A Clarity of Purpose and Target: Ethics of Satire and Mockery in Pop Culture (Virtual Sample Class)

The meme of a man wearing a photoshopped tank top reading "Satire requires a clarity of purpose and target lest it be mistaken for and contribute to that which it intends to criticize" is widely shared on social media sites such as Twitter/"X" and Tumblr, but what exactly does this mean? What is the responsibility of a satirist to ensure that their work is not taken up in ways that are antithetical to purpose of the work? What are the limits as to how close a parody can get to its source of mockery without merely becoming what is mocked? This sample class will explore these questions as they pertain to popular satirical media that often rides a fine line between satire and reproduction, such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the Grand Theft Auto series*. With instructor Gina Stinnett from the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition, you will discuss some of the affordances and limitations of close-cutting satire, and discuss the overall rhetorical effectiveness of such an approach.

* This class will include quotes and/or images from various media when relevant, but will not include clips. While some content might include profanity and/or controversial subjects, this class will not include any direct quotes or images that are blatantly racist, homophobic, transphobic, violent, or overtly sexual.