Modern Satire (Blog 4 - EC)

Modern Satire

Lately we have been studying works of persuasion and satire that were written decades ago, some dating back to the late 1700’s.  But the art of Satire has not been forgotten.  Today, in modern society, there are many examples of satirical expression that help people to get their views and opinions out to the world.  A lot of it is now found on television, but there satire is still prevalent throughout newspapers, books, magazines, and radio.

Satire is generally associated with its literary form in writings and essays, but it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts.  Satire is mainly the use of ridicule and wit to try to shame an individual, a certain group, or society as a whole into improvement.  The device of satire is often meant to be funny, but it has an even greater underlying purpose to criticize and motivate change.

On television, we see satirical programs like Saturday Night Live (SNL) where comedians act out in front of a live studio audience to different sketches on cultural humor and political opinions of modern day.  One of the more popular and reoccurring skits, Weekend Update, gives two actors a chance to banter back and forth about current events in politics, foreign affairs, and local scandals, just as if they were an actual news station.  Each new topic is presented with a picture and a brief background on what exactly is happening with that specific item.  Then the co-hosts make a joke or a “satirical statement” that leaves the audience laughing and cringing at the same time.  That, in effect, brings the criticism and ridicule of satire into the sketch.  The audience begins with laughter, which is mainly directed at themselves or the country, and then they realize the mistake the two co-hosts have pointed out.  Weekend Update is simply a way for the writers, producers, and actors of the show to convey their opinions about current events and to inform people on the mistakes and mess-ups of our country.

Another popular form of satire is the “spoof.”

Spoofs are also a form of modern satire.  Movies are created off of popular films and stories are changed and altered.  They generally are making fun of “B” movies, or lower-ranked movies, and criticizing the directing, acting, and the script.  Movies like “Vampires Suck,” “Scary Movie,” and “Thumb Wars” are all examples of spoofs.

Another very popular and British satirical example is the Monty Python series.  They portray many different historical legends and events but put a hilarious twist on them.  The Holy Grail tells the story of Camelot’s Knights of the Round Table and their quest to find the Holy Grail during medieval times.  Each of the different knights has a different trait that distinguishes them from the others and makes them flawed.  Their flaws are what makes them entertaining to watch and still ridicules them and the ridiculousness of their journey.

In books, many different satirical writings exist all over the world and there are way too many to list here, although that might get me up to the thousand words I need for this blog.  But a more recent book has come out dripping of satire called The Onion’s Our Dumb World.  It discusses numerous countries and cuts directly to the source of the problems that country has experienced or is experiencing.  They do not feel remorse for the jokes they make because sometimes the obvious just really needs to be plainly stated.  Some examples from the book include:

On the map of South Africa, an "X" labeled: "Woman having consensual sex fantasy."
In the facts section on Iraq: "Leading Cause of Death: victory"
The subtitle of Germany: "Genocide-free since April 11, 1946"

These satirical statements are so simply put; they reek with criticism and the idiocy of these countries.  I have not read this book, but from research online and reviews of this book, I have gained that it is incredibly well written with telegraphic sentences that are sharp and to the point.  It makes light of the difficult past and present every country had or is having, but hints at an underlying seriousness in the tone of the author.

Music is yet another outlet for modern satire.  In Canada, Nancy white uses her music and lyrics to convey her personal opinion on problematic issues of today.  Some of her songs are played on CBC Radio and portray the folk-like nature of her songs.  Most would think music would not be the usual form for unveiling satire, but it is another form of expression of peoples’ opinions and ideas.  As mentioned above, SNL is a show based solely on satire, but it too has musical bits and sketches that make fun of politics and controversial topics.  One song was even written on the topic of St. Patrick’s Day and how many people associate it with a drinking holiday but there is actually a history behind it. 

