Satire: Aim And Role In Modern Society

downloadDownload
  • Words 1265
  • Pages 3
Download PDF

‘To uphold this distinction, I introduce a weak proposal that satire is a genre which necessarily sets out to critique and entertain (with the qualification that these purposes necessarily interact, although neither is wholly instrumental to the other) (Wiley-Blackwell).’ It’s a form of humor and Irony. It’s a technique used to criticize society. It exposes many corruptions of individuals. It improves humanity by making fun of someone’s weak character and pointing out a lack of good sense. As well as, ‘Accepting those characteristics of satire that figure in most definitions: criticism (‘censure,’ ‘attack,’ ‘vituperatio’) and humor (‘wit,’ ‘comedy,’ ‘gallows humor’) (Petro Peter).’ In our modern world, Satire has taken over a big part of our life. Comics and TV hosts make earnings from it instantly. But there remains an issue to where Satire has and continues taking us. I presume Satire is successful in inducing a social change, but some issues that come along.

Satire does have some aim to make a change in society. From the Mass Communication and Society Group, Feldman and Chatto spoke about satire comedy. He said, ‘Comedy Central’s The Daily Show is the most well known of these and has garnered the most research attention—with evidence showing that it can have important effects on citizens’ political efficacy, trust in media and politicians, attention to public affairs, and political knowledge and attitudes (Felman&Chatto).’ They stated that Satire does not only attack the people in power but also it helps make the audience wake up regarding a certain topic. The Syrian refugees were used as an example of satirical news to help share awareness about the issue. They hypothesize, saying: ‘Exposure to satirical news about the Syrian refugee crisis will increase public support for refugees relative to a traditional news segment about the same topic.’ Sometimes, the reason satirical political news seems useless and not beneficial is because they measure the effects of only short-term influence. According to Jay Owens, there’s a power to comedy and its impact. For instance, he said: ‘American Chopper’ meme made into a debate about shinkansen vs. Maglev trains, alongside a severe discussion about the needed reforms to the transportation systems and overall urban planning of American cities.’ He means to say that memes and comedy are a way of processing reality. We have defined my memes now, and that’s a simple truth. So, by all means, Satire could have an impact that leads to social change.

Click to get a unique essay

Our writers can write you a new plagiarism-free essay on any topic

No, Satire is not always understood in the way it’s intended too. Mentioned in the book Modern Satire: ‘But to contend, as Pinkus does, that moral norms are ‘not absolutely necessary’ indicates a misunderstanding of the issue (Petro, Peter).’ We’re moving away from the norms of society, and presently we resemble to concede concerns the way we want too. Continually, Malcolm Gladwell in the podcast of his episode, ‘The Satire Paradox, said the following: ‘I think that the pleasure that laughter generates can be deceptive (Gladwell, Malcolm).’ His reasonings are backed by some elements he mentioned, like focus becomes the target, not the argument. To add, laughter undermines the effectiveness of the Satire. Of course, Satire is acknowledged not to be exact to the point, so that’s why it’s not understood for the purpose it’s produced toward. Although it was a laugh off, it was still meaningful and has a message in some ways. While we read or watch Satire, we spend most of the time trying to figure out whichever obtains the Irony mentioned because they’re not straight to the point which drives us not to get the full intended purpose of the satirical work. To me, Satire is hard to understand because of how it is vaguely written and all over the place, but it doesn’t mean it’s worthless. To write a satirical piece, authors use various examples of real-life to confirm the criticism they’re writing. For so long, people have mistaken Satire for real news. Plenty of people understand Satire, but on the other hand, plenty of people don’t comprehend it. It can never be equal, so Satire is misunderstood along the way, but not always.

Satire aims to make fun of principles yet for reasons. On the site VirtualSalt, the author Robert Harris explains, ‘To say that satire does not need to include a moral lesson or didactic purpose is wrong because the very essence of satire is aggression or criticism, and thoughtful criticism has nearly always implied a reference to a systematic measure of good and bad (Harris, Robert).’ Harris is saying Satire is made for the reason that the object falls short of some standards, so that’s the reason it’s scrutinized. Similar to Harris, I believe there is no satire with a corrective purpose. Additionally, he said, ‘satirists occasionally attack foibles or failings basic to man’s nature which cannot be changed, or for which change is unlikely (Harris, Robert).’ So satirists who are the people that produce Satire think there’s no hope in the object talked about that’s why satire pieces are executed. I agree that Satire is made for hopeless purposes or events, but I think Satire as well is made to raise awareness about specific topics hoping for change, but people don’t discern that Satire is seldom seeking change. Will Self, in his essay: A Point of View: What’s the point of Satire? Clearly stating our fault by reporting, ‘Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own(Self, Will). Satire does the job of reflecting the faults of others and none of our own mistakes. He goes on defining what Satire has become, and that is what he calls ‘savage and toothless.’ People could own the change within their hands but do choose to take satire works carelessly and insignificantly to themselves.

Satire is effective in bringing about social change. Modern satire diagnosis comes from a severe disease, but there’s a solution to this horrifying disease. Author Petro concluding Satire in his paper saying, ‘But there is also a prescription: overcoming the disease through popular wisdom (Hasek), love (Bulgakov), sacrifice (Orwell), and awareness (Vonnegut). Such is the message of four modern satirical novels (Petro, Peter).’ We all deserve free speech, after all, to say whatever they want to say at all times. Free speech furnishes us the opportunity to ought social progress and to assert ideas that later might become phenomenal. I imagine Satire having the power to conceive a change in our society. When I think of Satire, I think of the freedom to say your opinions about anything that’s happening. The opinions create laughter, which when people laugh-off what’s being said clearly means they agree with it. Some people are blinded to make the change but that doesn’t mean that so many remarkable others are affected and willing to cause the change. Also, Satire remains a form to get people to be aware of news occurring around them. Satire holds to be hilarious to watch and read and could be the preferable way of getting to know the neighboring story and events stories around the world. It could be confusing at times, but more people get to know more news and issues that way. There’s more Satire today than politics, which might be useful if people take it a little serious. Satire is and will shape the next generation by examing everyday news. It’s a plus if the satirical denoted meaning matches people’s own beliefs, which can be many humans. This genre of our modern world is tremendous and could have an impact. Befalling, Satire has a significant chance of making a change in our societies.    

image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.