Satire has long been a tool of social and political commentary. Many contemporary critics point to the Greek playwright Aristophanes as the most famous of the early satirists. He used his considerable skills to attack powerful figures in fifth-century BC Greek society, including Cleon, a statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War, who was depicted by Aristophanes as a war-mongering demagogue.
Although satire frequently includes sarcasm and irony, it is not necessarily comedic. The intent is to hold up a funhouse mirror to the human race, to mock our foibles and follies, to ridicule those in power who abuse their privilege. One well-known example of satire is Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” in which Swift suggests solving the poverty problem in Ireland by using Irish children as a food source. Modern examples are the digital news/humor site, The Onion, and Jon Stewart’s "The Daily Show."
The Dead Guy is a satirical play by Eric Coble that confronts primitive bloodlust, greed and the irony inherent in the concept of a reality show. A man is given a million dollars to spend, on the condition that at the end of one week, he will consent to give up his life by whichever means the television audience chooses through popular vote. The Dead Guy is on stage at Wichita State University, beginning February 19th.
