The Importance Of Satire

“Good satire comes from anger. It comes from a sense of injustice, that there are wrongs in the world that need to be fixed. And what better place to get that well of venom and outrage boiling than a newsroom, because you're on the front lines” (Hiaasen). This literary work is used to expose the follies of its subject using techniques such as mockery, sarcasm, innuendo, and other witticisms. Satirists use this to point out a fault in society that they feel should be morally corrected. In order to correctly identify whether or not something is sarcasm or satire, you have to check for five attributes: object of satire, underlying message, type of irony, type of satire, and other literary techniques that the author used to get their point across (Hersker). Satire is a form of art that has been used since the beginning of time and has become the main way people criticize culture. Thanks to technological advancements of today, satire is exposed
Since, satire has become so prominent in the present-day lives of many, whether it be a listicle, news paper article, or a skit from a late night show, it is important to understand when and how it is being used. The college application process is one most go through in a lifetime, nerve racking and disappointing, some see a problem in the process that should be called attention to. Satirists at The Onion draw readers to the idea that college applicants stress more on trying to stand out than actually highlighting their abilities. The listicle includes sarcasm and hyperbole to convey their message, for example: “Boring last names will put your application on the bottom of the pile. Try using one like ‘Baggins’, ‘Gamgee,’ or ‘Took’ for extra pizzazz”("The Onion's Tips For Applying To College").