimistic Warm Witty gentle chiding

What is the tone of the satire? Juvenalian –aims to reform through mocking ridicule cutting Bitter angry Contemptuous grim Sardonic harsh indignant

Examples of Satire The Colbert Report South Park, The Simpsons, SNL The Onion Animal Farm, Huckleberry Finn Parody or spoof movies like Airplane, Scary Movie, Not Another Teen Movie, etc