Social CommentarySocial CommentarySocial CommentarySocial CommentaryAn Introduction to Social CommentaryAn Introduction to Social Commentary

Spring Semester - Guiding QuestionsSpring Semester - Guiding Questions

• What social responsibilities do artists (film makers, authors, etc.) have to the world?

• How do artists influence culture?

To begin, we must understand what To begin, we must understand what social commentary is and how it works social commentary is and how it works

in society.in society.

A Definition:A Definition:

• Social commentary is the act of expressing an opinion on the nature of society or a social problem.

• It is most often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change.

Encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Social_commentary

How is social commentary accomplished?How is social commentary accomplished?

By informing the general populace about a given social problem and appealing to people’s sense of justice.

Examples: Essays, editorials, books, speeches, etc.It’s not just written though… check out these

visual examples.

Key Ideas:Key Ideas:

Today, with the invention of the Internet, increasing numbers of people have been enjoying the opportunity to voice their opinions.

The Web is probably the best place for social commentary because it allows the dissemination of ideas among enormous audiences.

It is therefore one of the greatest modern-time advances in terms of freedom of speech and thought.

Who creates it?Who creates it?

It commonly comes from educated upper class members, but might also come from the lower social strata as did the SC of Charles Dickens.

Two excellent examples of strong and bitter social Two excellent examples of strong and bitter social commentary are the writings of Jonathan Swift and commentary are the writings of Jonathan Swift and Martin LutherMartin Luther

• Swift = exposed the appalling poverty in Ireland at the time, which was viewed as the British government’s fault

• Luther = the founder of the reformation movement against the deplorable practices of the Catholic Church

A Modest ProposalA Modest Proposal1729, Social Satire1729, Social SatireBy Jonathan SwiftBy Jonathan Swift

Satire1. A literary or artistic work holding up human

vices and follies to ridicule or scorn2. Wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and

discredit vice or folly3. Satire often shows the ridiculousness of an

issue, or proposes a ridiculous solution to a problem

www.Webster.com + American Heritage Dictionary (2001)

Tools to Create Social CommentaryTools to Create Social Commentary

Irony – When something happens in a way you wouldn’t expect it to happen

-Verbal Irony – Say one thing, yet mean another; sarcasm

Ex: Saying, “Oh great!” after something rotten happens.

-Situational Irony – Occurs when events differ from typical expectations

Ex: You break a date with your girlfriend so you can go to the ball game with the guys. When you go to the concession stand, you run into your date who is with another guy.

-Dramatic Irony – When the reader knows something important that a character does not know

Ex: Have you ever seen a horror movie that has a killer on the loose? You, and the rest of the

audience, know that the teenagers should not go walking in the woods late at night, but they think a midnight stroll would be romantic. Needless to say, the teens become the next victims.

-Hyperbole – Exaggeration of words, ideas, concepts, etc.

Ex: She can have any boy that she wants.

-Understatement – Figure of speech that underplays the significance of an event

Ex: Saying, “The food was tolerable,” after eating food prepared by Gordon Ramsey.

-Bathos – Quickly going from the serious to the ridiculous

Ex: In The Indredibles, the superfamily is trying to save Metroville from a rampaging robot. On their journey, they start bickering.Dash – Are we there yet?Mr. Incredible – We’ll get there when we get

there.

Tools to Create Social CommentaryTools to Create Social Commentary

Other tools for creating social commentary . . .

-Humor - joking-Sarcasm – saying on thing, but

meaning another-Stating an opinion – editorial,

television show, musicSocial commentary may use satire,

but it doesn’t have to!!