VISUAL SATIRE ACROSS CULTURES AND DIGITAL SPACES By Dr KW Chen AGENDA 1.Theoretical Foundations of Visual Satire 2.Historical Evolution of Visual Satire 3.Visual Satire in the Contemporary World 4.Ethical Considerations and Contemporary Issues 5.Conclusion and Interactive Discussion LET’S VOTE A qr code with a few squares Description automatically generated https://strawpoll.com/e6Z28YvEEnN A person holding an object to her head Description automatically generated 1 2 A collage of cartoon characters Description automatically generated Cartoon of a spongebob sitting on a chair Description automatically generated A collage of a person Description automatically generated 3 4 A group of people dancing Description automatically generated A group of people walking down a street Description automatically generated 5 6 A stuffed toy next to a fruit Description automatically generated A person holding cards and a can of soda Description automatically generated 7 8 A cartoon of a yellow animal Description automatically generated A group of people walking down a street Description automatically generated 9 10 A person with red hair and white gloves wiping his forehead Description automatically generated 11 12 A white carton with a white label Description automatically generated 13 14 A group of children in a pool Description automatically generated 15 16 A person in a red coat Description automatically generated 17 18 A cat sitting at a table reading a newspaper Description automatically generated A group of people walking down a street Description automatically generated 19 20 21 A group of people walking down a street Description automatically generated YOUR FAVOURITE MEME •Why do you like it? • •It's funny. •It's sarcastic. •It's relatable. •It's clever. •It's absurd or surreal. • •It makes a social or political statement. •It's visually appealing or creative. •It's nostalgic or references pop culture. •It's wholesome or uplifting. •It's edgy or provocative. • DISCUSS Wood human figure DISCUSS •Meme makers: •Why did you do the task? •How do you feel? •What were your thoughts? Visual Satire Across Cultures and Digital Spaces - Dr KW Chen THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF VISUAL SATIRE •Understanding Visual Satire Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries Buildings In The Old Town Of Brno, Czech Republic Stock Photo, Picture and Royalty Free Image. Image 86256341. Why Use Billboards to Advertise? | Importance of Billboard Advertising VISUALS IN EVERYDAY LIFE •Architecture •Movies •Social media (YT/Tiktok/IG) •Fashion design •Advertising Billboards/newspapers/magazines •Street Art and Murals •Logo & Packaging Designs •Traffic Signs and Signals •Information boards •Cinema Posters •Book Covers •Café Chalkboards •Smartphone Apps •Political Campaign Posters •Digital Screens in Public Spaces •Product Displays in Stores •Graffiti and Street Tags •Public Event Posters Mysterious 'Banksy' artwork appears on brick wall in Nottingham | London Evening Standard Visual Satire Across Cultures and Digital Spaces - Dr KW Chen WHY IS VISUAL RESEARCH IMPORTANT BANKS, M. (2018). USING VISUAL DATA IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. USING VISUAL DATA IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, 1-192. Ocularcentrism •A perceptual and epistemological bias ranking vision over other senses in Western cultures. Seeing is believing Ill believe it when I see it with my own eyes See for yourself In the minds eye I see (I understand) See what I mean? Source: Oxford Dictionary of Media and Communication) French philosopher Jacques *Derridas term, now widely used, for what he sees as a pervasive form of idealism in language philosophy which assumes that neither speech nor writing can be thought without first of all presupposing an abstract and idealized notion of language which actual speech and writing imperfectly represent. Derived from the Greek word logos meaning word in the sense of the word of God or some other authority, logocentrism names a tendency in philosophy to suppose that there must be some kind of ultimate authority guaranteeing the meaning of language. When ... ... WHAT IS SATIRE? •Discussion: •Write down what you think. •Show your answer to neighbour. Discuss: agree? Disagree? Satire | by Team Content Festember | The Festember Blog | Medium Sad Tire HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Ilustrace „A time machine. A mystical clock standing in the middle of nowhere. A portal to another epoch“ ze služby Stock | Adobe Stock Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Caricature of the Devil collecting for indulgences Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF VISUAL SATIRE •Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and Greco-Roman graffiti used for political mockery date back over 4000 years. •The Protestant Reformation utilized woodcuts and metal engravings for satire, notably in Martin Luther's pamphlets. •The Industrial Revolution, with technological advances and urbanization, boosted newspapers and introduced cartoons as political critique tools. •European "golden ages" of caricature, particularly in Georgian England and nineteenth-century France, saw significant contributions to the art form. •In America, Thomas Nast became synonymous with political cartooning in the post-Civil War era. Thomas Nast - Wikipedia Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries CONTEMPORARY Banksy | Time CONTEMPORARY Top 10 most annoying things - AngMohDan Sam Lo CONTEMPORARY Ukraine-Russia Conflict Memes for People Who Prefer to Laugh In the Midst of Crisis - Memebase - Funny Memes CONTEMPORARY Ukraine-Russia Conflict Memes for People Who Prefer to Laugh In the Midst of Crisis - Memebase - Funny Memes CONTEMPORARY Ukraine-Russia Conflict Memes