What is satire?
Satire is using irony, sarcasm, wit or hyperbole to expose or deride actions or ideas of folly or vice. It can be humorous, serious, any number of things. It usually involves a certain degree of hyperbole to convey its sarcastic intent.
How is it different from humor or parody?
Satire can be humorous to people but it doesn’t need to be. Humor does seem to be a good identifier for satire though. But humor is a broader term. Parody can be satire as well and humorous but it is more of an imitation of an original work.
Why would an author choose to communicate through satire?
If an author has a very sarcastic voice, like Jonathon Swift, and want to show the ludicrousness of an idea. I think it works best when dealing with political issues and ideologies. It is a very limited genre, and difficult for many authors to pull off. I myself cannot communicate well through satire.
What are some possible problems with satire as a form of communication?
Some issues are people could take the satire as reality. A very good modern day example is Sarah Palin never said “I can see Russia from here.” It was Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live but somehow people whenever anyone says Sarah Palin they bring up the Russia comment. (which now that I think of it that could be more of a Parody example, but still taking satire as reality could be a danger…)
Also if the author doesn’t write the satire well it comes off offensive there is always a line for satire. You need hyperbole in satire but if it is too over the top or you choose a bad/offensive “consequence” it can have the opposite effect.
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