Pick your own article/example of a modern satire (not a “Modest Proposal” since we have already read this one), and discuss what makes it good satire, what one needs to know to “get” the satire, and why some might misunderstand this and think it is “real.” Provide at least two outside sources that are “real” about the subject being satirized.
You want to pick a satire that deals with a serious topic. Here are some examples of topics that are often satirized to bring attention to a social problem:
–social injustice
–racism
–sexism
–discrimination based on gender identity
–intolerance of a religious belief or a culture or a society or a group
–stereotyping in a way that is hurtful, degrading, mean-spirited
–environmental issues
–health issues
–poverty
–crime
–violence
This of course is not an all-inclusive list, but the point is you want to pick a satire that deals with a serious social issue (like Swift does when he is dealing with the topic of poverty in Ireland).
I have provided you links to The Onion and The Daily Currant, both good sources of satirical news stories that often deal with serious issues.
If you wish, rather than using one of these sites, you could pick one episode/skit from The Simpson’s, South Park, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, or even Saturday Night Live and provide an analysis of why this is satire and what it is satirizing and why. If you decide to do this, you need to pick one episode/skit that deals with a serious social problem (Swift was bringing attention to the social problem of poverty and starvation) like war, environmental concerns, poverty, racism, discrimination, gun control, illegal immigration, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, social awareness, suicide, poverty, etc.
For this paper, do not pick a movie–movies satire many, many subjects. Also, if you pick something visual (not an article), it must be one episode/skit/segment, not the entire show! For example, I don’t want a general paper on how funny South Park is, and a general list of all the social problems it satirizes. Rather, I would want you to pick one episode from South Park, and give me a very thorough analysis of why it is a satire, and what it is satirizing, and what the viewer would need to know to “get it”, and what the facts/issues are being satirized. How does this episode make you think? What issues are addressed here? What is the problem? Who is part of the problem? Does the episode offer glimpses into a possible solution (Swift, at the end of his satire, has a paragraph on what could be done to help solve the problems of poverty in Ireland).
You don’t want to pick an example that is only meant to make fun of someone or something for laughs. Social satire can be and often is funny, but at its heart its purpose is to make us think, question our beliefs and behaviors, and perhaps encourage us to make changes to help solve the problem.
Once you have found your example of satire that you want to be the subject of your paper, you will do the following:
Briefly summarize in the first paragraph what/where/when this satire was published or released and what it is satirizing.
Provide your thesis (this is an effective satire or not and why)
Focus on these areas: How does the article/episode/skit make the reader/viewer think? What does one need to know to “get it”. What problems are addressed in the satire? Who is identified as part of the problem? Does the episode offer glimpses into a possible solution?
Give examples throughout your essay of how the satire is aware of its audience (satire only works if the audience “gets it”), and what specific elements of the problem it is satirizing. Be specific here–it is good to include specific quotations and moments of excellent satire, but you don’t want to just summarize the entire text/episode. Assume your reader has read or seen this specific satire, and your job is to analyze it, provide examples of why it is good satire, and explain with your sources the issue being satirized. It is not to summarize the work!!
Use your two outside sources (these can be from a credible online news source, or any publication that is up-to-date and is credible) to explain the serious topic being satirized (what happened in the news, the issue, the problem, etc). If it isn’t satirizing a recent news event but rather is satirizing a general social problem, just provide sources that explain that problem (world poverty rates, drunk driving stats, percentage of people who are dealing with discrimination, etc.).
Conclude your paper by making the case this satire works well (or doesn’t) and why.
This paper should be in third person (third person can be more authoritative), should contain a works cited of at least three sources (the satire you have picked and the two outside sources), and should be at least 1,000 words (the word count also includes the works cited, so the actual paper will be a bit under 1000 words).
