Cultural Mockery as Satire Vocabulary to Analyze HUMOR

Cultural Mockery as Satire

Vocabulary to Analyze HUMOR Exaggeration- an overstatement Exaggeration Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a Understatement, often in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke Farce laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. Irony When the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery: An absurd misrepresentation or imitation Mockery of something.

Analyzing humor Watch the following clip and identify the elements of comedy you see in it.

Haha, yes it’s funny but… Is it satire ?

Page 4 of your packet Summarize Judge Analyze

Swift’s Satire “A Modest Proposal” Satirical Essay that mocks the essay genre by… Using Irony—”Eat the Babies” (we should stop treating others like they are less than human) Using Farce—”Kid Skin Gloves” (lol; punny) Using exaggeration—helping the economy recover by reducing the population and increasing exports (no quick fix to the economy) Using understatement--"some scrupulous People might be apt to censure such a Practice (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon Cruelty. “ (a little? ? ? ) Using Mockery—Mocking the Irish for not fighting injustice and the English for treating people so badly

“A Modest Proposal” is satire because it inspires people to reevaluate their society and is funny because… TO SUMMARIZE Satire uses Exaggeration, Mockery, Farce, Irony, and Understatement to be humorous but also to inspire change. Talladega Nights mocks the NASCAR world and is funny. Is it satire?

Gulliver’s Travels Jonathan Swift’s Cultural Mockery

Review Historical Background What conflicts exist in English society during the 18 th century? What institution mainly fuels these conflicts?

Religious conflict Prior to 1520 all of Europe was Roman Catholic (with very few exceptions) 1517: Lutheranism: Martin Luther & his 95 Thesis— meant to reform the Catholic church but was excommunicated from the church and others began to embrace his ideas 1529: Calvinism: John Calvin converts to Lutheranism and added some of his own ideas to the reformation

Anglicanism in England 1533: King Henry VIII separated from the RCC b/c of his divorce with his current wife so he could marry (the already pregnant? ) Anne Boleyn Church of England formed and even embraced some ideas from Lutheranism

Persecution & Conflict CATHOLICS Old School Religion PROTESTANTS New Kid on the Block

Gulliver’s Travels: Plot outline The “true” account of Lemuel Gulliver’s adventures after being lost at sea and returning home about 9 years later to a wife, who is moving on, and a son he’s never met. Are his adventures real? Are his adventures manifestations of lunacy?

Voyage to Lilliput Land of the Little People

Basic Characters Gulliver - narrator and protagonist; Surgeon Contradiction vivid and detailed narration = intelligent and well educated BUT perceptions are naïve and gullible. The Lilliputians- The 6 inch tall inhabitants of Lilliput “Big Enders” and “Little Enders” The emperor - The ruler of Lilliput. Satire of autocratic rule and oddly somber picture of political power

Swift’s Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration- an overstatement Exaggeration Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, Understatement often in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter through Farce highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the Irony opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery: An absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Mockery While viewing, every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it down…you should be able to come up with one example of each!

Voyage to Lilliput Land of the Little People: VIEWING (46 minutes)

Lilliputians Persecution and Conflict “Big Endians” Old school breaking eggs Exiles from Lilliput=exiles from England to France “Small Endians” New school breaking eggs Current residents= Residents in England

Why use “egg breaking”? How is this a farce? Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter Farce through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations.

What is the purpose of this statement? Can he truly make a difference?

