In fiction and less frequently in non-fiction, satire is a genre of literature and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement.
In fiction and less frequently in non-fiction, satire is a genre of literature and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement.
Listen to this course's companion podcast to help make sense of everything you find published here
Fake Plastic Trees: A green plastic watering canFor a fake Chinese rubber plantIn the fake plastic earth That she bought from a rubber manIn a town full of rubber plansTo get rid of itself It wears her outIt wears her outIt wears her outIt wears her out ...
Here are the website posts mentioned in this week's podcast: Grammar of Satire – A Postcard from Russia Grammar of Satire – Trident, by Frankie Boyle Grammar of Satire – Writing Task
School. It’s an amazing thing. There’s nothing a 15-year-old boy loves more than getting up at 6:30, eager to educate himself.
After our short study of the Grammar of Satire, it's time to have a go at writing a satirical piece in your own right. Here are some suggestions as to how you might get going: Read more satire - be inspired by the work of others, and explore the technical frameworks...
I wrote a joke the other day, along the lines of: “Our greatest fear is that we die alone – which is why I intend to take quite a few people with me.”
The most exciting way of getting into Russia is to cross Germany in a sealed train and arrive at the Finland Station in St Petersburg to be greeted by a cheering revolutionary mob who promptly rename the city after you.
Key posts on this Thoughtcrime site referred to in this podcast are: What is Satire? The Grammar of Satire - Advice to Youth
This language project forms an investigation into the underlying grammar of satirical writing. We'll be exploring satirical work covering three centuries of social criticism and the project will culminate in your writing of your own piece of social satire. First Text:...
Some examples of political and social satire to get the conversation started