Many adult-related cartoons are also created for the purpose of satire only.  South park is a prime example of that.  It deals with the issues of American culture and introduces many topics discussed in modern society, such as Semitism, atheism, homophobia, environmentalism, and corporate culture.  All of these problems and convey through the disastrous adventures of a few young boys who don’t realize the extent to which they are affecting society.  Also, the episode of Saddam Hussein, originally meant to show the humorous effect his actions had on the American and Canadian people, was actually showed to Saddam himself over and over again when he was captured by US military.  Their satirical show proved to add more insult to injury with Hussein. 

One of the most popular political satire shows is the Colbert Report, with host Steven Colbert.  He talks about current political views, scandals, and actions, as well as big government and the media.  His opinion on these events has shown to be a cause for influence in younger American voters.  This is proof that pieces with satirical elements can, in fact, influence and persuade the public into changing their views.  It also shows that satire’s process of ridicule and criticism has the power to wake people up to issues that need to be addressed.

A Modest Proposal (of eating babies) (Blog 3)

In reading Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal", we are being required to write a "short" response on our thoughts and feelings of his satirical writing style. In my opinion, seven hundred and fifty words is a bit of a stretch for "short."  Nevertheless, Swift discusses the problem in his home country, Ireland, during the early 1700s of famine and poverty.  He is writing to the people and even more so to the government, persuading them to make a call to action to solve the problem of starvation and reduce the population of the homeless.  No one seems to be listening or trying to make any effort to fix their problem, so Swift, in order to wake people up, writes an essay proposing that the people of Ireland begin to eat the babies ranging from one to two years old.  The notion itself is absurd and unethical but it is just drastic enough to catch the attention of the government.  The babies would provide food for those who are hungry and limit the number of mouths that will need to be fed later on.

Though eating a child or any other human being is cannibalism, the way Swift explains his reasons makes it sound completely reasonable and normal.  He states that from a source he heard that "a young healthy child well nursed, at a year old, [is] a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled" so at least we know a child would taste good.  Although the taste alone should be enough, he goes on to say that "a child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone... [it] will be very good on the fourth day."  A baby is capable of providing multiple meals which would greatly help the famine problem for many families.  It would also serve as an entertainment dish during dinner parties and might be seen as a delicacy.  Swift take his proposal to another level when he mentions the babies' skin being used to "make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen."  Harvesting the children would be considered fashionable as well.

His proposal will benefit those woman, or "breeders," too in which they will be paid eight shillings per annum for selling their children to be eaten and will also be reimbursed for the money they spent on the first year of nursing them to plumpness.  Swift has the audacity to state that the country's stock will be increased by fifty thousand shillings per annum because of the marketing of baby meat and gain the "profit of a new dish."  The food would most likely bring new people to taverns and restaurants and cooks could make it a more sophisticated and expensive plate.  Also, he said marriages and life in the home would be dramatically improved for the men would no longer have any want to beat their wives while pregnant for damaging the little bundle of cash inside of them.

The reason we cannot eat children of older age, Swift says, is that boys become lean and hardened and have the consistency of leather.  Girls, on the other hand, would not have the problem of taste but they are the ones set aside to be the breeders and so must be kept around once they have passed the age of eating.

Throughout the essay, Swift refers to a number of well-trusted people from America, London, and various other places that have given him solid insight on the taste and profitable aspect of eating babies.  He never actually states their names, but that's probably because they're made up.  He uses these fake sources to give himself credibility on the subject, and maybe wants the reader to think that the information given by these people was given discreetly and they do not wish for their names to be shared over such a touchy subject.

In his fifth to last paragraph, he gives a "counter argument" which, in reality, is his actual argument and solid ideas for solving the problems of his country.  The way he writes this paragraph is very accusatory towards the government and has the feeling of "hello! wake up! I have actual solutions and ways to help this country if you would just listen!"  He says that no one should speak to him of these "expedients" until they have some attempt to put them into practice.  As for the idea of eating children, Swift finally explains, he has no intention of putting it into practice.  The reader reads plainly that it was not his intention and he could not even contribute to the idea if he wanted to, for he has a nine-year old child and a wife that is well past child-bearing.

