Satire

From Learning Activities Using "The Yes Men Fix the World"

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1 Satire

“ You know how a funhouse mirror exaggerates your most hideous features? We do that kind of exaggeration operation, but with ideas. We agree with people—turning up the volume on their ideas as we talk, until they can see their ideas distorted in our funhouse mirror. Or that's what we try to do, anyhow—but as it turns out, the image always seems to look normal to them.

We had imagined that if we pushed our proposals into the outer limits of ugliness, we could horrify our audience into objecting. But the nature of their faith was such that so long as our proposals derived from the one true theory, there was no way they would ever see anything wrong with them. 		”
  — The Yes Men

Many people do not ‘get’ satire. The Yes Men think that their audiences, those who are in powerful positions in our society, do not ‘get’ the joke because they are blinded by their views of how the world works. Those in power believe, even when shoved in the face by the hideous consequences of their actions, that they are doing the right thing. They fit everything, including The Yes Men actions, into their world perspective.

But others also misread satire. Some people who have had the large part of their education during the Bush years might understandably be confused, since it was hard to believe many of their statements and policies were serious; certainly to progressives, those “leaders” and the mainstream news coverage of them, were their own satire. Watching Tina Fey’s imitation of Sarah Palin (followed by the clip from the actual Katie Couric interview Fey is satirizing),and the split screen of Palin’s words compared with Fey’s is a good exercise to illustrate this point.



Even for those of us who love satire and have lots of experience laughing at satire, it can be hard to tell whether something is real or meant as satire. Recently, for example, an article, Jenny Sanford: ‘Gay Marriage Wrecked my Family’ was making email rounds; I thought it could be real—it was not out of character of the real homophobic statements that are made in our society. Only after I researched it, did I find out that it was meant to be satire.[endnotes 1]

Courtesy: Dan Wasserman

The Yes Men characterize much of their satire as “identity correction—impersonating big-time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them.” And they mean corporate criminals “who put profits ahead of everything else.” In The Yes Men, their first movie, they explain that economically and politically powerful institutions like the World Trade Organization characterize their work as benevolent and just. In spite of the evidence that their collective actions have led to catastrophe for hundreds of millions, and possibly billions, of people, these organizations speak as if they are promoting social justice. The Yes Men, by speaking for those organizations, and speaking from the evidence of the havoc wrecked by those organizations, are correcting the identity of these groups, showing how hideous, how far from any concept of justice, the consequences of their actions really are. The trouble is, The Yes Men’s audiences, most of who are connected to those organizations, many of who are implicated in perpetrating those consequences, don’t get it. They see The Yes Men’s recounting of those organizations’ activities as good and clever and just.

Satire or irony is defined on Wikipedia as a “rhetorical device in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says and what is generally understood (either at the time, or in the later context of history)…. Irony is understood as an aesthetic evaluation by an audience, which relies on a sharp discordance between the real and the ideal.” So, satire can have an important connection to understanding the gap between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the current universal condition of human beings that Howard Zinn argues is a key underlying purpose of education.

Following are some examples, in a variety of media—websites, short videos, cartoons, photos, and short articles—to practice getting it, to learn to recognize satire, to analyze why some reality can be interpreted as satire, and to think about some of the uses and abuses of satire in fixing the world. I usually have students experience various satires before thinking about definitions, but you could, of course, start with more general questions about what satire is, and how we use it and why and so on. And, before analyzing any of the material below, you might want to have students contribute their own examples.

For each example, I would ask students to decide whether it is satire; how they can identify it as satire or real; if satire, what the satire is; and, if real, why it might seem satire to some people. You can develop more detailed questions to understand what arguments each piece is trying to make (What is the claim? The reasoning? The supporting evidence?) and whether or not the argument is sound, and why. Students can look at the particular form of the satire to analyze how powerfully the argument is presented, and discuss how the argument might be strengthened. The group can discuss whether they agree or disagree with the argument and why. Students can discuss if they find anything offensive and why. And for homework students can write a brief essay, either answering specific questions you develop, or a summary and an open-ended reaction.

