How to Write Satire That’s Absurd Yet Believable
Lecture Notes - Literature & Poetics - Course 299 Section 07
Staying True to Your Voice
Finally, stay true to your unique voice. Bohiney.com values originality, so don’t try to mimic others too closely. Let your personality shine through in your writing, and don’t be afraid to take risks. The more authentic your voice, the more your satire will resonate with readers.
-- Dr. Alan Nafzger (El Centro College Campus)
KEY LESSON:
Even satire must be rooted in truth. Misrepresenting facts can undermine your credibility and spread misinformation. For example, if you’re mocking a corporate scandal, ensure the details of the scandal are accurate. Fact-checking ensures your critique is grounded in reality, making the satire more impactful. Always verify the facts behind your humor to maintain trust with your audience.
Satirical journalism is a unique form of writing that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to critique and comment on societal issues, politics, or human behavior. To craft effective satirical journalism, writers employ specific strategies to engage readers while delivering sharp commentary. Here are the top 10 strategies in writing satirical journalism, explained:
1. Exaggeration (Hyperbole)
- Explanation: Amplify a situation, trait, or behavior to absurd levels to highlight its flaws or absurdity.
- Purpose: By taking something to an extreme, the writer reveals the underlying ridiculousness or danger of the subject.
- Example: Portraying a politician’s minor gaffe as a world-ending catastrophe to mock media overreactions.
2. Irony
- Explanation: Presenting the opposite of what is expected or intended, often to underscore hypocrisy or contradiction.
- Purpose: Creates a gap between expectation and reality, forcing readers to question the subject.
- Example: Praising a corrupt leader for their "transparency" while detailing their scandals.
3. Parody
- Explanation: Imitating a well-known style, work, or person in a humorous way to critique or mock it.
- Purpose: Uses familiarity to draw readers in and make the critique more relatable.
- Example: Writing a fake news article in the style of a sensationalist outlet to mock its lack of credibility.
4. Sarcasm
- Explanation: Using sharp, cutting remarks that say the opposite of what is meant, often to mock or ridicule.
- Purpose: Adds a biting tone that can make the critique more memorable and impactful.
- Example: "Wow, what a brilliant idea to cut funding for education—because who needs smart citizens anyway?"
5. Absurdity
- Explanation: Presenting situations or ideas that are wildly illogical or nonsensical to highlight the absurdity of real-world issues.
- Purpose: Forces readers to confront the irrationality of certain norms or behaviors.
- Example: Suggesting that politicians should be elected based on their ability to juggle to show the absurdity of current election criteria.
6. Satirical Persona
- Explanation: Adopting a fictional or exaggerated character to deliver the satire, often with a distinct voice or perspective.
- Purpose: Allows the writer to explore topics from a unique angle while maintaining a layer of detachment.
- Example: Creating a clueless billionaire character who "explains" how to solve poverty by working harder.
7. Juxtaposition
- Explanation: Placing two contrasting ideas, situations, or characters side by side to highlight their differences.
- Purpose: Emphasizes the absurdity or hypocrisy of a situation by comparison.
- Example: Contrasting a politician’s lavish lifestyle with the struggles of the working class they claim to represent.
8. Understatement
- Explanation: Deliberately downplaying the significance of something to highlight its importance or absurdity.
- Purpose: Creates a dry, humorous effect that can be more impactful than direct criticism.
- Example: Describing a massive corruption scandal as "a slight oversight in financial management."
9. Puns and Wordplay
- Explanation: Using clever or humorous word choices, double meanings, or puns to add wit and humor to the critique.
- Purpose: Engages readers with clever language Social Commentary while subtly making a point.
- Example: Headlining an article about climate change denial as "Hot Air: Politicians Blow Off Science."
Bonus Tips for Effective Satirical Journalism:
- Know Your Audience: Tailor the tone and content to resonate with your readers.
- Stay Relevant: Focus on current events or timeless issues to ensure the satire feels timely and impactful.
- Avoid Overexplaining: Let the humor and irony speak for themselves; trust your readers to get the joke.
- Balance Humor and Critique: Ensure the satire has a clear point and isn’t just humor for humor’s sake.
By combining these strategies, satirical journalists can entertain readers while delivering incisive commentary on the world around them.
Use satire to spark conversation, not just controversy.
