Parody? Satire? Pastiche?

Parody? Satire? Pastiche?

Satire is a technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change.

A Parody is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. As literary theorist Linda Hutcheon puts it, "parody...is imitation with a critical difference, not always at the expense of the parodied text"

Pastiche is a literary technique employing a generally light-hearted tongue-in-cheek imitation of another's style; although jocular, it is usually respectful (as opposed to parody, which is not).

Discuss with a Partner whether the following texts are Parody, Satire or Pastiche:

• A film set in mythical space about an indangered ‘Princess Vespa’, whose planet is under threat from an evil empire headed by the cruel yet inept ‘Dark Helmet’. Her only hope is the rebellious ‘Lone Star’ and his dog-like sidekick ‘Barf’. Highlights of the film include Princess Vespa removing her two side buns to reveal they are headphones and the spirtual guidance given by the wise ‘Yogurt’.
• A film set in Biblical times. Brian is born in a stable on Christmas, right next to You Know Who. The wise men appear and begin to distribute gifts. The star moves further, so they take it all back and move on. This is how Brian's life goes. The Jews are looking for a release from the Romans, spiritual and political decay, keep looking for signs and a group decides Brian is the Messiah. He cannot convince them he is not. While not about Jesus, it is about those who hadn't time, or interest to listen to his message. Many Political and Social comments.
• A film made in 2003 but in the style of 1970’s kung-fu films. It charts the revenge taken by ‘The Bride’, a female assassin who has been betrayed by The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Led by her former boss ‘Bill’, this group gunned her down at her wedding leaving her for dead. The Bride awakes four years later and she sets out to begin her quest for vengeance.
• A film about the lengths to which we will go for entertainment. Truman Burbank lives a happy life. What he doesn't know is that his life is actually the focus of a reality TV show aired since his birth, that he's the star, his flawless hometown is a giant set piece, and everyone around him is an actor going by a script. He eventually abandons this faultless life in favour of an uncertain future.

AS we watch each clip, label Parody, Pastiche or Satire and explain why

With Satire, you need to go through three steps…

1. What is this showing on the surface?
2. What ideas from politics or current events does it reference and what do I need to know in order to make sense of those?
3. What is the deeper message and what steps does it go through to get there?

Answer those question next to this example of Satire

NEW SAT PRACTICE QUESTIONS

ByCora Frazier

Illustration by Zohar Lazar

The SAT college entrance exam is undergoing sweeping revisions...to make the exam better representative of what students study in high school and the skills they need to succeed in college and afterward.

—The Daily News.

1. Reading comprehension. Consider the following passage by a nineteenth-century female writer:

Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.

How would you title the above passage to generate the most “likes”?

(a) haters make you stronger, God forgives

(b) Hey, friends, I’ve written about some stuff that’s been going on with me lately, which is why I’ve been out of touch and not on social media so much or too responsive to your posts, and it would be really great to get some feedback from you intelligent people on this. A lot on my mind & greatly appreciated (etc.)

(c) 10 Reasons You Are Never Getting Married

(d) Cats Dressed Up Fancy

2. Student-produced-response math. According to an electronic sign in the subway, an uptown 2 train is arriving in 3 minutes. You lose a game of Tetris on your phone and see that 4 minutes have gone by, at least. The electronic sign says that a 3 train is arriving in 0 minutes. 0 minutes go by. Do you just say [forget] it and walk from Barclays?

3. Multiple-choice math. You receive several e-mails from your insurance company with “amounts you may owe” that so far total $789. What do you do?

(a) Read your explanation of benefits.

(b) Look for your explanation of benefits somewhere in your “important” Manila envelope, which is different from the other “important” Manila envelope that is more personally important and includes a note your college roommate wrote on unicorn stationery.

(c) Cancel your allergist appointment but even it out by eating an orange.

(d) Send a text message to your mom saying, “NYC doesn’t care if I live or die.”

4. Math diagrams. Choose one of the following short-response prompts, and include illustrations, if necessary:

(a) Describe how to wear a peplum and still seem like a person of significance.

(b) Describe how to wear diaper pants while asking to see the bouncer’s “list.”

5. Student-produced-response math. What is the limit of y=2x as your love of Beyoncé approaches infinity?

6. Vocabulary. I threw Gianna serious —, because I was —.

(a) elocution / nonplussed

(b) paraphernalia / permeated

(c) shade / like, she can’t be serious

7. Student-produced-response math. You have one remaining pair of clean underwear, besides the pair you are currently wearing. You have an additional pair of underwear that doesn’t cover your entire butt and says “Thursday.” How many days can you go without doing laundry?

8. Student-produced-response math. At what surface area does facial hair suggest a lack of vital personal possessions?

9. Reading comprehension. Consider the following exchange:

“Why don’t you like to [hold hands]?” I whisper, staring up into soft gray eyes.

“Because I’m fifty shades of [not right], Anastasia.”

What does the final line of dialogue indicate?

(a) Christian is fearful of his responsibilities at Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

(b) Christian is ambivalent about physical relationships.

(c) Christian would like to return home to finish an entry in his Cooking with Celiac Disease blog.

(d) Christian is desirable.

10. Short-response logic. If you wear your high-heeled boots, you will be as tall as or taller than your date. But, if you don’t wear your high-heeled boots, you will feel less cool. Should you stay at home and watch anything featuring Connie Britton?

11. Improving sentences. You receive the following text message: “You’re an animal.” This is an autocorrection of:

(a) “You’re almost at Ludlow.”

(b) “Young Leo DiCaprio.”

(c) “Do we need eggs?”

(d) No autocorrection…

1. What is this showing on the surface?
2. What ideas from politics or current events does it reference and what do I need to know in order to make sense of those?
3. What is the deeper message and what steps does it go through to get there?