In addition to the challenging nature of the materials in these exercises, there are many complicated issues that will hopefully arise in discussions. For example, clearly not all listeners found Sarah Palin’s commentaries self-parodying; quite a few voted for her. You might have students look through their social studies textbooks and see if there are any parts that they think some people could interpret as satire. Discussions of what is offensive and why and to whom can be quite heated (the movie will provide another chance to reflect on this).

There is enough material in this section to teach a large unit on satire. And, of course, there are many examples you might want to use instead. Here I have tried to focus on two major topics—economic justice and racism—related to the film. And, I have tried to include examples using a variety of media, so that you can create as many lessons as fit with your curricular goals to develop enough foundation for learners to appreciate and critique the satire in The Yes Men Fix the World. With learners who have not had much experience with critical reading, I would start by developing one example in great detail, doing a close line-by-line description (in the students’ own words) and analysis.

1.1 On Economics

1.1.1 Selling Wal-Mart

Garth Brooks Agrees to Sell Music Exclusively through Wal-Mart

Checking out more information about Garth Brooks raises some interesting questions connected to the topic of Chapter Two—conservative, liberal and left frameworks for understanding the world. There, the suggested learning activities include asking students to identify the political perspective of the authors of each of the exercises in this chapter. In this case, are the people who created this video conservative, liberal, or left, and how do you know? I got curious about Garth Brooks’ also, and found that in 2006, he did sign an exclusive contract with Wal-Mart. However, I could not find other indications of his political perspective. And, interestingly, in the early 1990’s he made a fairly liberal music video that was banned by some country stations. A brief report in the LA Times indicates that this record was “the first Brooks single in three years to fall short of the Top 10.”


1.1.2 Reverend Billy’s Church of Stop-Shopping

Performance artist/activist The Reverend Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir “believe that Consumerism is overwhelming our lives. The corporations want us to have experiences only through their products.” Their work combines street theater, satire, and grassroots organizing. His books: What Would Jesus Buy? (also a film) and What Should I do if Reverend Billy is in my Store?

1.1.3 Hunger as Motivator

State Representative Cynthia Davis’ (R-Missouri) report on the state’s Summer Food Program.


Additional Resources/Notes



1.1.4 Billionaires for Bush

Billionaires for Bush whose motto is “If we’re not broke, don’t fix it” and a recent appearance of the Billionaires, carrying signs such as “Do no Harm…to our Bottom Line,” “Fight Socialism: End Medicare Now!” and “CIGNA/Palin in 2012,” at the September 12, 2009 Glenn Beck March on Washington, D.C.

1.1.5 What is Dilbert Selling?

Various comics from the Dilbert which are widely considered to be bashing business.

An excerpt from The Trouble with Dilbert: How Corporate Culture gets the Last Laugh published in Z Magazine both critiques Dilbert, and concerns the uses and abuses of satire: “Dilbert is an offbeat sugary substance that helps the corporate medicine go down. The Dilbert phenomenon accepts and perversely eggs on many negative aspects of corporate existence as unchangeable facets of human natures (“immutable”). As Xerox managers [who used Dilbert in employee handbooks] grasped, Dilbert speaks to some very real work experiences while simultaneously eroding inclinations to fight for better working conditions[5].”

1.1.6 “WTO Proposes Slavery for Africa”

The Yes Men identity correct The World Trade Organization, proposing slavery for Africa, arguing that “Full, untrammelled stewardry is the best available solution to African poverty, and the inevitable result of free-market theory," and that “the market in Third-World humans will ‘empower’ caring First Worlders to help them.”

1.1.7 “The Myth of Poverty”

The executive summary of “The Myth of Widespread American Poverty” by Robert Rector (Heritage Foundation, 1998).


Additional Resources/Notes


1.1.8 Taxes Discriminate Against the Rich

Kevin A. Richardson II’s (Beverly, MA) Letter to the Editor, The Boston Globe, March 4, 2009:

Proposals show bias against the wealthy

Tom Cosgrove (”The 2 percent solution,” Op-ed, March 2) advocates changing our state constitution so that those who make at least $250,000 could be taxed a little more in tough times. He writes, “The constitution currently mandates that the state tax all citizens, regardless of income, at the same rate,” and argues that progressive taxation is “the fairest way to distribute the tax burden.” Since the wealthiest are a quiet minority, they are being discriminated against. We can call it wealth redistribution, or proclaim it is fair, but at its core it is discrimination. What would happen if we proposed a higher tax for women, or blacks, or gays? The outcry would be enormous. Just because someone makes more money doesn’t mean they should pay more than those who don’t. Do they drive more on the roads or use the educational system more?

