Examples of Satire in Pop Culture

advertisement

Satire Essay Assignment

Objectives:

Apply what you know about satire and the five step process to analyzing satire.

Differentiate between Horatian and Juvenalian satire

Cite evidence to support your argument

Practice informational writing skills

The Task:

Informational writing is essential for the working adult since most correspondence is meant to inform the reader of something important—facts, details, ideas, directions, clarification, etc... For this assignment you will develop your informational writing skills to explain how something you’ve read is satire. Start by informing the reader of the overall satirical message, and explain who or what the object of satire is. Next, you will have to show how it is Horatian and Juvenalian satire, while pointing out and explaining the irony used by the creator. You will be given two articles to study on your own and write about. You will also be required to find your own example of satire—or create your own example to write about. This style of writing is easy because it is very straightforward, and clear-cut. The goal is simply to inform the reader!

The Process:

1.

Study the characteristic of satire, examine examples found in various texts: literature, film, political cartoons, etc...

2.

Read two examples of satire provided by the teacher and apply what you’ve learned about analyzing satire.

3.

Locate a third example of satire on your own to analyze.

OR create your own satire to analyze (see me first!).

4.

Apply the 5-step process of satire analysis to each article, plus the one you found or created. Answer each question with a detailed explanation and quoted passages.

Essay Requirements:

 Typed and uploaded prior to due date/time

Use 3STS and 3SQS:

5.

Develop your responses into detailed body paragraphs.

6.

Write an interesting introduction and thought provoking conclusion to tie it all together.

7.

Make an appointment to have your paper edited (email me for an appointment at h210english@gmail.com

)

8.

Revise your final draft, upload to www.turnitin.com

by the due date of _______________at _____pm.

 Copy of the example of satire you found is submitted in hard copy. o Introduction, body paragraph(s), and conclusion

Double-spacing, no extra space between paragraphs

12-point font Times New Roman o Body paragraphs contain correctly cited quotes from the examples of satire

Content of the essay is 2 to 3 pages in length

One-inch margins at top, bottom, both sides

Heading—Name, due date, and period

Works cited page is included and correct

1

Subject of the Satire: On TV

Saturday Night Live ’s “Weekend Update,”

Infomercials, or PSA’s

The Daily Show, Colbert Report

The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill

Arrested Development, South Park, Modern Family

The Office, Parks and Recreation

Subject of the Satire: In Film

Scary Movie

Austin Powers

This is Spinal Tap

Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Dr. Strangelove

Office Space

The Princess Bride

Subject of the Satire: In Literature

Comment or Criticism Being Made

Television news, politics, famous people and their antics,

Identification of human flaws and vices related to politics, entertainment, human interaction and current events.

TV Sitcoms, American family life and its absurdities, society

Documentary style of filming, workplace antics

Comment or Criticism Being Made

Horror movies Exaggerates the techniques used by horror

1960’s spy movies

Rockumentary

The origins of Christianity

End of days philosophy

Mocumentary film style, movies to scare audiences.

Sexism towards women. Ridicules both by the spy and stupidity of the evil villain.

The excess of modern musicians.

Educational ignorance

Workplace antics, cubicle jobs

Traditional fairytales

Comment or Criticism Being Made

Dystopian Societies

And Changing Governments

Politics, government, optimism in a broken society, changing society or social beliefs

1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, A Clockwork

Orange, Candide, Gulliver’s Travels, Cat’s Cradle,

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Fight Club

Subject of the Satire: Political cartoons

Doonesbury

Non-Sequiter

Tom Tomorrow’s This Modern World

Subject of the Satire: Magazines

Comment or Criticism Being Made

Politicians and political issues

Weekly cartoon of social and

The policy decisions and personality traits of elected officials can be flawed. political satire

Comment or Criticism Being Made

Politicians and political issues, The policy decisions and personality traits of

Mockumentaries of famous pieces. elected officials can be flawed.

