Preview

Why Did Trudeau Use Satire Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
493 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Did Trudeau Use Satire Essay
Maajid Nawaz, a British activist, radio host, and politician stated how “satire is, by definition, offensive. It is meant to make us feel uncomfortable. It is meant to make us scratch our heads, think, do a double-take, and then think again.” America has adopted the use of satire from England and has openly welcomed the use of it in our nation. Americans encourage the attacks on government that satire brings because they help us to see the shortcomings in society and push for change to improve the nation. In the comic series Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau effectively satirizes the U.S. government and media through his comedic portrayals of their failings and priorities. In a recent comic strip regarding gun violence and the Ebola epidemic, Garry …show more content…
Using his comic strips, Trudeau often mocks a certain group of people, but does so in a not-so-offensive way. In another recent comic regarding abortion, Trudeau criticizes conservative male state legislators, who often shame women for terminating pregnancies. Trudeau simplified the issue of abortion, making it seem less serious of an issue than it really is, and disclosed the actions of “middle-aged, male state legislators” by referring to them as the “shaming room.” Through his simple dismissal of the issue of abortion, Trudeau amusingly mocks the beliefs of the conservative male legislators who criticize women for their decisions. Trudeau’s comics are often humorous enough that they are not offensive and the readers can smirk or lightly laugh, yet the readers clearly understand the deeper criticisms and attacks on the U.S. government, media, and other groups of people.
As seen above, Doonesbury is a terrific example of comedic satire in newspaper comics. Garry Trudeau’s comics make his audience think about the issues in society, including the more uncomfortable topics, yet Trudeau’s audience enjoys his comics and discover the shortcomings of American society. Though his comics, Trudeau effectively satirizes the U.S. government and other failings of society, revealing their faults and mistakes to the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Daily Show is a source of controversy when its affect on democracy is analyzed. Some critics, like Roderick P. Hart and E. Johanna Hartelius who wrote “The Political Sins of Jon Stewart”, believe that Jon Stewart and his use of cynicism are harmful to Democracy. Conversely, Robert Harriman who wrote “In Defense of Jon Stewart” concedes that Jon Stewart is a cynic “for [the purpose] of coming to the key point of judgment” (274) although he considers Jon Stewart a helpful defender of democracy rather than a harmful offender. Similarly, Lisa Colletta the author of “Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart” feels that satire, rather than cynicism, which she believes is the form of rhetoric that Jon Stewart uses, is beneficial to democracy. In all, through an analysis of Roderick P. Hart and E. Johanna Hartelius’ “The Political Sins of Jon Stewart”, Robert Harriman’s “In Defense of Jon Stewart”, and Lisa Colletta’s “Political Satire and Postmodern Irony in the Age of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart” I feel that Jon Stewart’s use of satire on The Daily Show is constructive for democracy.…

    • 1002 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    All the news we hear, whether it’s on television, in class or even a conversation will always have conflicting and different beliefs, theories and responses. For example last night my husband and I were watching the premier of “Angry Boys” a mockumentary by Chris Lilley. He described the series to be a comment on "what it means to be a boy in the 21st century by putting representations of the male of the species under the microscope." To me the program sounded intellectual when in fact it consisted of a variety of comedic representations ranging from the racist “Gran”, a juvenile prison officer to Nathan and Daniel” identical twins (one of whom is deaf). As we sat on the lounge watching the program our laughter peeled from the room in tandem to each other; we didn’t agree on what was or wasn’t humorous.…

    • 1313 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    “A Modest Proposal” written by Jonathan swift in 1729 uses satire to propose his solution in Ireland. The problem is poverty and hunger, and the solution is eating babies. He is not being serious but trying to bring attention to the problem. Jonathan Swift’s not so modest proposal uses logos, ethos, and pathos to persuade the audience that cannibalism is the solution to poverty in Ireland.…

    • 66 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Example 1: The first example of satire is from chapter 16 when a homeowner sees Jim and thinks that he is an intruder and sends his dogs on to him, then as soon as he realizes that Huck is with him he calls them off, this is a form of satire because it is funny because people often do that to people depending on their race, as in racial profiling. For example if he had seen Huck first he may not have sent his dogs onto them.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This paper will explore whether the animated show South Park is an effective use of social commentary. We will explore the controversial topics covered by the show and the reactions to those shows from both a liberal and conservative viewpoint. In addition, we will look at how topics covered in a humorous, cartoon format may be able to more effectively discuss taboo subjects and why this show should be taken seriously in its social commentary.…

    • 1762 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Thomas Nast Research Paper

