In the old days, you could assume that if what you read seemed totally unbelievable or absolutely absurd, it was probably satire. Today, there’s a greater chance it’s either fake news or somehow completely real. Don’t worry, though, there’s still some hope (think Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back kind of hope) that humanity isn’t quite as ridiculous as it occasionally appears.
What the hell did I just read? Is it satire?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, satire is defined as 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.
At its core, satire takes real-world behavior and holds it up just long enough for people to recognize how ridiculous it actually is.
Say something serious and people argue. Say the same thing as a joke and suddenly everyone gets it.
That’s part of the appeal. Satire gives a writer room to call out problems without sounding like they’re handing out homework.
Most satire starts with a simple idea: something is off. Maybe it’s political, maybe it’s cultural, maybe it’s just normal accepted behavior that probably deserves a little more public shame.
In other words, it’s not random absurdity. It’s absurdity with a target.