for People Who Prefer to Laugh In the Midst of Crisis - Memebase - Funny Memes CONTEMPORARY •Monty Python •Saturday Night Live •South Park •The Simpsons •Late Show with David Letterman •Tonight’s Show •Spitting Image •Colbert Report • • Gray, J., Jones, J. P., & Thompson, E. (Eds.). (2009). Satire TV: Politics and comedy in the post-network era. nyu Press. South Park Spoof in The Simpsons - YouTube Late Show with David Letterman - Wikisimpsons, the Simpsons Wiki CONTEMPORARY Colbert Report Audience 1 photo added SATIRE’S WESTERN ROOTS THE TRADITIONAL FOOL The traditional fool in political satire plays a crucial role as a comedic and often subversive figure who uses humor to critique and comment on political matters. Fools have a long history in various cultures, serving as jesters, clowns, or comedic characters who use satire to challenge authority, question social norms, and highlight the absurdities of political situations. The fools importance lies in their ability to speak truth to power in a way that might be more palatable to audiences. Through humor, they can address sensitive or controversial topics, providing a critique of political figures, policies, and societal issues. Fools often employ wit, irony, and exaggeration to make their points, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of governance and human behavior. In literature, theater, and other forms of artistic expression, the traditional fool serves as a valuable tool for social commentary, encouraging reflection and critical thinking. By adopting a guise of foolishness, these characters can convey insightful observations and prompt audiences to reconsider prevailing narratives and power dynamics. The enduring presence of the traditional fool in political satire attests to the timeless effectiveness of humor as a means of engaging with and challenging authority. •In literature, theater, and art •“Fools” provide social commentary, encouraging reflection •“foolishness” allows them to convey insightful observations •prompt audiences to reconsider prevailing narratives and power dynamics SATIRE’S WESTERN ROOTS THE TRADITIONAL FOOL The traditional fool in political satire plays a crucial role as a comedic and often subversive figure who uses humor to critique and comment on political matters. Fools have a long history in various cultures, serving as jesters, clowns, or comedic characters who use satire to challenge authority, question social norms, and highlight the absurdities of political situations. The fools importance lies in their ability to speak truth to power in a way that might be more palatable to audiences. Through humor, they can address sensitive or controversial topics, providing a critique of political figures, policies, and societal issues. Fools often employ wit, irony, and exaggeration to make their points, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of governance and human behavior. In literature, theater, and other forms of artistic expression, the traditional fool serves as a valuable tool for social commentary, encouraging reflection and critical thinking. By adopting a guise of foolishness, these characters can convey insightful observations and prompt audiences to reconsider prevailing narratives and power dynamics. The enduring presence of the traditional fool in political satire attests to the timeless effectiveness of humor as a means of engaging with and challenging authority. All satire should carry a key theme about human behavior or societal norms. “SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER” VISUAL + SATIRE SUMMARY Visual media (pictures, drawings, photos, or artwork) •Centres on critique, and social commentary •Uses humour, exaggeration, parody, irony, and symbolism •Conveys complex socio-political issues in an accessible and memorable way •Encourages reflection and discussion on topical issues Often focus on aesthetics or emotional expression DOES SATIRE HAVE TO BE FUNNY? •Let’s vote Laughter is the Best Medicine. The day may not come when a doctor… | by Rida Younis | Medium Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries DOES SATIRE HAVE TO BE FUNNY? •No, but it helps. •Engages Audiences •Promotes Reflection and Discussion •Reduces Counterarguing •Enhances Memorability •Facilitates Emotional Connection LaMarre, H. L., Landreville, K. D., Young, D., & Gilkerson, N. (2016). Humor works in funny ways: Examining satirical tone as a key determinant in political humor message processing. In Entertainment Media and Politics (pp. 98-121). Routledge. TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HUMOUR Mulder, M. P., & Nijholt, A. (2002). Humour research: State of the art (pp. 7-11). Centre for Telematics and Information Technology, University of Twente Trigger/Pivot/ Punch-line Set-up Script 1 BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English / Laughing could kill you LET’S TEST IT 1.My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down. 2.I went to buy some camo pants but couldn’t find any. 3.I failed math so many times at school, I can’t even count. 4.I was wondering why the frisbee kept getting bigger and bigger, but then it hit me. 5.I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather … not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. 6.I stayed up all night wondering where the sun went. Then it dawned on me. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS A decade after Prophet Muhammad cartoons, tension over free expression endures | PBS NewsHour Consider talking about: •Through the 19th century •20th and 21st centuries ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS REFLECTION •What is visual satire's significance as a cultural critique form? •What is visual satire's evolving role and engage in a dialogue about its societal impact?