Extraordinary Crisis
“How to Write about Africa.” By Binyavanga Wainaina
The article How to Write about Africa is a satire because it discusses the topic of the stereotype programmed in our brains, that Africans are poor tribal people who live in a desolate land where death and war is very common. The article includes hyperbole and verbal irony such as, “…; monkey-brain is an African’s cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grub and all manner of game meat…,” which makes it seem as though Africans eat exotic food because they live with wild animals and must learn to appreciate the food they receive since they are unable to eat such foods as rice, beef, and other foods that can be described as ‘normal’. There is also the exaggeration of dead bodies lying around that are rotted or naked along with the playing of tribal songs/ music and the hunting of wild animals. There is also situational irony, “…It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates” the basic idea of this is tribal people, although there is wild animals there are also airports, houses, open markets (like a American Flea Market), and people can even afford to have servants work for them. When reading this article it reminded me of The Danger of a Single Story, how she described her life in Africa and when she went to college in America her roommate thought she listened to tribal music with other stereotypical ideas.
“Miss Kindergarten America” by Carol Schacter
The topic of Miss Kindergarten America discusses the serious issue of pageant moms making their daughters grow up too fast in order to win the competition, which makes it satirical. The article contains situational irony, "Miss Kindergarten America of 1984 hitched up her garters and teetered back to her hotel room overlooking the boardwalk..." as I read this sentence I did not expect her to act like a twenty-something-year-old woman at the beginning of the article, but at the end of the she seemed like nothing but a little girl especially when she got in bed with her stuffed animals/dolls, "...With her mangy teddy bear, and old plush elephant, and a somewhat soiled rag doll cuddled fiercly in her arms, she fell sound asleep." she somehow regained her youthful innocence. I also felt that the article contained a parody of Barbie and her so many different versions of her life such as, Barbie and the pink shoes or Princess Charm School,"... "The Mating Game." There was Grandma Barbie and Grandpa Kin and Daughter Sally and Son-in-Law Rob and their daughter Lolly and her boyfriend Tom. Sally come equipped with snap-on bosoms and snap-on tummies and a yummy wardrobe of maternity clothes so you could pretend she was in all different "months."" The article in all entirety feels like a understatement (also called litotes), for example, the younger kids taking cigarette breaks, wearing a garter, a little girl wearing a girdle which could possibly lead to her becoming anorexic or bulimia in her later years, since her mother and her are worried about her size at her age.
“How School Student’s Demand War’s In Easier-To-Find Countries”
This article is satirical because it discusses two serious topics war and education, they start off by using juxtaposition with education and war which typically do not go together, but also the idea of fighting/rebelling can be put alongside education when fighting for rights. For example, in the Middle East back during the time when men controlled all aspects of life women were not well- educated but now they are even smarter than most of the men in the Middle East because they used what knowledge they had to gain rights. The article also displays verbal irony, “A delegation of American high school students today demanded the United States stop waging war in obscure nations such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and instead attack places they've actually heard of, such as France, Australia, and Austria…” they do not actually mean they want war, they would just like to know about some of the states they have actually head of and how they barely know where they are. Another example of this is, “..."I totally support our soldiers and all that, but I am seriously failing both geography and social studies because I keep getting asked to find Croatia or Yemvrekia, or whatever bizarre-o country we send troops to,"…” which discusses the topic of how kids these days can barely remember the names of all fifty states without making it even harder by having to remember the name of over a hundred more states in Europe, China, South America, Africa, and etc. This satire also uses great examples to help further its point for the topic.
“Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby” by Donald Barthelme
I believe this article is not satirical albeit it discusses a serious topic of death it does not seem satirical because it is quite plain and does not even tell the reader if Colby dies, it also makes me wonder why Colby is going along with the plan of being hanged. The article also sounds like a formal party at the end, “… Everything went off very smoothly on the day of the event (the music Colby finally picked was standard stuff, Elgar, and it was played very well by Howard and his boys). It didn't rain, the event was well attended, and we ...” it just goes on and on about discussing the details of what music will play, where he should be hanged from, what he should stand on, and things for the guest. I believe that if it had added some elements of humor to the article it could be a satire.
