SATIRE---GET ON THE CAIN TRAIN!!!

Wikipedia defines satire as, “literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.[1] Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon” (2011). 

Saturday Night Live – Weekend Updates is a great example a genre that practices satire. 

Saturday Night Live recently did a satire or ‘spoof’ on the skeletons in Herman Cain’s closet that have come out to haunt him.  Before you look at the clip from SNL, first have a look at Cain’s political home page.  (Pay close attention to the train reference).

This second video is a Saturday Night Live ‘spoof’ of several interviews that republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, participated in.  The original interviews include Cain denying alleged extramarital affairs, denying having a mistress, denying alleged sexual harassment of coworkers and subordinates.  While the incidents themselves are likely very hurtful to Mrs. Cain, we laugh.  We know that the incidents have likely killed Cain’s campaign, but we laugh. The Wikipedia definition above describes satire as “…a weapon intent on shaming individuals” (2011).  In this case that is absolutely true.  The spoof is funny because the actors say what most of us are thinking. “Herman Cain, You are a hypocrite!”  His behavior contradicts so many of the strong conservative opinions that he has peddled during his campaign.   In my opinion, this video is screaming at Herman Cain to stop all the nonsense, own up to what you did, and stop treating the American public like we are blind FOOLS!   

Enjoy the video!

SNL -HERMAN CAIN SPOOF

References

HermanCain.com. (2011) Cain 2012. Retrieved on line from: http://www.hermancain.com/meet_herman

NBC.com. (2011) Saturday Night Live, Weekend Update. Retrieved on line from:  http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-herman-cain/1371746

Wikipedia. (2011).  Satire. Retrieved on line from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire