Satire Research

How is it satire?

    Satire can mean many things, such as sarcasm, irony, humor, etc. In film, satire is all about the context behind the story. 

    Satire is defined as a work of art, literature, or entertainment in which the folly and corruption of human beings, institutions, or social structures are exposed, denounced, or ridiculed. It is often a way of expressing a flaw or failure that has happened within a society or community. On one hand, it can take the form of an everyday comment, but on the other, it can bring to light the perspective of satire on a topic that can even incite social reform within a community.

Content

    Irony is a common tool used by satirical films to highlight contradictions and flaws in society, especially in human behavior, often by presenting exaggerated or absurd scenarios that clearly mimic or mock the context in which they're based. Irony in satire is often verbal, seen by characters saying the opposite of what they mean, or situational when outcomes of situations end up being completely opposite to the preconceived expectations. The choice of implementing irony into a film forces audiences to question accepted norms and values by revealing the absurdities behind them. 

EX: Fight Club (1999)

    For example, the film Fight Club builds irony, especially situational irony, around the protagonist, who joins a fight club to feel alive and escape the everlasting effects of living within a consumerist society, only to end up helping build a cult-like organization that embodies the exact ideologies he was trying to escape. The irony in this is that his attempt at a rejection of societal norms led him right back into another identical and oppressive system, bringing to light the cyclical nature of rebellion and control.

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    Along with irony comes exaggeration, a staple in satire films. Exaggeration is often used to magnify flaws; you can think of them as hyperboles. By amplifying certain traits or situations, filmmakers draw attention to the contradictions that might otherwise go unnoticed, much like irony. This simultaneously sets the humor for the film as well as encourages audiences to reflect critically on the subject.

    For example, in Idiocracy, exaggeration is used as a critique of the ongoing decline of natural curiosity in the face of consumerism. The film is set in a dystopian-like future, where society has intrinsically become dumbed down–so much so that the idea of an "original thought" is nearly extinct. The result of these elements is a hyperbolic portrayal of a world where convenience, instant satisfaction, impatience, and mindless entertainment have taken priority over things like education and self-improvement.

    Through this extreme exaggeration, Idiocracy brings light to issues such as corporate influence and societal complacency. The film’s absurd depictions drill into the audience the point that if current trends continue, society has a strong probability of devolving into chaos driven by blissful ignorance. Exaggeration forces viewers to confront these issues and use their critical thinking skills.

EX: Idiocracy (2006)

Production Techniques

    Going back to the topic of exaggeration, exaggeration in costume design, makeup, and set design can truly illustrate the absolute absurdity of satirical plot lines. By making use of extreme styles and bright colors, filmmakers can draw attention to the satirical elements they use to clarify the purpose and exaggerate the meaning behind the film and what it's critiquing. 

• Example: The Hunger Games series maintains simultaneous costume designs consisting of vibrant, extravagant costumes for the citizens of the Capitol, the innermost district. These outfits completely contrast with the tattered, old clothing that citizens of the outer districts wear. This contrast satirizes consumerist culture and social inequality within the Capitol, flaunting their wealth and ignorance to the world outside of their walls. 

EX: The Hunger Games (2012)

    In addition, a common element used by directors in many satire films is a mockumentary approach, consisting of many handheld shots, direct addresses to the camera, or voiceovers to create a sense of realism and build a sense of intimacy and community with the audience that's watching. This technique can be used to expose the absurdity behind a subject by making it seem like a real event or documentary.

EX: The Office (U.S.)

• Example: In The Office (U.S.), the mockumentary style is critical to the show's satirical take on corporate life and consumerism. In almost every episode, the characters make direct addresses to the camera and more often than not break the fourth wall to exemplify the humor and absurdity of their office environment.
  
  A scene that perfectly portrays an example of this technique is Michael Scott’s "World's Best Boss" mug scene. Michael frequently turns to the camera, holding up his mug with pride, as if seeking validation from the audience, when in reality, he is only seeking validation from an inanimate object: a camera. However, the camera symbolizes an audience, dictating his choices throughout the episode. This exposes his desperate need for approval and admiration that consists throughout the show, which actually ironically contrasts with his quirky behavior. 

Marketing

    Marketing satire is almost entirely based on blending the humor with the overall message. Often times, it relies on creative and strange approaches to reel in audiences while hinting at the deeper commentary within the film. For example, marketers use irony and parody in ads to mimic what they’re critiquing, creating campaigns that may look like traditional advertisements at first but reveal a satirical twist.

Samples

American Psycho

• The satire American Psycho primarily focuses on 1980s consumerism, capitalism, and the superficiality of Wall Street culture. Our protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is a rather wealthy investment banker obsessed who is infatuated with this superficiality: appearances, brand names, status symbols, you-name-it. He uses his job to fund a lifestyle full of luxuries, trying to be someone he is most definitely not. The satire lies in the disconnected plane of reality, and Patrick Bateman's reality. Throughout the movie (and the book), the story is told from Bateman's perspective, altering the world around him. When he describes his surroundings, he goes on an entire monologue of the superficial details of said surroundings. An example of this is when he is meeting with his fellow bankers, and immediately goes to look at their suits, demeanors, and surface-level qualities. In the novel, the only descriptions given to identify and differentiate between characters are their superficial characteristics, which says a lot about Bateman himself, and reflects who he is as a person. His personality is void, and not his own. The emptiness is covered up with designer labels and a charming image. This depiction of Bateman mirrors the hollow values of a society driven by status and appearance, critiquing our own. Bateman’s violent urges throughout the movie can be seen as the ultimate form of consumption. The film's satirical taste forces viewers to confront the moral decay lurking beneath an “ideal” society obsessed with wealth and image. 
  
  

EX: American Psycho (2000)

South Park

• On the other hand, South Park humorously utilizes satire as a critique against many social, political, and cultural issues via incredibly exaggerated scenarios, each episode tackling a different subject. From pop culture to religious hypocrisy, South Park uses dark humor and intentionally profane, unrealistic language to illustrate the exaggerated caricatures of real-world issues, exposing their absurdity and flaws, and utilizing exaggeration as their main form of the use of satire. Evidently, the show’s portrayal of characters like Eric Cartman, who is the literal embodiment of every single type of "-ism", and is a mockery of societal biases and closed-mindedness to the absolute extreme. South Park critiques rather hypocritical nature of public opinion and culture through these exaggerated expressions.

EX: South Park (1997–)