Anglicanism in England 1533: King Henry VIII separated from the RCC b/c of his divorce with his current wife so he could marry (the already pregnant? ) Anne Boleyn e h t s e e g c r n Church of England formed and even embraced some o a f h c N o O t ideas from Lutheranism ERS TRY P N E U N O t O C n e E d i R n c I o n T i r e E EN g N n i f O r o t u o y. g t due i n i t g t n i u k c a : e E r C b FAR g while g e e th

Swift’s Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration- Exaggeration Understatement Farce Irony Mockery: Mockery

Historical Connections �Humpty Dumpty—literally fell off the wall. How can this figuratively apply? What did Humpty Dumpty stand for? � Humpty Dumpty was a cannon that was destroyed during the English civil war—literally fell off the wall. �Other religious conflicts: Jews vs. Christians; Jews vs. Muslims; Christians vs. Atheists �Republicans vs. Democrats �The Great Schism (religious split) of the 17 th Century �Americans’ prejudice vs. Iraqi people �Native Americans disbelief in Europeans—insisting they were Gods �War today—people fighting and dying and fighting over why we are fighting �Tea party movements—protest laws

Media Connections �Night at the Museum (Romans vs. Cowboys and the Night watchman) �The Lion King (Scar is exiled and goes to war against the mainland) �Where the Wild Things Are (the boy with the wild things) �Avatar(Use of resources and main character refusing to blow up others) �Man vs. Wild (Surviving in unknown territories) �Da Vinci Code (Secrets to promote a change in viewpoint)

Book Connections Macbeth (greed and power; using others to take over) Bible (Moses turning the Nile into blood freaked out the Egyptians)

Important ideas we can extract Dangers of Racism and Discrimination Importance of Size Abuse of Power Dangers of Greed Dangers of Judging Others Honor can Quickly fade to Judgment

Predict: Land of the “Little People” lesson results in disappointment in humankind; belittling our disputes; if Brobdingnag is “Big People” what lessons might result?

Symbolism? Exaggeration? Labeling? Analogy? Irony? Government controlling the “giant”

Voyage to Brobdingnag Land of the Giants

Characters The farmer - Gulliver’s first master in Brobdingnag. An average Brobdingnagian only ruling by size. Speaks to Gulliver as an equally rational creature. Puts Gulliver on display: Cha-Ching! Nearly starve Gulliver by accident Glumdalclitch - The farmer’s nine-year-old daughter, who is forty feet tall. Befriends Gulliver and teaches him the language Takes care of him like a doll or a pet—symbolizing Gulliver’s status here.

Characters part II The queen - The queen of Brobdingnag buys Gulliver for 1, 000 pieces of gold. Considerate: asks Gulliver to live at the palace and inquiring over his health Not a hero, but a pleasant, powerful person. The king - The king of Brobdingnag: intellectual, well versed in political science among others. Serious discussions about the history and institutions of Gulliver’s home. figure of rational thought

Swift’s Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration- an overstatement Exaggeration Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, Understatement often in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter through Farce highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the Irony opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery: An absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Mockery While viewing, every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it down…you should be able to come up with one example of each!

Voyage to Brobdingnag Land of the Giants (Viewing 40 minutes)

Lilliputians vs. Brobdingagians Itty Bitty Execute people for fun Cruel masters Dominating Petty Ridiculous SMALL!!!! Swift’s satire: Small stature=small mindedness= Gulliver “bigger person” Predict: If Brobdingnag is “Big People” what lessons might result?

Quote—Brobdingnagians “But, by what I have gathered from your own relation, and the answers I have with much pains wringed and extorted from you, I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious races of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth”

Reply—Gulliver “Nothing but an extreme love of truth could have hindered me from concealing this part of my story. It was in vain to discover my resentments, which were always turned into ridicule; and I was forced to rest with patience while my noble and most beloved country was so injuriously treated. ”

What proposal does Gulliver make? To teach the Brobdingnagians a “valuable” scientific invention!

How does the prince react? “He would rather lose half his kingdom than be privy to such a secret, which he commanded me, as I valued my life, never to mention any more. ”

Swift’s meaning Humans are AWFUL! Misanthropy? Why use the Brobdingnagians to say this and have Gulliver resist? Softens the blow of the true message

Swift’s Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration- Exaggeration Understatement Farce Irony Mockery: Mockery

Satirical elements �Relates to England �Whigs �Tories �“the scourge of France” �Relates to humanity �Trade �Wars by sea and land �Religious schisms �Political parties �Houses �Cities �Vanity �Emotions �Shortcomings (fight, cheat, betray)

Napoleon I as Gulliver George III as King of Brobdingnag What’s a more modern example you could come up with? Sketch it in your notes.