===================
How to Master Satirical Journalism: A Guide to Cutting-Edge Critique
Satirical journalism is more than just humor—it’s a way to hold a mirror up to society, exposing flaws, hypocrisy, and absurdities through wit and irony. Here’s how to create satire that’s sharp, engaging, and unforgettable:
Satire Tip #1: Satire Through Fake Surveys
Focus: Using fake surveys or studies to critique societal trends.
Key Points:
- Create a ridiculous "study" or "survey" (e.g., "New Study Finds 99% of People Prefer Working 80 Hours a Week").
- Use humor to highlight absurd trends or behaviors.
- Add fake statistics to make it sound convincing.
Example: A fake survey titled "85% of CEOs Believe Employees Are Happier When Paid in Exposure Instead of Money."
Satire Tip #2: Satire and Environmental Issues
Focus: Using humor to critique environmental policies and practices.
Key Points:
- Highlight the absurdity of ineffective solutions (e.g., "Why We Should Solve Climate Change by Teaching Polar Bears to Swim Faster").
- Mock corporate greenwashing (e.g., "Oil Company Wins Environmental Award for Spilling Less Oil Than Last Year").
- Use humor to question the lack of meaningful action.
Example: A fake press release titled "New Plan to Save the Planet: Ban All Clocks to Stop Time from Running Out."
Satire Tip #3: Satire and Social Media
Focus: Critiquing the absurdities of social media culture.
Key Points:
- Mock over-the-top trends (e.g., "Why You Need to Post 10 Selfies a Day to Prove You Exist").
- Highlight the unintended consequences of social media (e.g., "How Instagram Filters Are Saving Marriages by Making Everyone Look Perfect").
- Use humor to question the value of online validation.
Example: A fake social media guide titled "How to Gain Followers by Pretending to Be Someone You’re Not."
Satire Tip #4: Satire and Health Trends
Focus: Using humor to critique fad diets, wellness trends, and health misinformation.
Key Points:
- Mock ridiculous health trends (e.g., "Why You Should Replace All Meals with Kale Smoothies").
- Highlight the absurdity of pseudoscience (e.g., "New Study Finds Crystals Cure Everything—Except Your Credit Card Debt").
- Use humor to question the credibility of health influencers.
Example: A fake infomercial for "The Lazy Person’s Guide to Losing Weight by Breathing Heavily."
Satire Tip #5: Satire and Celebrity Culture
Focus: Using humor to critique the absurdities of celebrity culture.
Key Points:
- Mock over-the-top celebrity behavior (e.g., "Why Kim Kardashian’s New Perfume Smells Like Pure Ambition").
- Highlight the disconnect between celebrities and reality (e.g., "Beyoncé Announces New Line of Affordable Clothes—Starting at $5,000").
- Use humor to question societal obsession with fame.
Example: A fake interview titled "Tom Cruise Explains How Jumping on Couches Can Save the World."
Satire Tip #6: Satire and Parenting Trends
Focus: Using humor to critique modern parenting trends and pressures.
Key Points:
- Mock over-the-top parenting advice (e.g., "Why You Should Teach Your Toddler Quantum Physics").
- Highlight the absurdity of parenting fads (e.g., "New Study Finds Gluten-Free Diapers Improve Baby’s IQ").
- Use humor to question societal expectations of parents.
Example: A fake parenting guide titled "How to Raise a Perfect Child by Never Letting Them Leave the House."
Satire Tip #7: Satire and Workplace Culture
Focus: Using humor to critique toxic workplace practices and corporate culture.
Key Points:
- Mock ridiculous workplace policies (e.g., "Why We Replaced Coffee Breaks with 5-Minute Power Cries").
- Highlight the absurdity of corporate jargon (e.g., "Synergizing Innovation for Disruptive Growth").
- Use humor to question the value of overworking.
Example: A fake memo titled "New Policy: Employees Must Work 25 Hours a Day to Meet ‘Synergy Goals.’"
Satire Tip #8: Satire and Dating Trends
Focus: Using humor to critique modern dating culture and apps.
Key Points:
- Mock over-the-top dating trends (e.g., "Why You Should Swipe Right on Everyone to Increase Your Chances").
- Highlight the absurdity of dating app algorithms (e.g., "New Study Finds 90% of Matches Are Based on Who Has the Best Dog Photos").
