Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Onion: Educational Tool

Today my highest-level students encountered the word "satire" in the course of their lesson. Who better to explain the concept than America's Finest News Source?

Old, Grizzled Third-Party Candidate May Steal Support From McCain.

One of my students described it as "the coolest class video ever." Lord only knows what she'd have thought if I showed her my favorite Onion video.

Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of S*** That Doesn't F***ing Work

1 comment:

Blastcrab said...

The Onion is a good resource for defining satire. Swift's "A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR PREVENTING THE CHILDREN OF POOR PEOPLE IN IRELAND FROM BEING A BURDEN TO THEIR PARENTS OR COUNTRY, AND FOR MAKING THEM BENEFICIAL TO THE PUBLIC" drives the concept home, and retains the power to shock.

http://www.online-literature.com/swift/947/

It might also get you fired. Picture yourself trying to explain the satiric intent behind advocacy of cannibalism to non-Westerners.