The article How to Write about Africa is a satire because it discusses the topic of the stereotype programmed in our brains, that Africans are poor tribal people who live in a desolate land where death and war is very common. The article includes hyperbole and verbal irony such as, “…; monkey-brain is an African’s cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grub and all manner of game meat…,” which makes it seem as though Africans eat exotic food because they live with wild animals and must learn to appreciate the food they receive since they are unable to eat such foods as rice, beef, and other foods that can be described as ‘normal’. There is also the exaggeration of dead bodies lying around that are rotted or naked along with the playing of tribal songs/ music and the hunting of wild animals. There is also situational irony, “…It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates” the basic idea of this is tribal people, although there is wild animals there are also airports, houses, open markets (like a American Flea Market), and people can even afford to have servants work for them. When reading this article it reminded me of The Danger of a Single Story, how she described her life in Africa and when she went to college in America her roommate thought she listened to tribal music with other stereotypical ideas.
“Miss Kindergarten America” by Carol Schacter
The topic of Miss Kindergarten America discusses the serious issue of pageant moms making their daughters grow up too fast in order to win the competition, which makes it satirical. The article contains situational irony, "Miss Kindergarten America of 1984 hitched up her garters and teetered back to her hotel room overlooking the boardwalk..." as I read this sentence I did not expect her to act like a twenty-something-year-old woman at the beginning of the article, but at the end of the she seemed like nothing but a little girl especially when she got in bed with her stuffed animals/dolls, "...With her mangy teddy bear, and old plush elephant, and a somewhat soiled rag doll cuddled fiercly in her arms, she fell sound asleep." she somehow regained her youthful innocence. I also felt that the article contained a parody of Barbie and her so many different versions of her life such as, Barbie and the pink shoes or Princess Charm School,"... "The Mating Game." There was Grandma Barbie and Grandpa Kin and Daughter Sally and Son-in-Law Rob and their daughter Lolly and her boyfriend Tom. Sally come equipped with snap-on bosoms and snap-on tummies and a yummy wardrobe of maternity clothes so you could pretend she was in all different "months."" The article in all entirety feels like a understatement (also called litotes), for example, the younger kids taking cigarette breaks, wearing a garter, a little girl wearing a girdle which could possibly lead to her becoming anorexic or bulimia in her later years, since her mother and her are worried about her size at her age.
“How School Student’s Demand War’s In Easier-To-Find Countries”
This article is satirical because it discusses two serious topics war and education, they start off by using juxtaposition with education and war which typically do not go together, but also the idea of fighting/rebelling can be put alongside education when fighting for rights. For example, in the Middle East back during the time when men controlled all aspects of life women were not well- educated but now they are even smarter than most of the men in the Middle East because they used what knowledge they had to gain rights. The article also displays verbal irony, “A delegation of American high school students today demanded the United States stop waging war in obscure nations such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and instead attack places they've actually heard of, such as France, Australia, and Austria…” they do not actually mean they want war, they would just like to know about some of the states they have actually head of and how they barely know where they are. Another example of this is, “..."I totally support our soldiers and all that, but I am seriously failing both geography and social studies because I keep getting asked to find Croatia or Yemvrekia, or whatever bizarre-o country we send troops to,"…” which discusses the topic of how kids these days can barely remember the names of all fifty states without making it even harder by having to remember the name of over a hundred more states in Europe, China, South America, Africa, and etc. This satire also uses great examples to help further its point for the topic.
“Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby” by Donald Barthelme
I believe this article is not satirical albeit it discusses a serious topic of death it does not seem satirical because it is quite plain and does not even tell the reader if Colby dies, it also makes me wonder why Colby is going along with the plan of being hanged. The article also sounds like a formal party at the end, “… Everything went off very smoothly on the day of the event (the music Colby finally picked was standard stuff, Elgar, and it was played very well by Howard and his boys). It didn't rain, the event was well attended, and we ...” it just goes on and on about discussing the details of what music will play, where he should be hanged from, what he should stand on, and things for the guest. I believe that if it had added some elements of humor to the article it could be a satire.