The Role of Satire in Media
Essential Question: What role can satire play in the media?
Starter:
- With a partner, jot down anything and everything that you know about satire. What does it mean if something is satirical?
- Look up the definition of satire and copy it into your notes.
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Why is this an example of satire? |
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Many believe that satire can be persuasive as a social critique. Here is the process:
Consider this image from The New Yorker.
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"Satirical news program The Colbert Report did a better job of teaching viewers about the role of money in politics than actual news, a university study has found...The study's lead author, Bruce W Hardy said, there are two reasons why 'Colbert did better than any other news source at teaching. First was the narrative structure,' Hardy said in a statement. "He walked us through creating a Super PAC and every episode was a continuation of that story. And second was the use of humour and satire.” Colbert Report audiences increased their knowledge of political funding at a quicker rate than audiences of other media. They were also more confident that they were well-informed. The study notes that while it may be difficult for some news outlets to replicate Colbert's tactics, they can adopt his broader approach to better engage their audiences. 'If other shows can effectively present complex issues using a humorous narrative, viewers may become better informed about the issues and more engaged in the political process,' the authors argue."
Click HERE for full article
Click HERE for full article
| types_of_satire.doc |
| satire_and_satirical_devices.pdf |
Satire Word Bank
satire, sarcasm, sardonic, parody, mocking, ridicule, lampoon, caricature, epigram, farce, facetious, self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek, irony, paradox, understatement, hyperbole
satire, sarcasm, sardonic, parody, mocking, ridicule, lampoon, caricature, epigram, farce, facetious, self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek, irony, paradox, understatement, hyperbole
Task:
- Watch each video below and consider which satirical techniques have been employed. There may be multiple techniques in each video.
- Attach a word from the word bank above to each of the videos that you watched.
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Essential Question:
- What role can satire play in news media?
- How are satirical techniques used to expose a social wrong?
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Satire can be persuasive as a social critique.
Use the chart HERE to record your observations
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Debatable: How effective are satirical news programs, like John Oliver's, at educating and informing their audiences?
Homework Task: Go to YouTube and choose any of John Oliver's 'Last Week Tonight' episodes. Click HERE to go to his YouTube page. Watch the episode and record at least 5 satirical techniques that he uses (you may write the same technique twice). Record the time, quote the example, write the technique, and jot down a brief description of why you've identified it as invective, or mock encomium etc.
Essential Question:
- How can a parody criticize and ridicule society?
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Task One: Watch the NBC Nightly News report entitled: Growing up Transgender
As you watch, list the structural techniques used in a traditional nightly news report. Example: Dramatic background music |
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Task Two: Watch the parody entitled "Brain-Dead Teen, Only Capable of Rolling Eyes and Texting, to be Euthanized"
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Essential Question:
- What role can satire play in news media?
Satirical Journalism
Kim Jong-Un Named Sexiest Man Alive
- What is the article about?
- How would you describe the purpose of this satirical article?
- What techniques does the article employ? Why is it humorous?
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Discussion:
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Essential Question:
- What is the form and function of a broadsheet article?
- How does The Onion act as a parody of journalism?
Definition: BROADSHEET
- a newspaper with a large format, regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids.
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Features and Structure of a broadsheet article
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Task: Explore a broadsheet article and familiarize yourself with the basic structure.
Activity:
Activity:
- Choose a broadsheet article to annotate.
- Cut out the article and glue it to an A3 piece of paper.
- Annotate the article according to the features of a newspaper article.
- Identify the audience (local, state, national, international), purpose, and main idea of the broadsheet article.
Task 2: Identify and analyze the structural and literary features of a satirical article.
Local Idiot to Post Comment on Facebook
Local Idiot to Post Comment on Facebook
Step One: Identify TAMP for the text
T: text type
A: audience
M: main idea
P: purpose highlight, expose, critique, demonstrate, challenge, reveal etc.
Step Two: Identify structural elements of a news article
Step Three: Identify the satirical devices used in the article
T: text type
A: audience
M: main idea
P: purpose highlight, expose, critique, demonstrate, challenge, reveal etc.
Step Two: Identify structural elements of a news article
- Where has the article conformed to the text type conventions of a news article?
- Where has the article diverged from these conventions?
- What is the effect of different aspects of the structure? How does the headline/lead paragraph/inverted pyramid structure etc enhance the reading experience for the reader?
Step Three: Identify the satirical devices used in the article
- What device? Identify the quotation and device.
- What is the effect of the quotation (humor, critique, parody, expose)? Which word or phrase within the quotation best communicates this idea? Explain.
-Link this analysis back to PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, and/or TEXT TYPE