Hemingway's Hero (Blog 2)

Hemingway describes a hero as one who exhibits "grace under pressure" and being brave.  This means he must be confident in himself and confront situations with courage and a strong mentality.  Certain heroic characters are seen throughout Hemingway's novels, such as Romero from The Sun Also Rises, who show genuine traits of pureness, tradition and fearlessness.  Romero shows his true heroic spirit inside the bull arena when he becomes a matador.  His graceful movements show how effortless the fighting is for him, but his humble nature conveys his sense of humility.  He takes pride in his work but does not get caught up in the spotlight and fame from all of the attention. 

His shiny attire and successes in the arena make him a hero for all who are watching.  He gives the people something to treasure during that lost time and someone to look up to.  He is the hero who is saving the lost generation from themselves and the hopelessness of that era.  Romero gives Jake, Bill, Mike, Cohn, and Brett something to look forward to in the midst of all the drinking and careless partying.  He is seen as a symbol of hope for that time, that not everyone has been ruined by war and there is still some good that can come out of this world.

Also, Romero displays his quality of handling "grace under pressure" in context with the bulls and how dangerous they can be.  He seems to have no sense of fear when he is with the bulls because he demonstrates his skills with such ease, even when a huge animal is charging right towards him.  This makes the reader infer that Romero would do well in other outside situations and could handle stressful and strenuous situations.  His brushes with danger don't seem all that threatening the way Hemingway writes them and make his actions easy and perfect.

Romero can relate to modern-day heroes, like firemen and third world volunteers, because they portray all that is still good and hopeful in this world.  They instill hope into society just as Romero did with the Lost Generation.  These men and women fight to save peoples' lives, which is not something Romero actually did physically, but he helped in emotional ways to save them from purposeless lives.  Both Romero and the modern-day heroes create a big impact on society and people would be lost and suffering without either of them.

In another light, Romero could have been seen as a hero towards Brett and was saving her from herself.  With his young and innocent ways, Brett might have been transformed or changed into a whole new person that had meaning in her life.  He might have been saving her from her friends and the atmosphere she was in previously with the hard drinking and constant partying.  Through book two, the story does not specify what happens between Brett and Romero when they run off, but I believe he would have been good for her and a positive influence, seeing as he was not a part of the Lost Generation.

Romero's heroism towards saving Brett can also be related to the police forces and investigation units of today.  They work to find and save people all the time.  They seek out the persons they wish to find, just as Romero sought out Brett.  This may be a very distant tie between Romero and Brett and those men and women who serve to find those who are missing, but they still end up with a similar solution.  Both types of heroes worked to save someone, either from themselves or others around them.

Romero is the type of hero, so brave and pure, that people wish still existed today.  Maybe in the bull fighting sense we lack this type of hero, but there are heroes just like him in our modern world.  They don't have the flashy pants or red cape but they still fight for what the love and believe in.  The firefighters, policemen, investigators, and volunteers all work to save lives from misery and suffering, while at the same time creating an image that people can look up to and respect.  Romero is the same as them, brave and sincere, except in Pamplona, Spain during post-WWII.

The Execution of Capital Punishment (Blog 1)