    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Today, an American’s political views develop from a number of sources. Magazines, movies, television, newspapers, and the Internet all shape public policy and the outcome of an election. However, most of those sources are fairly modern; newspapers and, magazines were the sole source for the American people up till about seventy years ago. Newspapers needed a way to present political information that was interesting and understandable to all; cartoons were the best way. Thomas Nast can easily be noted as the father of early political cartoons, because of his many contributions to the public policy of his time and his influence on the political media today.…

    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Botton's Arguments

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Humorists, such as cartoonists and satirical writers, use their own methods to tell about issues happening in the society while putting humor into their work. One of the famous political cartoonists in the nineteen-century, Thomas Nast, draws political cartoons about the corrupted government and notorious business leaders during his time period. Some of his famous works, such as the drawings of Boss Tweed and Tammy…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the pamphlet A Modest Proposal, written by Jonathan Swift, a narrator, if you will, proposes that babies from poverty be bought and eaten to help the economy. The narrator goes through the story explaining the bad points of Dublin and he throws out the most controversial solution possible: eat the excess babies. The poor families in the city can sell their unwanted children and get paid nicely for their losses. In turn, the rich feast on the young flesh and are pleased, leaving both parties better off. The poor have more money to circulate, helping the economy, and the rich are fat and happy and clothed in baby leather.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Purpose of Satire

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In most of the Franklin’s biography Franklin utilizes the humor and creates satires in order to help the public review certain norms in their society. Franklin employs humor as tact to point out the flaws in the obvious of certain policies, ideas, and concepts. For Franklin, his spec writings often point out issues he sees in the norms by describing them to the extremes. Humor is a gentle technique to get people or followers to certain ideas, activities or to look deeper into concepts that are already in practice. This seems to be Franklin’s specialty. His tongue of wit highlights and forces the reader to question the purpose of such policies. His satires aids him in conveying a message in a way that people are open to listen and more likely to re evaluate the norms.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Examples Of Satire Essay

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “ Ok we understand that the moral of youre story is that youre dad is the worst beacuse he didnt by you a baby blue porshe but got it in sky blue, but you two need to stop talking about all the money you have. Its obvious that you both do by the way youre dressed. He is weaing his vinyard vines quaterzip and courderoy pants, not to forget about his sperry loafers. Youre the reason why the laccrosse team is what it is today your dad pretty much owns it, hes plays for all the training you guys get. Now you look like youre fresh out of the channel store with you pink pastel dress and white lace socks constantly surrounded by girls who want to worship your every move. You both think you have it really hard I bet,…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Political Satire

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the two cartoons portrayed by Nbcnews cartoons, “The Victory Lap” and “The Wednesday Morning Meeting Of The Economic Optimist Club Will Now Come To Order” visual analysis reveals two different artist takes on the American economy and how it is suffering. The United States economy today is at a fast sinking pace with high unemployment and poor job prognoses, therefore slowing the economy down to a snail’s pace. The American public is becoming angrier towards President Barack Obama in every turn of life including satirical political cartoons. These cartoons show the disgust in every facet of American government from an economy in dire straits to obscene job loses.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay it will discuss the subject, target, style/tone, values challenged, techniques and the impact on a certain cartoon. The cartoon that will be discussed is “Australia Too Crowded” which is created by a famous cartoonist Nicholson and published by a well known News Paper “The Australian”. Peter Nicholson is an Australian political cartoonist, caricaturist and a sculptor.…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Satire On Campus Analysis

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages

    As we wrap up Free Press Week, we take a look today at the unique challenges that college students face when engaging in satire and humor on campus, from humor magazines and editorial cartoons to satirical flyers and blogs. Like newspaper theft and denial of newspaper funding (which we have already explored this week), this is an issue that FIRE has seen time and time again on university campuses over the years.…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Popular Satire

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Most people under the age of twenty-five get their news from shows like mine,” Stephen Colbert stated on his former late night show The Colbert Report. His program, along with other popular Comedy Central news shows such as The Daily Show and The Nightly Show provide factual national and international current events, with entertaining satirical commentary. In Alain de Botton’s book, Status Anxiety, he claims that humorists are vital to society because they say things that others cannot and will not say. Humorists are important in any society because they are given the duty of speaking up through challenging authority, making people think, and voicing their opinions.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Refugee Camp Satire

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Satire is used by cartoon artists to voice their own opinions on the issues and matters that we as Australians are faced with. A big genre includes Refugees and asylum seeker issues and problems. An example of this is an artwork by an artist living in a Refugee Camp. There is a clear difference between the baby that is in a detention centre and a baby that has freedom. This is done through binary opposites – for every positive there is a negative. An example of this is the baby on the left who only thinks of freedom as it is born in a detention centre and it’s spent their whole life behind bars, the baby is shown thinking about a bird cage, a noose, an empty baby drink bottle, fish bones and candy. This brilliantly showcases the horrors that…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays