Back to Basics

I need to research Satire itself. So What exactly do I already know?


"Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.^[1] Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.
A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm—"in satire, irony is militant"^[2]—but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This "militant" irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.
Satire is nowadays found in many artistic forms of expression, including literature, plays, commentary, and media such as lyrics."

"Because satire criticises in an ironic, essentially indirect way, it frequently escapes censorship in a way more direct criticism might not. Periodically, however, it runs into serious opposition, and people in power who perceive themselves as attacked attempt to censor it or prosecute its practitioners." -From Wikipedia.

"It may be objected here that not all satire is meant to be corrective, because satirists occasionally attack foibles or failings basic to man's nature which cannot be changed, or for which change is unlikely. But it can be argued in reply that such satire of inexpungible vices is still corrective, for it seeks to establish proper moral attitudes toward those vices. For example, if it be impossible to rid men of jealousy or egotism, the satirist will try to make men despise those feelings, resist them, and cease encouraging them. In cases where the satirist ridicules man because of the necessity for eating or elimination, or some other condition basic to man, he seeks to correct man's view of himself--to reduce mankind's pride by reminding him of his limitations and his humble human lot." From the Purpose and Method of Satire

The only satire I've actually studied is George Orwell's Animal Farm, and a little of The Onion in high school, and of course it's common knowledge that The Simpsons and South Park are satiric comedies often mistaken for children's programs. But I didn't know that Catch-22 or Lord of the Flies were also considered satire, both of which I've read/ seen and possibly need to do so again.

Some other interesting satire: The Polish Beer Lover's Party, The Slate, L'il Abner.

A few pieces that caught my eye: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie arrive on Oscar red carpet 12 hours early, Tattoos gone wrong: Permanently lost in Translation, Runway Caption Contest.

There seems to be plenty on satire at the uni library, which I'll check out tomorrow.