We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Literature

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Satire?

By G. Wiesen
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 38,442
References
Share

Satire is a creative genre in which criticism regarding a particular cultural behavior or other activity is displayed through strong use of irony and sarcasm. This type of criticism can be humorous, though entertainment and humor are not necessarily the primary goal; the humor is often used to offset the harshness of the criticism itself. Different methods can be used to create this criticism, though it often comes from demonstrating the ridiculous or offensive nature of an act or comment when placed within another context. It is often used in political commentary, usually to indicate how farcical or preposterous something truly is, and can also be used for other forms of criticism.

The primary purpose of satire is almost always criticism, though there can be secondary effects produced by it. In general, someone uses this type of criticism to demonstrate his or her outrage or offense at the actions or words of someone else. It can be expressed in many different ways, however, and direct criticism may ultimately feel like a person is simply “preaching” his or her opinion to others. Using more creative methods allows someone to express ideas in a way that is more disarming, allowing the actual message of the criticism to more clearly come through, often through the use of wit, sarcasm, and irony.

Different types of satire are often categorized by how extreme or “dark” a satirist goes with his or her criticism. Someone making a light-hearted joke about a recent political decision may be criticizing that decision, but the joke is still meant to entertain. A more extreme example of such criticism would be Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay A Modest Proposal. In this work, Swift recommended that poor people in Ireland sell their children as food to wealthy English for money to feed themselves, an idea so clearly offensive that it surpasses the bounds of decency, and in its revolting premise, makes a point about the desperation of the poor and the indifference of the wealthy.

Modern examples can be found in a number of different publications, Internet sites, movies, and television programs. Shows such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have been powerful outlets for political satirists in the early 21st century. Internet sites and publications of The Onion have provided similar satirical commentary on journalism and reporting during the same era. One of the dangers of satire, however, is that the irony or sarcasm may be missed, and that the very people being criticized can view the work as an endorsement of their ideas or actions.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
By DylanB — On Aug 18, 2012

I love late night shows that use satire throughout the whole program. Something about it is just funnier than someone telling jokes outright.

I particularly love when skits are used to get the point across. Seeing actual actors on stage playing out their satirical parts is more effective than hearing one person fire off one bit of satire after another without ever leaving his chair.

By giddion — On Aug 18, 2012

I find satire hilarious. This is probably because I have a very sarcastic sense of humor. Other people I know find it offensive and pompous, but I get a kick out of it.

Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-satire.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.