According to Turgenev, capital punishment in the form of executions and the entire spectacle of the event is dramatic, over the top, and unnecessary.  He conveys his point of view on this social injustice by giving a detailed description of an execution he was invited to attend.  Being up close and personal with Troppman, the man convicted of the crime and receiver of the execution, gave Turgenev new insight on capital punishment.  His tone throughout the piece is disgusted and astounded by the public's joy and also a sense of remorse for the loss of a young life, even for this "guilty" young man.  His tone is also scared and uncomfortable.  The restless hours he spends waiting for the execution to begin are torturous and aggrivating, causing him to write with such anxious language and apathetic diction.  The description of every step towards Troppmans death, like the toiletry of the condemned, adds to the lucid ridiculousness of the punishment.
In the end of section one Turgenev writes that he would relay everything he saw that night as a punishment to himself and as a lesson to others, hoping one "may derive some benefit" from his story.  I believe his purpose in writing this passage was to provide his point of view on capital punishment and a potential argument for someone to use.  He himslef did not intend to argue with anyone on the absolving of executions, though his writing was not unbiased.  He simply want to open peoples' eyes to the absurdness of beheading, the long process in which the condemned must go through, and the grossly excited reaction of the people.  In the last paragraph of his essay he writes, " I will be content and excuse my own misplaceed curiosity if my account supplies a few arguments to those who are in favour of the aboltion of capital punishment or, at least, the abolition of public executions."  Turgenev hopes that what he had to witness that gruesome night would be worth it, if only a little, for someone who could use his account to support their argument to rid the system of executions and seemingly unjust capital punishment.
By describing the rambunctious crowd of people and the entire process Tropmann had to endure before being beheaded provide good evidence as to why this punishment should be reviewed and possibly eliminated.  The publics' reactions were inhumane and wrong, for they created entertainment out of the death of another human being, which clearly goes against most peoples morals.  Getting Tropmann dressed and undressed, trimming his shirt, cutting his hair, these are all petty traditions that have been upheld, for what, the sake of tradition?  The way Turgenev describes it, these traditions have no purpose and take dreadfully long.  He also mentions Tropmann's youth and how unfair it seems to be taking his life in a such a horrible way and at such a young age.  The argument of age can be used to some degree, for they still have much to contribute to the world.  But one could also argue that age does not matter, because the intensity of the crime overrules any age and justice must be served.

Our friend O.J.

The O.J. Simpson trial.  An unprecedented case that changed the way people see law enforcement and the U.S. system of government.  So, in other words, yes, I agree with Albom's argument about the significance of the O.J. trial.  There are many views society and different cultures hold today because of what happened in that court room.  Following the case, there was a surge in the number of people who looked down upon the Police Force, disrespected their ideals, and watched closely when they happened to slip up.  Media now plays a big part in crimes and investigation.  Cop shows and News broadcasts make people feel more connected and aware of whats going on behind the caution tape.  But in truth, they are all huge exaggerations used to pull people in and make the trust in the government and police forces once again.  The O.J. Simpson trial has caused numerous other changes on the way society thinks and feels about our legal system, even today, and thats not likely to change.

"Cowboys" by Ehrlich

Ehrlich describes cowboys as the gentler, more compassionate male figures in society.  She says that they are tough, silent and serene on the outside, but on the inside posess a tender heart.  She says they have a certain shyness towards women and don't know how to express their feelings, but they do have the same emotions as one can tell from the lamb and the cowboys reaction.  The cowboys are also chilvarous and radiate that southern hospitality.  They know how to get the job done without complaining.  Ehrlich's tone in her essay conveys her admiration for cowboys and the respect she thinks they deserve.  By the end of the essay, one feels that the cowboy is amiable and compassionate.  This tone helps her to completely unveil the cowboy without painting him in a negative light.  The loving language helps ehrlich describe her main idea and purpose for the essay, that is, to make readers understand that the majority of men may appear tough and emotionless on the outside, but underneath, they contain feelings just as strong as women.  They just don't always know how to show it.

Sante's Secrecy

Sante's argument about secrecy and his examples of breakdowns of secrets (i.e. Soviet Union, the internet, and the media) tell us that our society today needs secrets to survive.  We also need to find out secrets, for it makes us feel empowered to have knowledge others don't.  Secrecy is an important aspect in American society.  We use it to feel safe and guarded, putting our trust in them, which can lead to catastrophe when a secret is shared, no longer making a secret but a public fact for all to know.  That's basically what the internet does today.  Media and the technological world has violated our privacy and our ability to keep secrets.  Some secrets we've kept our whole lives can be shared in an instant to millions of people.  Because of Facebook, Myspace and other social networks, people feel the need to share every aspect of their lives, having no regard for secrecy.