Last week's class discussion focused on Swiftian Satire. After discussing Irony and its off shoots we discussed Jonathan Swift's, A Modest Proposal. This 283 year old essay was ground breaking in its day.
This form of persuasion adopts a ludicrous position and takes it to its logical and absurd conclusion, stopping at some point for the voice of reason.
"I can think of no one
objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless
it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much
lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one
principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will
observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of
Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be
upon Earth.
Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our
absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor
houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of
utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign
luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and
gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and
temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from
Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our
animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were
murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being
a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing:
Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards
their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and
skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to
buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact
upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet
be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and
earnestly invited to it."
Here's a modern example of a Swift kick in an institutional ass:
Clayton Bigsby recoded from a macbook camera.
I thought about writing a satirical essay for the Student Union campaign as my creative piece. Our fliers cause enough of a stir. I'm not sure what I have to say would best benefit the Student Union's mission. However, Antioch University claims to be a student centered institution with an extremely top heavy pyramidal structure. Who do you think is at the bottom? The students who PAY to attend. We always hear there is no money for projects or supplies yet some administrators make nearly half a million a year. What about that mission statement of working toward social, economic, and environmental justice? Ridiculous.
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