The Onion

MAD Magazine

Rolling Stone

Subject of the Satire: Music

Weird Al Yankovich

Pink “Stupid Girl”

Pink Floyd's Animals and The Dark Side of the Moon

The Lonely Island

Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone's The Book of Mormon (musical)

Eminem, Ludacris, The Roots http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/satire/notable-examples-of-satire.html

Comment or Criticism Being Made

musicians and music videos

Conceptual and satirical

The excess of modern musicians. Simplicity and immaturity of the lyrics in modern music. albums.

A satirical music group known for their work on SNL.

Rappers whose lyrics sometimes contain satire. http://www.world-newspapers.com/humor.html

2

The Onion | America's Finest News Source

February 23, 2012

“Apple Vows To End Unsafe Labor Practices”

Amidst charges that Apple employs numerous Chinese factories that mistreat and underpay their employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook vowed to ensure the safety and fair compensation of the people who make the company’s popular iPods, iPads, and iPhones. Here are some of the changes that will be instituted:

Employees to be given 15-minute breaks to talk about how great the company is with their coworkers.

All electrical outlets must be raised to at least two inches above standing water on factory floor.

Employees will be allowed to choose the color of their own dormitory walls from a list of four pre-

approved grays.

One suggestion box per square mile of factory floor.

Laborers immobilized by repetitive stress injuries now humanely put down by Apple’s Mercy Squads.

Suicidal employees given Tony Robbins–filled iPod Shuffle.

iPhone users to roam factory floor playing Angry Birds, helping hard-working employees feel more

connected to final product.

Ten percent employee discount on AppleCare.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/apple-vows-to-end-unsafe-labor-practices,27465/ Date accessed: April 9, 2012

3

The Onion | America's Finest News Source

“I Would Have Been Considered Very Attractive In The Middle Ages”

By Lyle Hume February 28, 2007

In today's grooming-obsessed world, I admit, I have some catching up to do. I'm certainly no feast for the eyes. I recognize this fact daily as I apply lotion to my many acne scars. But all this proper grooming stuff is a fairly recent thing, is it not? I'm certainly not knocking any man who wishes to look presentable, but at the same time I realize we're creatures of our times, and tastes do change. For example, I, even in my present state, would have been quite the catch eight or nine centuries ago. Shouldn't that count for something?

Take my smile, for instance. This mouthful of crooked, yellowing teeth jammed willy-nilly in a bloody bed of abscessed gums would've turned more than a few wenches' heads back in 1350. After all, I still have about 65 percent of them, which would have been way ahead of the curve for that time.

I might be sweaty and jowly, but you can't accuse me of being sooty or excrement- befouled. People in those days were lucky if they bathed once a year—many didn't at all. I do the deed every week to 10 days, so that definitely gives me a leg up on the competition. And look at my face—acne scars, yes, but not a single smallpox mark. Big plus in the Middle Ages. Never caught the bubonic plague, either. Maybe my fellow villagers would have considered me some kind of miraculous supernatural creature, like an archangel. Or the Church of Rome would've made me a saint. Then again, maybe I would've been branded a freak or a heretic for my excellent hygiene, so I'd have to tone it down.

I think my modern cotton T-shirts, soiled, stinking, and riddled with holes though they are, would have ranked among the finest linen found outside a royal court. But with my dry, leathery skin and copious body hair, I bet I would have worn a rough tunic or hair shirt well, too. Most people only had one outfit anyhow, so that would have been totally consistent with my tendency to rarely change clothes.

In the Middle Ages, the only way I would have been sexier is if I could play the lute or were a maiden-rescuing knight-errant.

Of course, at 27, I would've been getting on in years, but I don't think the maidens would have held it against me. They might have been greatly attracted to someone roughly their fathers' age who had managed to hold onto most of his teeth and remain leprosy-free.

Plus, I have gout. The disease of kings! Talk about flaunting the wealth! My inflamed, pus-filled foot would have let the womenfolk know just how many kidney pies and sweetbreads I could afford. I'd have been known as Lyle the Fat, but in a good way.

