Satire is a literary mode that uses wit, irony, ridicule, and exaggeration to critique and expose foolishness, corruption, or vice in individuals, institutions, or society at large. Unlike pure comedy, which aims mainly to entertain, satire always has a target and a point. It holds up a funhouse mirror to reality - distorting just enough to make us see what we have been ignoring. Satire has a long and fierce history, from Aristophanes mocking Athenian politicians to modern novels skewering corporate culture.
Satire gives you a way to write about serious issues without being preachy. Humor disarms the reader, making them more receptive to critique than a lecture ever could. Learning to write satire teaches you precision - you have to understand your target deeply enough to distort it meaningfully, and you have to control your tone so the humor serves the argument rather than undermining it.
Orwell uses a barnyard revolution to satirize the Soviet Union and the corruption of revolutionary ideals - simple enough for anyone to understand, sharp enough to sting.
Heller satirizes the absurdity of war and bureaucracy through circular logic and darkly comic situations that are funny and horrifying in equal measure.
Ellis satirizes 1980s consumerism and Wall Street culture by making his narrator a serial killer who is more invested in business cards and restaurant reservations than in human connection.
This film satirizes corporate exploitation and racial capitalism with increasingly surreal plot turns that force the audience to confront uncomfortable truths.
Satire needs a target and an argument. If you strip away the humor and there is nothing left to say, you have written comedy, not satire.
Trust your reader. If the satire is well-crafted, the critique will land without you explaining it. The moment you spell out the moral, the satire dies.
Satire works best when it targets power, privilege, and hypocrisy - not vulnerable people. Consider who your target is and whether the critique is fair.
Pick something in daily life that frustrates or baffles you - social media habits, office politics, dating apps, college applications. Write a one-page piece that describes this thing as though it is completely normal and reasonable, using a calm, matter-of-fact tone. Let the absurdity speak for itself without ever breaking character.