By definition, Satire refers to the artistic method used by an individual to show folly, vices, folly and shortcomings of certain elements in the society with the use of ridicule, irony and other methods. Most of the time, the intention is to suggest improvement. These days, the most common means of expression is through drama and literature, though it can also be found in different forms of media like visual arts, films, political cartoons, as well as blogs, such as the humor presented here.
Satire – The History
Back in the old days, satires, mostly political ones had been around during the times of Greek literature, such as Aristophanes. They also exist in Roman literature with Horace and Juvenal. These satires have evolved into better political sources of viewpoint in their generation. For instance, Horace is a very refined man who clearly sees the transparency of insanity and stupidity everywhere he goes. Instead of being someone who would gladly convert his opinion to rage, he chose to resort to gentle laughter. His satires are known to be friendly, with no dangerous attacks towards individuals with high positions in the society.
On the other hand, Juvenal is a very respectable man who feels anger towards any type of political corruption. Contrary to that of Horace, Juvenal’s attack is more bitter and full of accusations towards the folly and vice of the people in his own generation.
The Elizabethan Period
The Elizabethan Period is known as the Golden Age of Satirists, with Jonathan Swift, Voltaire and Daniel Defoe as primary players, being able to write more straightforward and direct satires. As a matter of fact, they have left a little consideration for subtle room. One of Jonathan Swift’s famous pieces, Gulliver’s Travels, he exposed the sad reality of human cruelty. Daniel Defoe, on the other hand, elaborated his own intelligent attack on the specific theories against the divine right of monarchs.
The Evolution Begins
1. These days, the evolution of satire has taken a less brutal attack. Political humor is now taking the form of satire more compared to a simple parody, which is primarily focused on mocking a personal work. Political humor popular these days have basically developed from the satires of Horace. They are amusing but are still able to pinpoint and address the main issue at hand. These types of humors may attack a specific politician; however it focuses more on giving a rather unsolicited counsel from a third party observer. Satire evolved with the purpose of instigating improvement. These days, there is also an evolution on the methods where satire is presented. More to focusing on the literary genre, satire can now be found on websites and pages dedicated for this purpose. As a result, more and more people have become aware of what’s going on in the society these days. Though taking the form of modern humor, these satires were able to seep through the deepest mental inclination of their potential audience. These days, the Internet is home to the most valuable information available. For instance, searching for things such as a list of reliable locksmiths in your area will often lead you to sites like www.locksmith-search.com. The same goes with learning more about political humor. Dedicated websites are available for further reference.
