"Who on earth do these researchers think we are? We are rough, tough; break your knees with a baseball bat people. We don't let people talk down to us,” said a New Jersey man. Many Americans like what the new research has shown, in fact they liked to be praised even at the cost of a little dignity, and no one seems to care if it was entirely satirical. A knew study shows that few Americans can tell the difference between real praise and condescension. The traits that they are praised for are considered by most of the world as downfalls. Perhaps this is a way to rebrand all Americans to be more attractive travelers. Some Americans who do not think they qualify for these assumptions were heard yelling random unrelated fragments outside all over the country.
“This article shows a lack of focus and real facts,” said Theodore a local night worker at McDonalds. He continued, “What important things have come from New Mexico anyways?”
Travis, a freshman at University of New Mexico who worked on the project, was overhead to say, “Rhetorically it is very nice to read satirical evidence about anyone including ourselves,” while discussing with fellow researchers. Professor Dixon weighed in saying, “Just wait until the American population makes even more of a fool of themselves trying to maintain these characteristics.”
The above could have been a very interesting article in a style similar to that of the rhetoric that I am analyzing. What one may notice is how all the quotes are made up. It seems rather outlandish that anyone could say those things; it highlights the power of rhetoric, it would be really entertaining for someone to accept these as fact. My article would lose steam eventually, but it could be interesting and entertaining to follow up. I think it highlights what was done very well by the writers at The Onion though, their use of satire to talk about social failings. The overwhelming amount of satire that is included makes the article even funnier. The assumption by the writer is that either the reader is American or they have heard the stereotypes of Americans. It would not be funny without that, one has to understand that nothing they are saying is truly a good characteristic that is what makes it effect to point out the characteristics in the way that the writer does. Also generalization is a very big part of the paper. Not all Americans are fat, indolent, cookie eating, and sedentary. The point is to laugh thoughtfully and act for change, first to change oneself and then help those around them. I think it is highly effective.
Satire is a big part of American humor, it brings to light things that are sensitive or hard to approach straight on, and It requires a level of intelligence to understand. If everyone got the joke it wouldn’t be funny, it is cool to appreciate how well one can understand themselves by looking through the lens of satire. Early in the piece the writer says,
Although the study documented numerous cases of adult Americans throwing tantrums, wasting valuable resources, taking their clothing off at live music or sporting events, and littering, researchers said they have determined conclusively that these habits in fact actually add to the people's charm.
Like the above quote each characteristic is brought up and praised, even though all of them are looked at as very negative things. This is what is most effective because they don’t shy away from bringing out the negatives; saying what is exactly wrong; what should be changed. No one really likes the yelling for no reason, or how overweight we are, but if they did this would be less funny. The hyperbole added that all Americans are like this also adds to the dramatic element of the satire. If each American were this bad as well we would have many more problems internationally (and we wouldn’t have The Onion to laugh at ourselves like we do).
If there weren’t truth to the stereotypes or if there weren’t Americans this would be much less funny. If we weren’t American this would be less funny. Also if we were the ignorant types that are generalized of all Americans we may not appreciate this as much either. Being willing to laugh at our humanity and our foibles makes us great and easy to get along with, our real intelligence, and cultural understanding is what can help us. The audience is very key to how this was written, without knowing who would read this and why it would be hard to be specific about characteristics that the readership would not likely have, but would know about. A made up quote in the text mentions some characteristic that if the reader had they wouldn’t be reading, it states, "’But what we were surprised and, honestly, a little delighted to find is that Americans' short attention spans, simplemindedness, and inability to articulate a coherent idea can actually make them pretty lovable.’" Most people know someone around them like this, there are many instances on the news, there are just people that don’t get that there are other people out there and they don’t understand how to respect people. As an Ironic twist, to realize that fictional Americans are writing about Americans in this way helps to point out another failing of our humanity to judge others when we could easily be judged. Americans can be head strong and ignorant to others, but they can also be appreciative and respectful.
Americans are very diverse, just like all cultures. One could say all the French do is protest, or the Germans only get drunk, maybe that all Japanese are math geniuses, but that would be untrue, it could be funny in the correct context but like this article it has to be taken into consideration. The audience has to be known and able to understand everything that is going on. As shown earlier the writer knows who is reading this, they know that no one will take seriously enough to improve on these qualities (although if they did it would be hilarious) they know that those reading it will be able to laugh about it, to understand exactly what they are trying to say. I think the overall message is that Americans really aren’t that way. There is the loud minority, but many aren’t stupid, fat, lazy, etc… They show that really those shortcomings can be funny and it is a way to point those in the right direction.
Overall this is a very useful piece in seeing how satire and generalizations can make something come to light, to show how funny we each can be. Not only are satire and generalization used very effectively, but the writer also understands their audience very well. As with any piece of this nature the point isn’t to take oneself of the article to seriously. Fun is to be had while reading it and many of the things said could be taken another way. If one isn’t laughing, look for other humor it is out there, perhaps satire and generalization aren’t your things. You may be one of those cute Americans that doesn’t know which way is up and is waddling around in their fat pants (not that I have anything against fat people). "’The way they waddle around in their little fat pants?’ Anderson added. ‘Tell me that's not adorable.’" The opposite of the stereotypes explained are most likely to read this and laugh. The Onion does a great job with this topic. The ending is the biggest punch line of all, it is good that the writer can twist it like so and keep the audience laughing even after the article is over.
1 comment:
Interesting read!
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