S A T I R E Notes Part II

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S A T I R E Notes Part II
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3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)

• The writer/artist enthusiastically promotes the
  attitude or idea he or she wishes to satirize
  and, by pushing it to an absurd extreme, exposes
  the illogical foolishness of the original belief
  or idea.

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3. Reductio ad absurdum (Reduction to the Absurd)

• In other words, the writer, or the character
  created by the writer, argues FOR the idea or
  behavior he or she is actually against. (extreme
  sarcasm/verbal irony)
• The argument is purposely presented in a way
  designed to make us see the ignorance of the
  original idea.

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Here, again, is the aforementioned New Yorker
cover, in which the cartoonist appears to be
promoting the idea that the Obamas are radical
Muslim terrorists with the intention of
destroying America. In response to public
criticism about the cartoon, The New Yorker
released this statement Artist Barry Blitt is
satirizing the use of scare tactics and
misinformation in the presidential election to
derail Barack Obama's campaign. By pretending
to argue in favor of the views of his target and
exaggerate the ideas so much that they appear
absurd, Blitt is employing the technique of
reduction to the absurd (extreme sarcasm).
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On Comedy Centrals Colbert Report , Stephen
Colbert played a character who continually
supported and defended particular arguments and
ideas. However, in truth, Colbert was
satirizing these ideaspromoting ideas with the
goal of exposing their flaws.
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This satirical cartoon is from 2010, before the
repeal of Dont Ask Dont Tell, the US law that
allowed the military to discharge soldiers if it
was discovered that he or she was gay.
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• Whats the subject?
• What idea or argument does the artist have the
  speaker/character in the cartoon promote and how
  does the artist attempt to reduce the argument to
  its most absurd?
• What concern is the artist expressing?

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• Whats the subject?
• What idea or argument does the artist have the
  Dad character in the cartoon promote and how does
  the artist attempt to reduce the argument to its
  most absurd?
• What concern is the artist expressing?

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