Dear world: Stop mis-using ‘satire’.
Satire is a genre that ridicules human wrongdoing, with the ultimate goal being to expose institutional oppression and effect social change.
Putting ignorance on display, then panicking, backpedalling and calling it “satire” isn’t hip or edgy or anywhere near as successful a coverup as people seem to think it is.
Key point: Satire is a genre that involves attacking the powerful.
Some things that aren’t satire (if you come from the dominant group of the axis in question):
– Depicting indigenous people as generic “savages”
– Cannibal/cookpot jokes
– Rape jokes
– Cripple jokes
– Golliwogs
– Comments about “killing hookers” or “cutting/choking a bitch”
– Limp-wristed mincing gay jokes
Add your own examples of NotSatire. Feel free to link ‘n’ quote as desired.
Categories: gender & feminism, social justice
A timely call for examples given the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bukingham’s newly published article about how attractive young female students are “perks” for an academic. I don’t think he even intended the piece as satire, but it’s one of the absurd ways it’s being defended.
orlando: Argh, I just found that article! The key excerpts:
*vom*
Ugh.