Satire, as
defined by the Britanica Concise Encyclopedia, is an artistic form in which
human or individual vices, folly, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to
censure by means of irony, ridicule, or other methods, sometimes with an intent
to bring about improvement. Literature and drama are its chief means of
expression, but it is also found in other forms of media such as film, the
visual arts, and political cartoons. Satires had been present in Greek
Literature, with Aristophanes as well as in Roman Literature with Juvenal and
Horace. Juvenal and Horace's satires have since then developed according to
their perspectives. To Horace, the satirist is a refined man who sees stupidity
and insanity everywhere, but is moved to gentle laughter rather than to rage.
To Juvenal, on the other hand, the satirist is a respectable man who is
horrified and angered by corruption. Horace's satires are friendlier in tone,
thus containing no dangerous attacks against powerful individuals or serious
vices. Juvenal's satires, however, are bitter accusations of the vice and folly
of his own times that include most men and all women.
The
Elizabethan Period proved to be the Golden Age of Satire as satirists like
Voltaire, Jonathan Swift and Daniel Defoe wrote works that were more direct and
straightforward, leaving little room for subtle irony. In Voltaire's Candide,
he showed how having a ridiculously positive outlook on life will still lead to
a life with numerable tragedies. Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, exposed
the cruelty of humanity, and Daniel Defoe's Jure Divino, the writer made an
elaborate and learned attack on theories of the 'divine right' of monarchs.
Through the
years, satire developed into many forms: the Persian satire, the Elizabethan
satire the Anglo-American satire, the 18th, 19th and 20th century satire to
name a few. Different satires have developed due to the fact that these satires
are responses to the issues present in their period. What started out as poems,
books and novels developed in plays, adjusting to the changing times and
interests of the public. Similarly, the satires of today's modern world had
developed into political humor, as more people can relate to the issue in this
medium.
Political
humor is best compared to satire rather than to parody, which is only concerned
with mocking an original work. Political humor seems to have developed from
Horace's satires: amusing is but still able to address the issue at hand.
Political humor should not be taken as a personal attack against a politician,
but rather as an unsolicited advice from an observer. Satire is, after all,
developed with the intent of bringing about improvement, and political humor
seems to have developed from this literary genre. Politicians who yet to become
objects of political humor should not fret about being in the spotlight.
According to Maureen Dowd, a columnist at the New York Times, Republican
Presidential candidate Barack Obama has not been the object of any political
joke by American comedians mainly because "he's very hard to mock".
He has kept an honest image and he has remained focused and serious in his
work. With that kind of attitude, any politician can escape satirical political
humor.
Owen loves
to read and talk anything under the sun. From current events, magazines, social
life, metro lifestyles, traveling etc. Not a born writer but experience could
make a difference. He also loves to eat especially travel in different places.
Going to beaches and mountains really completes his life.
A Computer
Engineering student and loves to travel. Reading current news in the internet
is one of his past times. Taking pictures of the things around him fully
satisfies him. He loves to play badminton and his favorite pets are cats.
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