IB English Lang & Lit Parodies & Satire Notes

Comics and Illustrations

1. A comic strip or illustration that’s using parody or satire often aims to make you laugh while delivering a deeper, often critical, message about society, politics, or human behavior.
2. The trick to analyzing these is to understand the humor while digging beneath the surface to uncover the critique. Let’s walk through how you can approach these kinds of texts.

Understanding the Purpose and Audience

1. Most parodies and satires aim to mock or criticize something—whether it’s a person, an event, or a societal trend. This means that the humor you see on the surface is often a tool to point out flaws or contradictions.
2. Consider who the intended audience is. Is the comic strip aimed at a general public or a more specific group?
   1. Sometimes satire is aimed at those who are already in the know—people familiar with the topic or issue being criticized.

Identifying the Target of the Satire

1. One of the key elements in analyzing satire or parody is figuring out what or who is being targeted.
   1. The target could be anything from political figures to social norms, from specific policies to general human behavior.
2. The exaggeration you see is there to make the flaws or contradictions even more obvious.
   1. What is the comic really making fun of?

Humor and Exaggeration

1. Humor is the engine driving parodies and satires. The humor might be obvious (like slapstick or visual gags) or more subtle, relying on irony, wit, or sarcasm.
   1. But it’s important to remember that the humor is always serving a bigger purpose: to highlight the flaws or absurdities of the target.
2. Exaggeration is one of the most common techniques in these forms of satire.
   1. Whether it’s the oversized head of a political figure or an outlandishly ridiculous situation, the exaggeration is meant to make the critique impossible to miss.

Irony and Sarcasm

1. Satire often relies heavily on irony and sarcasm to deliver its critique. Irony happens when there’s a gap between what’s said and what’s meant, or between what’s expected and what actually happens.
2. Sarcasm is often more biting, with characters or narrators saying the opposite of what they truly mean to make a point.

Visual Elements and Symbolism

1. In comic strips and illustrations, the visuals are just as important as the text, if not more so.
   1. Everything in the image—from the way characters are drawn to the details in the background—contributes to the satire.
2. Pay attention to the way characters are portrayed.
   1. Caricature (exaggerated depiction of physical features) is a common technique in satire.
   2. Political figures might have oversized heads or exaggerated facial expressions to make them instantly recognizable and emphasize certain traits—like vanity or greed.
3. Symbolism also plays a huge role.
   1. Objects, animals, or colors in the comic might represent larger ideas.

The Use of Dialogue and Text

1. Words often provide the setup or punchline to the visual joke, but they also contain clues to the deeper critique.