Blog Post #15: Satire

1. What does the word satire mean to you?

To me, satire is making a mockery of something. It can also be a way of criticizing something through the use of humor or sarcasm.

2. What are the values sought to be promoted in this film? Why?

Two values that are promoted in the film are contraception and women’s rights. One scene in the movie ridicules Catholics for not using condoms and having too many children. It shows a man telling his kids that he has to get rid of them because there are too many of them. It doesn’t directly state it, but by using sarcasm and portraying the Catholics who don’t use contraception badly, it’s saying that contraception should be used. Another scene shows a woman giving birth and asking the doctors what she should do. The doctors respond by telling her that she shouldn’t do anything because she isn’t qualified. At one time this was a common viewpoint held towards women. By making this joke and mocking women’s rights, the movie is somehow promoting them and expressing a feminist viewpoint.  

3. What is the point behind each of the following "Only in America" jokes? Pick one joke below and discuss the point behind it and why this ends to be an “Only in America” joke.

“Only in America” jokes are ironic jokes about American life. “Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.” This joke explains Americans’ love for food, especially fast-food, and how it seems to trump even medical emergencies and health. It’s ironic because ambulances are meant to arrive to emergencies quickly, but pizzas can be delivered even faster. It just shows how important food can be to Americans.