Sunday, January 18, 2015

What Is Satire?

Satire is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Satire can be used in plays, novels, films, or other work that uses satire.

Synonyms: mockery, ridicule, derision, scorn, caricature, irony, sarcasm, parody, burlesque, caricature, lampoon, skit, spoofs, wit

Examples of Satire in Everyday Life:

Most political cartoons which we witness every day in newspapers and magazines are examples of satire.  These cartoons criticize some recent actions of political figures in a comical way.

Some shows on television are satire examples like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Larry Sanders Show. These shows target what they think are stupid political and social viewpoints.
Caricature of Stephen Colbert

 
Sample of Stephen Colbert's social satire:

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."

Satire Examples in Literature

Mark Twain
 

 
Example #1:  There are numerous examples of satire in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. He uses satire as a tool to share his ideas and opinion on slavery, human nature and many other issues.  Below are a few citations from the novel that demonstrates satire:

"What's the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and isn't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?  (Chapter 16)

"There wasn't anybody at the church, except maybe a hog or two, for there warn't any lock on the door, and the hogs likes a puncheon floor in summer-time because it's cool.  If you notice, most folks don't go to church only when they've got to; but a hog is different."  (Chapter 18)

"The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that what an army is--a mob; they don't fight with courage that's born in them, but with courage that's borrowed from their mass, and from their officers.  But a mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness."  (Chapter 22)

Example #2:  Jonathan Swift, Irish author and satirist wrote Gulliver's Travels one of the finest satirical works in English Literature.  Swift relentlessly satirizes politics, religion and Western Culture. Criticizing party politics in England, Swift writes, "that for above seventy Moons past there have been two struggling Parties in this Empire, under the Names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan from the high and low Heels on their shoes, by which they distinguish themselves."

During Swift's times, two rival political parties, the Whigs and the Tories, dominated the English political scene.  Similarly, "The Kingdom of Lilliput" is dominated by two parties distinguished by the size of the heels of their boots.  By the trivial disputes between the two Lilliputian parties," Swift satirizes the minor disputes of the two English parties of his period.

Function of Satire

The role of satire is to ridicule or criticize those vices in the society, which the writer considers a threat to civilization.  The writer considers it his obligation to expose these vices for the betterment of humanity.  The function of satire is not to make others laugh at persons or ideas they make fun of.  It intends to warn the public and to change their opinions about the prevailing corruption/conditions in society.


 

Cartoonists are great at showing and writing cartoons. Here are some examples: 


I do not write satire, but I can write sarcasm on occasion.  I hope everyone who has an opinion on satire leaves a comment.  My opinion is we have to have freedom of speech even if I disagree with them.  Now, was that satire, or sarcasm?

Thank you for reading my blog, have a good week and come back next Sunday.
 

Sandra K. Marshall, author
@ Eirelander Publishing
http://www.eirelanderpublishing.com
http://www.skaymarshall.com
https://www.facebook.com/sandra.marshall.98
https://twitter.com/AuthSKMarshall/status/496365255165878272

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Plan To Reach Goals

Last week I said I was working on a plan to reach my goals for this year.  Well here it is.

1.  Write two hours a day or more (this should provide me with 3 - 4 pages, or more)

2.  Check email and do social media for an hour

3.   Promotion for an hour

4.   Look over all I have written and revise if needed (always needed, I nit pick
      everything)

5.  Write blog and post it for Sunday's

 

All of this is in between cooking, cleaning and going somewhere with my hubby since he gets stir crazy if he stays in the house too long.

 

The problem with these goals is the first two or three months are easy, but after that it can be hit or miss.  I really, really want to stick to these plans, so I will definitely try. 

 

Also, I must admit hubby helps me with cooking and cleaning.  He's a good guy. I wish everyone the best in meeting their goals and New Year's resolutions.  Have a great week, and I'll see you next Sunday. 

Sandra K. Marshall, Author
@ Eirelander Publishing
http://www.eirelanderpublishing.com
http://www.skaymarshall.com
https://www.facebook.com/sandra.marshall.98
https://www.twitter.com @AuthSKMarshall 

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Goals For 2015

This time of the year most people have made New Year's resolutions, but I have stopped making those because I never keep them.  I belong to a goals group called GIAMx2 started by author, Amy Atwell.  Amy has five of these groups, and they are very supportive.

With this group, I'm always able to keep some of my goals even if not all of them.  My GIAMx2 group not only supports each other, but they kick you in the butt if it's needed. 

2015 Goals:

1.  Finish short story for boxed set, have it edited, book cover made
     ready to publish with the other authors in the set.

2.  Revise an old story that is finished, have it edited, book cover,
     formatted and published. 

3.  Finish a story I started last year and get it published.

 
 
 

All right, I have my goals set, so next comes my plan to make it work. 
 
Have a great week everyone, and I'll see you next Sunday with my plan to reach my goals. 
 
 
Sandra K. Marshall, Author
@ Eirelander Publishing