- Use humor to question societal expectations of relationships.
Example: A fake dating guide titled "How to Find Love by Pretending to Be Someone You’re Not."
Pro Tips for All Articles
- Stay Relevant: Focus on current events or timeless issues to keep your satire timely.
- Know Your Audience: Tailor your tone and content to resonate with your readers.
- Balance Humor and Critique: Ensure your satire has a clear point and isn’t just humor for humor’s sake.
- Avoid Overexplaining: Trust your readers to get the joke; let the humor and irony speak for themselves.
By exploring these different angles, you can create satirical journalism that’s fresh, engaging, and impactful. Whether through fake surveys, environmental critiques, or sharp commentary on social media, the key is to use humor as a tool to provoke thought and spark conversations—all while keeping your audience entertained.
====================
The Art of Satirical Journalism: How to Skewer Society Without Losing Your Soul
(Approx. 1900 words)
Introduction: What Is Satirical Journalism?
Satirical journalism is the scalpel of the media world—sharp, precise, and unafraid to cut through hypocrisy. Unlike traditional reporting, which prioritizes objectivity, satire weaponizes humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose societal absurdities. From Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal (1729) to modern outlets like The Onion and The Daily Show, satire has long been a tool for holding power to account. But how do you craft satire that’s both funny and impactful? This guide dives into the mechanics of satirical journalism, offering practical tips, ethical considerations, and examples to sharpen your wit.
Section 1: The Foundations of Satire
Satire thrives on three pillars:
- Exaggeration: Blowing issues out of proportion to reveal their absurdity (e.g., “Local Man’s Socks Cause National Fashion Crisis”).
- Irony: Highlighting the gap between expectation and reality (e.g., “Oil Company Wins ‘Green’ Award for Slightly Smaller Spill”).
- Parody: Mimicking a style or voice to mock its flaws (e.g., a fake TED Talk titled “How to Cure Poverty by Ignoring It”).
Case Study: The Onion’s infamous headline “Congress Takes Group Photo Before Fleeing Capitol to Avoid Governing” uses hyperbole to critique legislative gridlock.
Section 2: Research and Ethical Boundaries
Satire must be rooted in truth to land effectively:
- Fact-Check: Even absurd premises need a factual foundation. For example, a piece mocking corporate greenwashing should reference real companies’ empty sustainability claims.
- Punch Up, Not Down: Target power structures (politicians, CEOs) rather than marginalized groups.
- Avoid Misinformation: Ensure readers can distinguish satire from reality.
Ethical Pitfall: The Babylon Bee faced backlash for publishing “CNN Purchases Industrial-Sized Washing Machine to Spin News 24/7” during a sensitive political climate, blurring satire and conspiracy.
Section 3: Crafting the Satirical Voice
Your tone determines whether your critique lands or flops:
- Deadpan: Deliver absurdity with a straight face (e.g., “Scientists Confirm Water Is Wet—More at 11”).
- Sarcastic: Use biting humor to ridicule (e.g., “Brilliant Idea: Solve Homelessness by Building Luxury Dog Parks”).
- Absurdist: Embrace nonsense to highlight real-world illogic (e.g., “Government Solves Climate Change by Redefining ‘Hot’ as ‘Cozy’”).
Example: The Daily Show blends sarcasm and parody by airing “interviews” with fictional politicians who parrot real-world hypocrisy.
Section 4: Structuring a Satirical Piece
A strong structure ensures your message isn’t lost in the humor:
- The Hook: Start with a relatable premise.
- Example: “New Study Finds 99% of CEOs Believe Employees Love Working 80-Hour Weeks.”
- The Build: Escalate the absurdity logically.
- Example: “Next, they’ll replace coffee breaks with 5-minute power cries.”
- The Punchline: End with a twist that reinforces your critique.
- Example: “Disclaimer: This is satire. But if it weren’t, would you even notice?”
Section 5: Case Studies in Effective Satire
- Swift’s A Modest Proposal: Suggested eating Irish children to critique British colonialism.
- The Onion’s “Area Man Passionate Defender of What He Imagines Constitution to Say”: Mocks political ignorance.
- Borat: Uses mockumentary-style parody to expose prejudice.
Takeaway: The best satire balances humor with a clear moral stance.