Connections?

Important ideas we can extract Dangers Desensitizing Ourselves to violence Dangers of Scientific Discovery Importance of Examining our Activities and Vices

The two NEW races Jonathan Swift

The importance of differences �What is the most important physical difference between the Lilliputians and the Brobdingnagians? �Lilliputians are tiny �Brobdingnagians are enormous �How does this physical difference suggest other important ways in which they differ? �Lilliputians are small in character (taking over; warring; enslaving; backstabbing etc. ) �Brobdingnagians are greater in character (value human and “insect” life on a deeper level than he does himself) �How do the Lilliputians and the Brobdingnagians each represent a different way of viewing humanity? �Gulliver >Lilliputians & distances himself from their follies �Gulliver < Brobdingnag b/c he identifies and defends similar follies

According to Swift… What is basically wrong with the world and its inhabitants? How do you feel about his stance on morality?

Free write Name and DESCRIBE one scientific invention (besides the atom bomb or gunpowder) that has changed to course of humanity. Explain how it has changed humanity and judge whether it has changed humanity for the better or worse.

When you are done with your quiz you need to… Turn quiz in (no Vocabulary next week because you have a test next Friday) Turn to page 13 in your packet and read the letter to Alexander Pope from Jonathan Swift. Answer the question that follows the passage. Misanthropy: Hatred or distrust of humankind

Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions 1492. As children we were taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America. Actually, people had been living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob, cheat, and kill them. Vonnegut presents a different perspective of a common event: what is it? Why do you think school children are taught to respect the date? Is it right to teach this to children? What can you conclude about Vonnegut and his writing based on this quote? Would he and Swift be friends? Explain.

“Harrison Bergeron” Kurt Vonnegut A warning about the FUTURE

Kurt Vonnegut (1922 -2007) A blend of comedy, satire, science fiction and politics. Humanist

“Harrison Bergeron” First published in 1961 in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. SATIRE Enforced Equality Political abuse of power (Handicapper General) Enervating effects of TV

Finally Equal Capitalism gone American democracy gone Consider the fact that this short story was published in 1961 What does the elimination of advantages, difference, and competition suggest concerning the nature of the changes that have taken place? Is this possible in America? Should it be? Barbie dolls—original vs. now? Sports—every one gets a chance; medals to all; not keeping score

Vonnegut’s Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration- an overstatement Exaggeration Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, Understatement often in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter through Farce highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the Irony opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery: An absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Mockery While reading, every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it down…you may or may not find all of them, but you should find several examples for a few.

SATIRE Enforced Equality “Handicaps” Ear radios (intelligence) Neil Postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death Masks (physical beauty) “this ensemble of electronic techniques called Political abuse of power into being a new world– a peek-a-boo world, Handicapper General where now this event, no that, pops into view “Do or Die” for a moment, then vanishes again. It is a world Exempt from law? without much coherence or sense […] like the Enervating effects of TV child’s game of peek-a-boo entirely self Hazel: how did she become “normal”; she has some reasoning contained. But like peek-a-boo, it is also skills, but only thinks in short bursts—does TV do this to us? endlessly entertaining” (77). George: acceptance of the “normal”; no rebellion; desensitized to violence and ignorant to truth—can TV do this? Bags of bird shot (strength)

What we can extract Importance freedom, civil rights, and even social status Strong vs. Weak—mental, physical, emotional etc. Dangers of dystopian (degraded, oppressive state) society The more the government controls the less the public knows and the more ignorant they become Ignorance should not be bliss, though Hazel seems to embody this cliché Failure to appreciate uniqueness could lead to this kind of apathy

Complete analysis handout with your partner 10 minutes