Engaging in diversity and promoting inclusion means working to remove institutional inequities and actively assist those who have suffered from these inequities. In our changing media and cultural environment, satire has emerged as an increasingly popular approach for promoting diversity and inclusion. Effective satire highlights the absurdity of marginalization processes, but misinterpretation can potentially reinforce historical power dynamics and perpetuate marginalization.
Diversity and Satire examines how satire in both traditional media and new spaces reinforces or disrupts issues of marginalization in the United States. Critically analyzing many different forms of satire, this innovative textbook helps students understand what makes effective satire, describe the value of satirical content to others, and recognize how satirical artifacts advance or hinder efforts to diversify institutions. Beginning with an introduction to satire and how it can drive conversations about diversity, the text addresses how satire can be used to address historical discriminatory practices. Each chapter features satirical artifacts that contextualize the material as well as practical advice and tips to consider when engaging with satirical content and distinguishing satire. This textbook also: - Illustrates the difference between satire that disrupts discourse and content that merely reinforces stereotypes - Explains the historical relevance of satire and its importance in addressing the marginalization of certain populations - Describes the nature of satire in the changing media and cultural environment of the twenty-first century - Features engaging case studies drawn from a wide variety of satirical sources such as The Daily Show (with Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah), The Onion, Saturday Night Live, The Hunger Games, Weird Al Yankovic, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, Sinclair Lewis, MTV, and College Humor
Based on the author’s popular course at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Diversity and Satire: Laughing at Processes of Marginalization is an important resource for students, instructors, and general readers looking to explore disparities related to Class, Gender, Sexuality, and Race through the lens of satire.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Preface x
1 Defining Satire 1
What Is Satire? 1
Satirical Strategies 3
Satire and Power: The Power of Marginalization Satire 12
Hegemony, Ideology, and Discourse 13
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 16
Satire vs. Mocking: Issues of Directionality 18
The Inconsistent Effects of Marginalization Satire 20
Communication Process Model 22
Strategies for Satirical Literacy OR How to Read This Book 24
Is It Satire? 25
What Is Being Satirized and How? 26
How Does the Content Make You Feel? 27
Additional Activities 29
2 Satirizing Socioeconomic Status (SES) and Class 32
Do Americans Dream of Class Mobility? Defining Socioeconomic Status (SES) and Class 32
The Intersectionality of the Self-Made Man 36
Pulling Yourself up by Your Bootstraps: Satirizing Stereotypes of Scarcity 39
The Pervasiveness of Poverty 41
Mo Money Mo Problems: Satirizing Wealth 44
Advantages for Some by Disadvantaging Others 46
What Is the Answer? Make Everyone Middle Class! 49
Laughing at SES and Class in the Twenty-First Century 53
Additional Activities 55
3 Satirizing Gender 60
The Unbearable Binaries of Gender: Defining Sex and Gender 60
Real Men Wear Pink: Satirizing Masculinity 64
Intersectionality of Masculinity 67
Beauty is Pain: Satirizing Femininity 69
Intersectionality of Femininity 74
Satirizing Genderism: Beyond the Binary 76
Feminism: Pushing Back on Genderism and Gendered Norms 80
Satirizing Anti-Feminists 82
Laughing at Gender in the Twenty-First Century 86
Additional Activities 87
4 Satirizing Sexuality 91
What's Love Got to Do with It? Defining Sexuality 91
Satirizing Heteronormativity 96
Satirizing Individual Homophobia 100
Stereotypes of Sexuality 104
Satirizing Anti-Gay Institutions 106
Satirizing Erasure: What about the Ls and the Bs? 109
Laughing at Sexuality in the Twenty-First Century 113
Additional Activities 115
5 Satirizing Race 120
Black, White, Red, Yellow, Purple, Green: Defining Race 120
When Religion is Raced 125
"Racist" is an Adjective 127
Satirizing Whiteness 130
Satirizing White Panic 135
Colorblindness is a Medical Condition, Not a Solution for Racism 139
Assimilation vs. Appropriation 141
Laughing at Race in the Twenty-First Century 144
Additional Activities 146
6 Satirizing Atrocities 150
What are Social Atrocities? 150
Strategies for Satirizing Atrocities 152
Satirizing Extreme Poverty and Homelessness 156
Satirizing Sexual Violence 159
Satirizing the HIV/AIDS Pandemic 162
Satirizing Genocide and Slavery 166
Satirizing Atrocities in the Twenty-First Century 170
Additional Activities 172
7 Epilogue 176
Appendix A: Satirical Outlets/Artifacts 183
Appendix B: 100+ Items of Privilege 185
Glossary 189
Index 197
