Thursday, October 18, 2012

DIRECTIONS: How to Use this Blog

Hello, my dear students! I have created this blog so that you have an opportunity to explore satire further in a guided fashion while I am on my field trip. Please read the following instructions carefully so that you can assure your accurate completion of the tasks associated with this blog.
  1. There are multiple posts in this blog. Each post represents a separate task/activity. Please be sure you do your best to visit every post and complete every task.
  2. Each post is going to involve some sort of task/activity AND is going to ask you to compose a comment in response to some prompt or question. Here are the instructions for composing those comments:
    •  You are not required to create a user ID or anything like that. You can post as "Anonymous" instead; however, if you do have a Google ID, you can feel free to log in that way. If you choose to post as "Anonymous," you must include your name somewhere in your post (otherwise I will have no idea who the comment was completed by--and I won't be able to give you credit). If you forget to include your name in the comment, simply hit "reply" to your comment and type your name in the reply. I'll get the picture.
    • Your comments should be thoughtful and complete. Please don't respond with one word answers or poor writing. I want to see insightful thoughts and decent writing.
    • Some posts will ask you to not only create a comment in response to something, but I may also ask you to respond to comments from other students. In those reply comments, the same exceptions outlined above apply.
Okay, now get to work! Have a great weekend, and I'll see you in the classroom on Monday! Don't forget to complete the activities for "A Presidential Candidate" and the reading/annotation of the two Onion articles in the green packet for Monday. :)

Re-examinging Satire Definitions

Please carefully read and consider the following definitions and considerations of satire. Then, compose a comment that responds to the prompts/questions at the very bottom of the post. 

Satire is one of the oldest forms of literature and one of the most durable. A constructive art that seeks not
merely to destroy but to rebuild; the aim is to inspire reform.
  • humor + criticism = inspired reform
Satire is actually very conservative; it cherishes a sound society, good traditions, and wise, viable institutions. It values the general welfare and the public good, and it assumes that the audience is reasonably intelligent,
educated, and rational.
  • There's no point in appealing to fools; they won’t get it !
Satire Versus Sarcasm:
  • Satire – blend of criticism and humor for the purposes of CORRECTION OR IMPROVEMENT
  • Sarcasm – simple abuse, mockery, or verbal jest consisting of a series of ironic or insincere statements

Now, in a comment to this post, please respond to all of the following in a thoughtful, thorough, and insightful manner:
  • What do you think the first definition means when it states that satire is "durable?" (Explain)
  •  First, paraphrase the statement that satire is a "constructive art that seeks not merely to destroy, but to rebuild," then, explain how you see satire accomplishing that goal.
  • Why does the second definition call satire conservative? (Think about our political understanding of what it means to be conservative in this country--how does that relate to satire??)
  • Why is it important to make a distinction between satire and sarcasm?

Satire Vocabulary

For this post, you will be using an online dictionary to look up a few of the following satire methods. First you will post a comment with definitions; then, you will want to write those words and definitions in your notes as you will be responsible for knowing those words.

Methods frequently employed while constructing satire:

  1. Parody (which we've defined)
  2. Irony
  3. Mock--epic
  4. Travesty
  5. Allegory
  6. Burlesque
  7. Lampoon
  8. Caricature (which we've defined)
  9. Epigram
  10. Fable
In a comment to this post, please define the following words (you may use an online dictionary to do this). Please make sure you include your name in the post. Please also make sure you get these definitions into your notes as well!
  • Travesty
  • Allegory
  • Burlesque
  • Lampoon
  • Epigram

When Satire Fails

Please read the following article (posted online at jezebel.com). Then, respond (in a comment) to the prompts/questions at the bottom.

Harvard Student Magazine Satirist Writes Racist Garbage, Doesn’t Understand Satire

Harvard — the storied Ivy League that's produced many great comedic writers well-versed in the time-honored rich people traditions of "joshing" and "ribbing" — has apparently lost its edge/mind. The art of subtle satire has been one of the staples of their comedy scene for quite some time — turning out the likes of Conan O'Brien and some other funny-ish white bros — but they've really dropped the ball at their student-run magazine, Harvard Voice.

A Harvard attendee brought the recently published article, 5 People You'll See at Pre-Interview Receptions, to our attention. In it "Anonymous" (more on this later) runs down a host of [crappy] stereotypes of the students who are idiotic enough to want jobs. It's all pretty dumb but the [crappiest] has to be:
2. The Asian
You can always spot the Asian contingent at every pre-interview reception. They dress in the same way (satin blouse with high waisted pencil skirt for girls, suits with skinny ties for boys), talk in the same sort-of gushy, sort-of whiny manner, and have the same concentrations and sky-high GPAs. They're practically indistinguishable from one another, but it's okay. Soon, they will be looking at the same Excel spreadsheets and spend their lunch talking about their meaningful morning conversations with the helpdesk of Bloomberg. Uniqueness is overrated when you make six-figure salaries.
So many problems here. Where to begin? First off, way too many words. I could've gotten the job done in a way less space. Please see:
2. The Asian
You can always spot the Asian contingent at every pre-interview reception because they are Asian and all Asian people look and act the same Ching Chang Chong Man Rice Paddy Hat.
That about covers it, right? But perhaps the worst part of this whole thing are the poor choices the Harvard Voice editors made after the piece was published. Let's explore their decisions:

1) Originally publishing it as written by "The Voice Staff" and then changing it to "Anonymous" when, I can only assume, they started receiving complaints. What happened, The Voice Staff?? If you can't stand by something you publish, then don't print it in the first place. And if you did made a mistake, strike through that [crap] (and I do mean [crap]) and issue an apology, like a g-d grown-up.

