Diversity and Satire

The first textbook to explore diversity by demonstrating how satirical content can advance the discussion and change attitudes.

Engaging in diversity and promoting inclusion means working to remove institutional inequities and actively assist those who have suffered from these inequities. In our changing media and cultural environment, satire has emerged as an increasingly popular approach for promoting diversity and inclusion. Effective satire highlights the absurdity of marginalisation processes, but misinterpretation can potentially reinforce historical power dynamics and perpetuate marginalisation.

Diversity and Satire examines how satire in both traditional media and new spaces reinforces or disrupts issues of marginalisation in the United States. Critically analysing many different forms of satire, this innovative textbook helps students understand what makes effective satire, describe the value of satirical content to others, and recognise how satirical artefacts advance or hinder efforts to diversify institutions.

Beginning with an introduction to satire and how it can drive conversations about diversity, the text addresses how satire can be used to address historical discriminatory practices. Each chapter features satirical artefacts that contextualise the material as well as practical advice and tips to consider when engaging with satirical content and distinguishing satire. This textbook also:

• Illustrates the difference between satire that disrupts discourse and content that merely reinforces stereotypes
• Explains the historical relevance of satire and its importance in addressing the marginalisation of certain populations
• Describes the nature of satire in the changing media and cultural environment of the twenty-first century
• Features engaging case studies drawn from a wide variety of satirical sources such as The Daily Show (with Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah), The Onion, Saturday Night Live, The Hunger Games, Weird Al Yankovic, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, Sinclair Lewis, MTV, and College Humor

Based on the author’s popular course at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Diversity and Satire: Laughing at Processes of Marginalisation is an important resource for students, instructors, and general readers looking to explore disparities related to Class, Gender, Sexuality, and Race through the lens of satire.