Bobby Henderson's e-mail to the Kansas School Board is not exactly a letter to the editor, but it served a similar purpose. It drew attention to the School Board's assault on evolution and helped generate widespread derision. The board members eventually were voted out of office.
A visit to his Web site is eye-opening. Several years after he wrote the e-mail, he still gets hate mail.
After reading "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" (Presence, pg. 348), tell us about a particularly effective bit of satire that you've read, heard, or seen (on television perhaps). What made it effective?
This response is due on Thursday, Oct. 8.
I just read an article that said that mothers could fill out a thing called "mothersknowall" and have someone forge there child's signature. This document enables facebook to send information to them so mother's don't have to go through the trouble of figuring out how to use facebook. The article is just ridiculous. It has explainations on how mothers can get away with this. It kind of makes be believe that it is possible.
ReplyDeleteOne book that I have read that was a Satire is called Animal farm by Geroge Orwell. It is about animals being supiorior to humans. Animals in the book are based on actual people from the Russian revolution. It was not so much the literal meanin of the book that was powerful but, the hidden meaning was. It showed how easily people can be mislead into believing one idea. The book also shows how easily somebody can gain too much power and use it for all the wrong reasons. Like in the book when the pig uses his power to gain a more lavish lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteA telivision series that never fails to use satire is Family Guy. Although many viewers may not notice the wit and cleverness behind the jokes, each one is carefully constructed using some sort of irony. Any episode from this series can be used as an example. One specific piece that worked particularly well is and episode where the Griffin family is having dinner with Jesus. When Brian asks how they know if he is really Jesus, he turns thier dinner into ice cream sundaes.
ReplyDeleteAnother cartoon television series that is closely related to Family Guy that uses satire is Futurama. This cartoon's total purpose is to make fun of the human race, and explain how we are going to end up as nothing in the universe because they portray each character as rediculious and ignorant throughout the series. Thats a crazy concept on our future.
ReplyDeleteI dont know what to say for this response because i cant think of any satires that i have read. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteA cartoon i have seen recently is titled The Cleveland Show, its a continuance of Family guy, this cartoon has a lot of satire. It can sometimes make fun of political veiws, or even just famous people and how they have acting on TV in the past years. Really anything goes for this show aswell as Family guy. What makes each satire point effective is when they're making fun of an actor, they recreate what he did on tv or something and have the character do that at some point, but its really random but it has a point that refers back to what the actor orifinally did.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe best example of a satire i can think of is easily South Park. The entire show is based on political satire. South Park is notorious for it's "no boundaries" attitude. I think this is why its so popular. I find it hilarous that they never shy around a topic. When ever they get a topic for an episode they always go over the top. I feel that satire is needed in society to lighten up situations.
ReplyDeleteSo many TV cartoons use satire which is what makes the show so much fun to watch because they teach it and talk about it in funny manners and allow some people to learn something with a laugh. I would have to agree that South Park and Family Guy are two of my fave shows and they are always talking about books I've read in class and things I'm learning about everyday!! its what makes the show that much better.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Bobby Henderson the "church of the flying spaghetti monsters" The only piece of satire that i could think about was also south park, everything that is mentioned in that series is meant to be rude, raunchy, and just down right over the line. As for myself i find the show amusing sometimes and then some episodes cross the line and make me want to turn off my TV.
ReplyDeletei would agree with pretty much everybody on the whole cartoon thing. almost every cartoon i have seen uses satire as some form of humor.
ReplyDeleteA cartoon that uses a lot of satyr is Calvin and Hobbes. In every strip Calvin is able to turn any serious situation into a joke. He puts a spin on things and gives you another perspective on things. for example in one of my favorite strips Calvin and Hobbes are relaxing outside on the sled talking about how peaceful it is out and how they both enjoy the silence. then at the end Calvin kicks the sled down the hill with Hobbes still on it saying "I hate all that silence".
ReplyDeleteAfter reading "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" I would have to say that the television show South Park is probably the best I've seen as far as using satire. This show is sometimes amusing, but is also quite rediculous at times. There is a fine line between funny and disgusting, and South Park definitely crosses that line a lot of the time.
ReplyDelete