Satire

[bunsen_h]

On his Everything Possible - Fred Small in Concert recording, Small attributes to Tom Paxton: "Tom Paxton said it best. Some folks you don't have to satirize; you just quote 'em." (I've asked both Small and Paxton about this quotation. Paxton doesn't recall having said such a thing, nor does Small remember the circumstances.)

But in my experience, some people and positions are very difficult to satirize... or at least very frustrating. Because what I regard as grotesque, ridiculous exaggeration, some of their supporters take to be enthusiastic agreement. And then those supporters take things even farther. My most bizarre imaginings don't — can't — go as far as what some people take to be absolute truth.

And, of course, I don't want to be perceived as being on their side.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

"Just quoting" only works with people who already see the folly in a position. It lets the person quoting be smug; they say, "Look, that person said that. Need I say more?"

Effective satire is a difficult thing, even with an outrageous target. Maybe even especially with an outrageous target, since you have to make the absurdity more obvious. Good satire gets people to think about something in a new way.

[beable]

That Tom Paxton quote is the main thing that Ambiviolent and I retain from that album.

Although I do agree that it's less an issue when the thing being quoted is obviously (and humorously) ludicrous (e.g. fugitive amphibians) rather than directly harmful to other people.

[gorgeousgary]

Small's hilarious parody (albeit to an original tune) of the Marine Corps Hymn from the same album has also stuck with me.