However, humor is not a required element of satire. Some scholars have argued that the popular appeal of satire helps in bringing about actual social reform, since the use of humor makes it easier to disseminate political and societal critiques more widely. While readers might not always respond to a highly-conceptual, nuanced argument for change laid out in a dense manifesto or academic essay, they can easily and enjoyably recognize societal problems targeted by satirical writing. Satirists use humor not only to to ridicule their subjects, but also to gain the attention and trust of their readers. While the play Julius Caesar is not itself a satire, this costuming decision added an element of satire to the play, since it equated the despotic almost-Roman-emperor with an American president whom some have criticized as having tyrannical impulses of his own. For instance, a 2017 production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesarin New York City came under criticism for costuming Caesar (who gets assassinated in the play) in a business suit and bright red tie that closely resembled the standard garb of President Donald Trump. ![]() To the contrary, satire is a device that can be used in many types of writing and art. For instance, Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn satirizes the hypocrisies of pre-Civil-War society in the American South, especially its traditions of racism and slavery.īut satire is not only found in literature that falls into the broader genre of satire. These works are all characterized by their consistent and sustained satirical attacks on their various targets. There are many novels, plays, and other works of literature that fall into the genre of satire. Here's how to pronounce satire: sa-tire Satire as Literary Device vs. Though most satires seek to draw laughter, there are many unfunny or even dark examples of satire, such as George Orwell's Animal Farm or Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, which criticize communist societies and capitalist societies, respectively.Satire often coincides with the use of other literary devices, such as irony, malapropism, overstatement, understatement, juxtaposition, or parody.For most of this entry, the word "satire" will be used refer to the device, not the genre. ![]() Just like a comedy is comedic because it uses comedy, a satire is satirical because it uses satire. ![]() Satire is a bit unusual as a literary term because it can be used to describe both a literary device and the specific genre of literature that makes use of the device. ![]() Some additional key details about satire: Alec Baldwin's impersonation of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live is an example of satire. Satire is an entertaining form of social commentary, and it occurs in many forms: there are satirical novels, poems, and essays, as well as satirical films, shows, and cartoons. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take aim at other targets as well-from societal conventions to government policies. Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. What is satire? Here’s a quick and simple definition:
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