How to Write and Teach Satire: The Art of Absurdity
Writing the Satire
Absurdity is satires wild card – it tosses logic out the window. Twist a rule – “no gum at school” – into: “Principal bans chew, hires llamas – wools educational.” Target a glitch – an app flops: “It crashed so bad, my toaster sued it.” Absurdity apes real madness – like red tapes snarl. Kafkas “Trial” turns courts into farce. Keep it tethered – wild, not aimless. Try a chore: “Mop rebelled, flooded town” – and let the nuttiness show lifes quirks. Practice spins dull into daft, landing laughs with a twist.
Teaching the Technique
Teach absurdity by flipping norms. Prompt: “dress code” – twist: “Shoes now jetpacks, socks banned.” Show Pythons “Dead Parrot” – shop lunacy – and ask: whats the root? (death, denial). Assign “cat nap” – push it: “Kitty slept, woke as mayor.” Discuss zing: reality in the nutty. Warn off pure chaos – anchor it. Play a chain: each adds a wild turn, best absurdity wins. Absurditys a circus – teach them to juggle with flair.
