Analyzing Satire: The Paper

Purpose: 1) identify the four techniques of satire in a satirical work 2) explain how the four techniques of satire contribute to comments or criticisms being made by a satirical work 3) use visual literacy skills to analyze, interpret, and explain non-print media.

Audience: A group of college students who are already familiar with the issue being criticized through satire.

Assignment: Write a 4-5 page essay that explains how individual techniques of satire are used in popular culture to make a comment about a subject from contemporary society. You may choose any example of satire that you wish: The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, The Onion, The Daily Show, The Simpsons, Futurama, etc… The essay should include a summary of the episode/text, an explanation of the main comment or criticism the episode/text is making, and identify at leasttwoof the four different examples of satirical elements used in the episode. The four types of satirical elements (to be discussed more in-depth in class) are: Exaggeration: To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen. Incongruity: To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. Reversal: To present the opposite of the normal order (e.g., the order of events, hierarchical order). Parody: To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing.

For each example of satirical technique, the paper should describe the example in concrete detail, explain what the subject, idea, or issue was like before it was satirized, explain how a satirical technique (such as exaggeration) is used in the example, and explain how the example contributed to the main comment or criticism about contemporary society.

Sources: It is unlikely that you will use any outside sources as this should be based primarily on your own analysis skills; however, you will still need to include a works cited page to reference the text/show you are discussing.

Evaluation: When evaluating this paper, I will be looking to see how well you were able to explain how the satirical techniques worked to make some sort of commentary about our social/political life. I will also be looking to see the level of sophistication your analysis offers; that is, are you merely pointing out obvious traits or conclusions about the piece, or have you made an effort to go beyond easy interpretation to find subtle criticisms within the piece?

In addition, just as with all papers in this class, your essaywill need to meet the general criteria of any good academic writing: a clear focus, logical and purposeful organization, strong use of supporting evidence, and thoughtful development of the ideas you are presenting. And it will need to be well written both stylistically and grammatically.

Creating Satire: The Final Exam

The Final Exam:

For your final assignment, you will be asked, in groups of 3-4, to create an original performance piece that uses the techniques of satire to make a comment or criticism about an issue in contemporary society. The piece must be original and include at least three different types of satirical techniques. Responses can include a parody of a newspaper reporting a news event that might appear in The Onion or on The Daily Show, a parody of a popular song that might be sung by someone such as “Weird Al" Yankovic, or a skit that might be seen on Saturday Night Live or Mad TV.

You will be given the opportunity to choose your group members, and I will assign those who have no preferences a group to work with. You will need to meet outside of class to prepare and practice your presentation. If you choose, since we will be meeting in the computer lab, you may tape your performance rather than present it to the class, and we will watch it during class.

Technical Matters:

  • Your presentation should last between 4-6 minutes, but you will not be formally timed. You may choose to use some of that time “setting up” your presentation if you’re satirizing an issuethat the class may not be familiar with.
  • Each group member must speak. You will be graded as a group, but points will be taken off an individual member’s grade if s/he doesn’t participate as actively as the other members.
  • You will be graded on creativity, significance of issue discussed, and presentation style.
  • Have fun!