And it's true I have syphilis, as well, but who didn't back then? Besides, I have a few years before the pox reaches my brain and makes me permanently demented, which wouldn't have even been a factor in the Middle Ages because I would've been killed off by something else anyhow, like consumption or a witch hunt.

For 1,000 years ago, I'm in my prime!

Thinking about all this kind of puts my situation in a whole new perspective. I'm no longer quite so ashamed that I've neglected my broken plumbing to the point that I fling buckets of my own waste onto the sidewalk outside my home, or keep a 30-stone sow in my front yard. Or tan my own leather. It's an excellent medieval skill, you know. Try to find me some peasant lass from the year 1061 who wouldn't be highly impressed by a guy who knew how to soak a blood-caked cow hide in a fetid vat of urine and animal brains for several months, then cure it with a mixture of dog and pigeon feces. One look at that, and she'd want me to father her stillborn in no time flat.

Yes, this sexy serf would be pretty unstoppable, the toast of the fair, May Day, and public gibbeting alike. You all are missing out. http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-would-have-been-considered-very-attractive-in-th,11293/ Date accessed: April 9, 2012

4

Due Date:

Essay Topic:

Informational Essay—Satire

British Literature

Satire Informational Essay 4—3.5 3—2.5 2—1.5 1—0

FOCUS: Writer has successfully informed the reader of how satire is used in selected pieces.

CONTENT: Writer has correctly applied the five step process of analyzing satire to three different works.

ORGANIZATION: Content within paragraphs follow a logical order. Quoted material is worked into the writer’s original sentences and transitions.

STYLE: Writer has employed a variety in sentence starters, transitions and linking ideas. The style is straightforward and direct.

CONVENTIONS: Quotes and citations are correct. Consistent verb tense and

parallel sentence structure. Appropriate word choice.

Comments:

Overall Score: _____ / 20

4

Focus:

Content

Development

:

Organization

:

Style:

Conventions:

Focus:

Content

Development

:

3

Organization

:

Style:

Conventions:

Sharp, distinct controlling point made about a single topic with evident awareness of task and audience.

Substantial, relevant, and illustrative content that demonstrates a clear understanding of the purpose.

Thorough elaboration with effectively presented information consistently supported with well-chosen details.

Effective organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which develop a controlling idea.

Precise control of language, stylistic techniques, and sentence structures that creates a consistent and effective tone.

Thorough control of sentence formation. Few errors, if any, are present in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation, but the errors that are present do not interfere with meaning.

Clear controlling point made about a single topic with general awareness of task and audience.

Adequate, specific, and/or illustrative content that demonstrates an understanding of the purpose. Sufficient elaboration with clearly presented information supported with well chosen details.

Organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which develop a controlling idea.

Appropriate control of language, stylistic techniques, and sentence structures that creates a consistent tone.

Adequate control of sentence formation. Some errors may be present in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation, but few of the errors that are present may interfere with meaning.

Focus:

Content

Development:

2

Organization:

Style:

Conventions:

Focus:

Content

Development:

1

Organization:

Style:

Conventions:

Vague evidence of a controlling point made about a single topic with an inconsistent awareness of task and audience.

Inadequate, vague content that demonstrates a weak understanding of the purpose. Underdeveloped and/or repetitive elaboration with inconsistently supported information. May be an extended list.

Inconsistent organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which ineffectively develop a controlling idea

Limited control of language and sentence structures that creates interference with tone.

Limited and/or inconsistent control of sentence formation.

Some sentences may be awkward or fragmented. Many errors may be present in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation, and some of those errors may interfere with meaning.

Little or no evidence of a controlling point made about a single topic with a minimal awareness of task and audience.

Minimal evidence of content that demonstrates a lack of understanding of the purpose. Superficial, undeveloped writing with little or no support. May be a bare list.

Little or no evidence of organizational strategies and structures, such as logical order and transitions, which inadequately develop a controlling idea.

Minimal control of language and sentence structures that creates an inconsistent tone.

Minimal control of sentence formation. Many sentences are awkward and fragmented. Many errors may be present in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation, and many of those errors may interfere with meaning.

5

Download