Understanding Satire
Presentation by Katie Holbrook
What is satire?
 Satire: The use of humor to attack or ridicule
something, such as a person, habit, idea, institution,
society, or custom that is, or is considered to be,
foolish, flawed, or wrong.
 The goal of satire is to improve society and/or
behavior.
 Satire attempts through humor and laughter to inspire
individuals, institutions, and humankind to improve or
to encourage its readers to put pressure on
individuals and institutions so that they may be
improved for the benefit of all.
 IN OTHER WORDS: A satire makes fun of
something or someone in order to make a point.
Satirical “Advertisement”
 Look at the satirical advertisement on the
next slide and ask yourself:
 What or who is the subject of the satire?
 What comment is the satire making?
Satirical Ad:
Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
 What is the subject of
this satire?
 McDonald’s / Big
Macs
 Real Big Mac ad 
Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
 What comment is the
satire making?
 Big Macs and
McDonald’s food are
unhealthy and will
eventually kill you by
giving you a heart
attack.
Satirical Techniques
 There are certain techniques that satirists
(writers of satire) use to create satire.
Satirical Techniques
 Hyperbole
(Exaggeration)
 To enlarge, increase, or
represent something beyond
normal bounds so that it
becomes ridiculous and its
faults can be seen.
 Caricature—exaggerating
physical traits
Satirical Techniques
 Parody
 To imitate the
techniques and/or style
of some person, place,
or thing in order to
ridicule the original.
Parody of Rick James
The real Rick James
Satirical Techniques
 Reversal
 To present the opposite
of the normal order.
Reversal can focus on:


The order of events
hierarchical order
Satirical Techniques
 Oxymoron
(Contradiction)
 To present things that are out of
place or are absurd in relation to
its surroundings.
Satirical Techniques
 Other techniques:
 List
 Silly or inherently funny words
 Sarcasm / verbal irony
 Understatement
 Pun (Did you hear about the guy whose
whole left side was cut off? He's all right
now.)
Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
 What techniques does
the satire use?
 Parody: the ad makes
fun of the slogan “Big
Mac Attack” by
changing its meaning
from wanting a Big
Mac to dying from a
heart attack
Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
 What techniques does
the satire use?
 Contradiction: the
McDonald’s golden
arch or “M” is used on
a heart monitor
instead of where we
normally see it (on
signs, on ads, etc)
Satirical Ad: Big Mac Attack
 What techniques does
the satire use?
 Exaggeration: while
Big Macs are
definitely unhealthy,
one Big Mac will not
cause a heart attack.
Most likely,
McDonald’s food is
not the only cause of
a person’s heart
attack.
What do satirists attack?
 7 Deadly Sins:
 Other Vices:
 Pride
 Stupidity
 Greed
 Poor decision making
 Violence
 Prejudice
 Laziness
 Self-centeredness
 Lust
 Selfishness
 Jealousy
 Corruption
 Gluttony
 Wastefulness
 Hypocrisy
 Dishonesty
Assignment:
 You will analyze satirical ads to determine:
 The subject of the satire
 The comment the satire is making
 The technique(s) the satire uses
 Why? Satire is prevalent in our culture and a
critical way that people make statements
about our world. Analyzing it in ads will
prepare us to analyze satire in writing as well
as to create our own satires.
Directions:
1. First, you will see the original advertisement.
2. Second, you will see the satire of the
advertisement or company.
3. Write:
1.
2.
3.
The subject of the satire
The comment the satire is communicating
The technique(s) used to satirize – identify
and explain one technique (most ads will use
more than one)
Satirical Ad #1 – original ad
Satirical Ad #1
1. Subject of the
satire:
2. Comment the
satire is making:
3. Technique(s):
Satirical Ad #2 – original ad
Satirical Ad #2
1. Subject of the
satire:
2. Comment the
satire is making:
3. Technique(s):
Satirical Ad #3 - original
Satirical Ad #3
“Less cars, more world. Rivers
wanted.”
1. Subject of the
satire:
2. Comment the
satire is making:
3. Technique(s):
Satirical Ad #4 – original ad
Satirical Ad #4
1. Subject of the
satire:
2. Comment the
satire is making:
3. Technique(s):
Satirical #5 – original ad
Satirical Ad #5
1. Subject of the
satire:
2. Comment the
satire is making:
3. Technique(s):
Extra Time?
 If we have extra time, we will also analyze the
following ads.
 If not, turn in your assignment for a grade.