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Satire
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
What is Satire?
Satire is a literary device.
• Satire uses humor, irony, hyperbole, and other
devices to expose and criticize people’s
vices/faults most often in the context of politics or
social/cultural issues.
• Satire ridicules problems in society, government,
business, and individuals in order to bring attention
to these problems and promote improvement.
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What devices do Satirists use?
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Satire uses: hyperbole (exaggeration),
understatement, distortion, irony, sarcasm,
juxtaposition, analogy, parody, double
entendre, puns, symbols, etc…
Why do we use satire?
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•
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Because satire generally critiques those in power, it
often reflects the voice of the general population.
Because it is humor based, satire is often highly
engaging and accessible to the general population.
Because it is so engaging and accessible, satire is useful
in sparking public discourse that can lead to
movements and change.
Because a satirist is an entertainer or humorist, they are
often immune to official criticism that traditional
journalists often face.
Some examples of satire:
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“A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift
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The Daily Show
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The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park
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The Onion (satirical news site)
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Cartoons in the editorial pages
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“Weekend Update” SNL