Examples Of Satire In Blazing Saddles

Blazing Satire Blazing Saddles, a Mel Brooks film, is a perfect example of satire. The main object of the movie is to make fun of the western genre of films. Mel Brooks is notorious for his satires of many different films and film genres, and Blazing Saddles follows true to form as, in some opinions, one of the funniest films made. Many of the film's ideas and problems are common in most westerns, although Mel Brooks has added a twist. In addition, the movie pokes fun at a more modern theme, racism. Many westerns contain some of the same elements. For instance, almost every western ever made involves a sheriff. He is usually the peace-keeper of a small town overrun by outlaws and cowboys, which he eventually chases out of
His name is Hedey Lamar, but everyone refers to him as Hedley, which infuriates him. Typically, villains are not made fun of, or crossed. Hedey employs a huge army of bandits ranging from cowboys, to Germans, to Middle Eastern terrorists. A parody since many of the bandits would not be able to come to the United States in the 1800's. Furthermore, the lack of intelligence of the bandits is over-exaggerated. An example illustrating their low intelligence is when Bart, the sheriff, places a dime toll- booth in the middle of the prairie, hoping to slow them. When the army gallops to it on their way to destroy Rock Ridge, they stop and exclaim, "Somebody's gotta go back and get a sh*t load of dimes!" No person, in an actual western, would stop; they would simply ride around the building and carry on with business. Another example is, when the strongest thug, Mongo, comes into town, a bomb, made to look like a "candy-gram" is the only thing that can stop him. Just before the bomb explodes Mongo cheers, "Mongo like candy!" The "candy-gram" and the quote imply that Mongo
First, the sheriff is black. There are never any African-Americans in older westerns, especially sheriffs. Second, the word nigger is used thousands of times throughout the movie. Furthermore, during one seen, a Chinese railroad worker passes out from exhaustion. The foreman yells, "Dock that chink a days pay for nappin' on the job." The word "chink" is a derogatory name for Oriental people. Another example of the lighter side of racism occurs while the Rock Ridge citizens are trying to save their town. Bart persuades his railroad worker companions to help in return for a place to live; however, the townsfolk decline, then accept as long as no "Irishmen" move in. Later they reluctantly accept all the workers. Jokes of racism are evident throughout the