Satire, Existentialism, Absurdism, and Postmodernism Catch-22 Satire, Existentialism, Absurdism, and Postmodernism

Satire In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.

Satire What examples of satire can you think of?

Existentialism The individual is autonomous Existence precedes essence. The individual exists in a crisis environment.

Absurdism Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe ultimately fail (and hence are absurd), because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to the individual. The word "absurd" in this context does not mean "logically impossible," but rather "humanly impossible." Absurdism is related to existentialism and has its roots in Kierkegaard. Absurdism as a belief system was born of the existentialist movement.

Absurdism There is a fundamental disharmony between man's search for meaning and the apparent meaninglessness of the universe. As beings looking for meaning in a meaningless world, humans have three ways of resolving the dilemma. Escape from the world Religious transcendence Acceptance of the absurd

Postmodernism Rejects distinction between high and low art Reject genre distinctions Emphasizes parody, irony, and playfulness Includes self-consciousness, fragmentation, discontinuity, and ambiguity Lack of structure If the world is meaningless, let’s just play with nonsense because art cannot necessarily create meaning.

Postmodernism Mini-narratives rather than global truths Examples? Situational, provisional, contingent, and temporary making no claim to universality, truth, reason, or stability. Examples?