2) Erasing the entirety of "The Asians" section and replacing it with "The Super-Interviewee," which might make even less sense.

3) They obviously forgot to erase this crazy bit from "5. The Hipster":
The alternative kid spends most of their 20 minutes at the reception standing in a corner, mocking the Asian ass-kissers in their heads, and secretly hating themselves for being there and "selling out."
Now that bit has the added bonus of being racist and not making any sense!

3) The bizarre slew of Editor notes that have been posted since the "The Asians" was removed. In order:
Note from the Editors: We deeply apologize if this satirical article is viewed by some as racially stereotyping and offensive. However, we stand by our decision to publish this piece as a different look at the recruiting process at Harvard, which is notoriously dominated by finance and consulting.
And then:
Note from the Editors: We deeply apologize if this article has offended our readers. Though the article was written by an anonymous contributor, we have removed the inappropriate content because it is not in line with The Voice‘s mission of promoting satirical, yet inclusive, content.
Note from the Writer: Clearly, I've been censored, which in itself is an interesting reflection on free speech in America. If you couldn't tell that this article was satire, then we have bigger problems than me being "offensive."
(If you are curious to know what the fifth stereotype is, just take a quick look around the room. JK!)
And finally:
Note from the Editors: We deeply apologize if this article has offended our readers. Though the article was written by an anonymous contributor, we have removed the inappropriate content because it is not in line with The Voice‘s mission of promoting satirical, yet inclusive, content.
Jesus. The writer understands satire and free speech just about as well as the editors understand apologizing. For real, what is even happening over there!? I fully expect the next update to be, "We've been taken hostage, please send one (1) tiny violin, three (3) packages of Triple Stuffed Oreos, and seventeen (17) boxes of two-ply Kleenex."

I can't decide whether this whole thing is more offensive because it's racist or because it's just not funny? Maybe those two things just amplify each other — kinda like how sour cream and chives work in tandem to make a baked potato more delicious? Racism and unfunny do the same thing, but with grossness. I think a certain Lampoon alumni needs to go back and teach a schoolwide course in satire, irony, humor, and maybe also, having cute red hair and being extra tall and adorable. Yes?

Of course, then again, racism is over, we don't need Affirmative Action, the world is a melting pot of rainbows, shoot me in the face, etc.

5 People You'll See at Pre-Interview Receptions [The Harvard Voice Magazine]

UPDATE:
Check out The Harvard Crimson's excellent reporting on the issue. Hopefully this will keep students engaged!


In a comment to this post, please respond to the following in a thoughtful, thorough, and insightful manner. Please include your name in your comment. AFTER YOU CREATE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME BACK TO THIS POST AND RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER STUDENT. YOUR RESPONSE CAN BE AN AFFIRMATIVE REPLY WITH ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, OR IT CAN BE A REFUTING REPLY WITH EXPLANATIONS.
  • What issue associated with satire does this article call attention to?
  • In the context of this article (considering the information provided regarding the "satire" in question), what made the article 5 People You'll See at Pre-Interview Receptions a failure in terms of satire? 
  • Considering the "cautions" and scorn of this article regarding satire, what are you feelings regarding the considerations a satirist should have when he or she writes to make sure that the satire is actually successful and not just blatant insult or damage? In other words, what do you think the biggest mistake is that a satirist could make? Explain yourself please.

Go on a Satire Treasure Hunt

For this final activity, you will use the links below to locate satire examples. When you find an example of satire/humor that you like, you will post a link to the specific example in a comment. Your comment will also include a brief synopsis of the example as well as identification of SOAPSTone for that example.

When you're finished, if time allows, please make sure you have the work for "A Presidential Candidate" (Mark Twain) done for Monday, and please also make sure you have the two articles in the green "Intersections" packet read and annotated.

The Onion
The Daily Show (please use ear buds for videos!!!)
The Colbert Report (please use ear buds for videos!!!)
The Borowitz Report
Satirical Political
Ironic Times
Political Cartoons

*If none of these work due to firewall settings, simply use Google to locate something by doing a search such as "satire news" or "satirical publications" or "political cartoons," etc.

Remember, in your comment you are posting a link to the example you found, and you are then identifying and explaining the SOAPSTone of that example. Remember to include your name. If time allows, respond to someone else's comment.