The wealthy minority who are being targeted by President Obama’s proposed budget are being treated unfairly. There will be a backlash. Charitable spending, entrepreneurialism, and small-business hiring will be affected.

Call these moves that Cosgrove wants for the state and the president wants to implement for the country what they are: discrimination in its purest form.

For me, this letter is really a treasure, in a very sad way, illustrating how we are living in a world that is it’s own satire. I was totally not sure if it was meant to be real or satire. I asked friends at the popular economics magazine, Dollars and Sense, and at the progressive economics think-tank United for a Fair Economy, and they thought it was real. And, the person at the Globe’s Letter to the Editor department confirmed that his “…understanding was that this letter was not meant to be satirical.”

1.1.9 The Sub-Prime Crisis

Bird and Fortune—Subprime Crisis[8]

1.2 On Racism

1.2.1 Native Americans

Native American novelist Sheman Alexie on The Colbert Report

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sherman Alexie
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorFox News

1.2.2 “Obama Waffles”

Photos of “Obama Waffles:” the front of the ‘box’ and the back of the ‘box’ and Chip Berlet’s (2008) critical review, with more photos: “Bigoted Obama Waffles; Bigoted Values Voter Conference”.

1.2.3 NY Post Cartoon: Obama as Dead Chimpanzee

The New York Post cartoon about President Obama (February 18, 2009) that generated an enormous controversy, and was removed from the New York Post’s website, as you can see by scrolling down and trying to enter the date. You can see that cartoon, and get many people’s perspectives on it, in the Huffington Post.


Additional Resources/Notes


1.2.4 The Onion: Obama as Elitist

The Onion News Network: “Portrayal of Obama as Elitist Hailed as Step forward for African Americans”

1.2.5 “Ask a Mexican”

An Orange County, CA newspaper column, written by Gustavo Arellano: “Ask a Mexican” and a Colorlines article interviewing Arellano.

1.2.6 Sacha Baron Cohen: Borat and Bruno

Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat, “Throw the Jew Down the Well!!”


Additional Resources/Notes


1.2.7 Damali Ayo: “Rent a Negro”

A website artist Damali Ayo created to explore “the commodification of race relations in our culture. She calls her work "Now Art," defining this “as being immediate, participatory, and engaging social issues.” She contends that “artists and comedians have a special task to push our culture to understand itself in order to change itself.”

1.2.8 South Africa: “Apartheid—The Lighter Side”

Some examples from South African newspapers during apartheid, collected in Apartheid: The Lighter Side[10]:

1.3 Uses and Abuses of Satire

In addition to the comments on the effectiveness and offensiveness of satire in a number of examples cited above, the following quotes and resources can be used to provoke discussion and debate on this issue.

1.3.1 Various Opinions

Salon: It is ironic, then, that the outlet you find to be the most successful as a media watchdog is the one that has become the most mainstream: “The Daily Show.” How is it that “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” have become such huge phenomena but have still kept to what you see as the spirit of the “new blue media?”

Hamm: Because they are asking the questions that the mainstream political media won’t. They are best seen as ongoing works of media criticism. The very fact that Colbert playing a faux Bill O’Reilly now wields nearly as much influence throughout the political media as the actual Bill O’Reilly shows that there has begun to be a successful counter-attack against the right-wing noise machine.

1.3.2 Grover Sales on Lenny Bruce

Grover Sales’ (Belvedere, CA)[22]:

Dagos & Niggers & Kikes Oh My

In his review of The Official Politically Correct Dictionary and Handbook [“The Devil’s Dictionaries,” Oct. 12], Richard Lingeman rightly observed that “sometimes a sense of humor is the best revenge of the oppressed,” citing Dick Gregory’s autobiography Nigger. I have reason to believe the book’s title was prompted by Lenny Bruce.

