Satire

Satire is a genre of literature, and sometimes graphic and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be humorous, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit to draw attention to both particular and wider issues in society.

A feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm—"in satire, irony is militant"—but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This "militant" irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to question.

Satire is found in many artistic forms of expression, including internet memes, literature, plays, commentary, television shows, and media such as lyrics.

History

The word satire comes from the Latin word satur and the subsequent phrase lanx satura. Satur meant "full" but the juxtaposition with lanx shifted the meaning to "miscellany or medley": the expression lanx satura literally means "a full dish of various kinds of fruits".

The first known usage of the term in a literary context is found in a 1st-century BC Roman poet, Horace, who created a style of poetry that was a diatribe against vice and folly.

Satire and humor

While satire often uses comedy to achieve its ends, one of its defining characteristics is that it uses humor towards a critical end. Satire can be part of a given work, or it can be the purpose of an entire text.

Satire's role in society

Satire is a diverse genre which is complex to classify and define, with a wide range of satiric "modes". Satire's job is to expose problems and contradictions, and it's not obligated to solve them. Satirists use various techniques such as irony, sarcasm, and parody to achieve their effects.

See also

• Parody
• Irony
• Sarcasm
• Comedy
• Humor

References

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