On night in 1962, Dick Gregory and I walked in on Lenny Bruce in mid-performance in a San Francisco nightclub. Spotting Gregory, Lenny inquired, after a long, unsettling pause: “Are there any niggers here tonight?” Gregory, who had never caught Bruce’s act, stiffened, along with the rest of the audience. Thirty years ago this “politically incorrect” taboo had never been heard in a white cabaret. Bruce began a mock soliloquy: “Omygod! Did you hear what he said! ‘Are there any niggers here tonight?’ Is that rank! Is that cruel! Is that a cheap way to get laughs? Well, I see a couple of niggers at the bar talking to the guinea owner, and next to them are a couple of lace-curtain micks, two wops, one square-head, three greaseballs, two kikes, one hunky-funky boogie, a couple of gooks, one sheeny, one dago----Bid ‘em up! I pass with three dykes, four kikes and eight niggers!”

The frozen audience gave way to hysteria, the sweet laughter of liberation only Lenny Bruce could unloose. “Now why have I done this? Was this only for shock value? Well, if all the niggers started calling each other ‘nigger’—not only among themselves, which they do anyway, but among the ofays, the whites—and if President Kennedy got on television and said: ‘I’m considering appointing two or three of the top niggers in the country to my Cabinet,’ in six months ‘nigger’ wouldn’t mean any more than ‘goodnight,’ ‘God bless you,’ or ‘I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God’—and when that beautiful day comes, you’ll never have another 6-year old nigger kid come home from school crying because somebody called him a nigger.”

Gregory turned to me: “This man is the eighth wonder of the world. You have to go back to Mark Twain to find anything like him. And if they don’t kill him or throw him in jail, he’s liable to shake up this whole fuckin’ country.” The next year saw the publication of Gregory’s Nigger, dedicated to “Dear Momma—wherever you are, if you ever hear the work ‘nigger’ again, remember they are advertising my book.”

Like Aristophanes, Rabelais, Swift, Voltaire and Mencken, Lenny Bruce and Dick Gregory knew that satire and soul-restoring laughter are the best weapons against stupid ideas, wrong ideas, dangerous ideas. Legislating against “fighting words” can only aggravate the ills some misguided liberal activists are trying to cure.

1.3.3 Satire as Racial Backlash Against Asian-Americans

In “Satire as Racial Backlash Against Asian-Americans”, Sharon S. Lee argues that satires about Asian-Americans such as “Princeton University is racist against me, I mean, non-whites” published in college student newspapers “reveal volumes about racial relationships, tensions, and perceptions of Asian American students as all being, in some way, the same -- foreigners, math and science nerds, and all around different from the regular average college student.” She claims that these satires are a way to “raise the question of…what they mean, and how they can inform a better understanding of the experiences and needs of Asian American college students—no longer as "objects" of satire but subjects of their own lives.”

1.4 Endnotes

  1. ↑ There are a number of general quotes about the uses and abuses of satire at the end of this section. Here is a link that specifically discusses this satire.

1.5 References

  1. ↑ cited in Daily Kos
  2. ↑ July 1, 2009
  3. ↑ Rethinking Schools, 2003, p.13
  4. ↑ Polanyi, first published 1944
  5. ↑ Solomon, 1997 p. 46
  6. ↑ Pollitt, 1998
  7. ↑ Pollitt, 1996
  8. ↑ “The South Bank Show,” London, February 14, 2008.
  9. ↑ Barry Blitt, July 21, 2008
  10. ↑ Maclennan, 1990
  11. ↑ Mr. R. V. Villiers, Mayor of Beaufort West, Cape Times, February 1, 1962
  12. ↑ Cape Times, 1962
  13. ↑ Cape Times, December 18, 1964
  14. ↑ Cape Times, January 27, 1990
  15. ↑ Minister of Finance, Mr. Barend du Plessis, Parliament, February 14, 1990
  16. ↑ quoted in Nichols, 2002, p. 13
  17. ↑ The Editors, The Nation, 1994 and Todd, 1994
  18. ↑ Quart, 2009
  19. ↑ quoted in VanDeCarr, 2004, p.28
  20. ↑ quoted in VanDeCarr, 2004, p.28
  21. ↑ Woodside, 2001
  22. ↑ Letter to the Editor, The Nation, December 7, 1992
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Table of Contents

Part One: Learning Activities Before Seeing The Film

Part Two: Learning Activities After Seeing The Film

 
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