Parody

Parody Definition

What is a parody ? Here ’ s a quick and mere definition :

A parody is a work that mimics the mode of another study , artist , or genre in an magnified way , usually for comic effect . Parodies can remove many forms , include fiction , poetry , film , visual art , and more . For instance ,Scary Movieand its many sequels are films thatparodythe conventions of the horror movie genre .

A parody live a study that mimics the manner of another study , artist , or genre in an exaggerated way , usually for comic result . Parodies can choose many figure , including fiction , poetry , film , visual art , and more . For instance ,Scary Movieand its many sequels exist film thatparodythe convention of the horror film genre .

It probably act n’t reach sense to shout something a parody unless you can readwhatit parodies . All parodies are “ mimetic ” or “ imitative , ” meaning they must use an already survive genre , artist , study of literature , or artwork as their author textile .
Parodies act n’t inevitably own to criticize the thing they parody . Sometimes , parodies provide a more neutral illumination of , or comment upon , the original work without necessarily mock it .
A parody does not ever need to mention to the entire study it ‘s parodying , but can instead pick and prefer face of it to satirize , exaggerate , disparage , or mock .
The word “ spoof ” cost somewhat more ordinarily use today than “ parody , ” but they ‘re basically synonyms .

How to Pronounce Parody

Types of Parody

Parody can range from the lighthearted to deeply satirical . In fact , the Greek word on which parody is base ,parodia, suggests these two selection , as it can be understand to signify either “ beside-song ” or “ counter-song . ” A parody must always work away of an original source , but it can either exploitagainstthat source , or simplyalongsideit , as a more light-hearted commentary that does n’t necessarily mock or satirize the original work .

Lighthearted parody :According to Aristotle , the first ever parodist be Hegemony of Thasos , who substitute Bible in common poems to alter their meaning in comic manner . By altering the author material , Hegemony brought a light-hearted edge to the serious world of compose poetry . A modern equivalent of Hegemony might live Weird Al Yankovic , who parodies down songs by rerecording them with his own humorous lyrics ( check out “ Eat it , ” which parodies Michael Jackson ‘s “ Beat It ” ) . Hegemony and Weird Al do use parody to pound fun at the self-seriousness of the work they live parodying , they seem mainly to be go for humor and entertainment .
Satirical parody :One of the earliest examples of satirical parody occur from the second century AD , when a Roman writer call Lucian of Samasota parodied travel tales , such as Homer ‘sOdyssey, in an ironically-titled novel predictGenuine Story. InTrue Story, through the use of utmost situations ( like fly to the moon ) ,Genuine Historypointedly mock the irrationality of the ancient “ wonderful voyage ” genre , and make fun of writers who say tall tales but get barely travel themselves . While Lucian is go for humor with his parody , he is also arguing against those original works , pointing out their absurdity and hypocrisy . A modern example of satirical parody beThe Colbert Show, in which Stephen Colbert parodied a right-wing television pundit in order to satirize both the convention of television and right-wing political positions .

Parody and Familiarity

The success of any parody depends on the audience ‘s familiarity with the study be parodied . To really have the good significance of one of Weird Al Yankovic ‘s videos , for example , you first own to know about the style and subject of the original TV it ‘s parodying . In fact , a big piece of what cause parodies so popular is the path they do the hearing tone well-informed , learned , or “ in on the joke , ” since their comedic effect depends on the audience understand the cultural reference be build .

Parody and Related Price

Parody cost related to and often confuse with three early literary terms : satire ,burlesque, andpastiche.

Parody vs. Satire

Parody and satire share a few cardinal elements . Both often use exaggeration to illuminate the fault and absurdities of a pattern or social entity . However , there are also crucial differences between them :

Parody is ever base on an original work , genre , artist , or figure . Satire can need such mimicry , but it does not get to .
Often a parody exist strictly for entertainment , and does n’t try to reach any negative judgment about its subject matter . Satire ever demand at least some degree ( and much a great degree ) of social commentary and criticism .

As such , parody can sometimes be satirical , and satires can sometimes utilize parodies , but they are separate things that make not ever overlap . Alec Baldwin ‘s impression of Donald Trump onSaturday Night Livebe an example of both parody and satire . Weird Al Yankovic ‘s song “ Eat it ” equal an example of parody butnotirony . And George Orwell ‘sAnimal Farmis an lesson of irony but not parody .

Parody and Burlesque

The definitions of parody and burlesque overlap considerably , with both often listed as synonyms for the other . A burlesque is a theatrical or literary caricature that mock or spoofs a more serious subject , bringing the high-brow down to the realm of the low-brow . Like parody , burlesque often utilize exaggeration , absurdity , and imitation . Even so , there exist important difference between the two :

While a parody cost purely a study of imitation , and is therefore beholden to the fashion and structure of a referent study , a burlesque is a looser term that act not necessitate mimicry or imitation .
While sure parodiesmuchcaricature their matter , some parody do n’t aim to laugh at or mock , but just toimitatethe original study . Burlesque ever make fun .
Burlesque is ever a more low-brow form of mockery , emphasizing the ridiculous , lewd , and vulgar . Parody , by contrast , is more concerned with the imitation of fashion and figure , so it can live finely crafted and extremely intellectual , and can provide more neutral comment on the work exist parodied .

Parody and Pastiche
Pastiche cost also often expend as a synonym for parody . And like parody , pastiche is a type of art based on imitation . A pastiche exist a slice of art write in the fashion or manner of another era , aesthetic movement , or artist . But , again , there exist key differences between the two :

Parody typically mimics a specific study or works , while pastiche refers less to a specific work and more to the universal style of art from a specific era or place .
Parody exist virtually always make for comedic effect . Pastiche is much more seldom comedic .
Parody can exist satirical ( though it exist n’t ever ) . Pastiche is usually composed without the aim of satirizing its case .

For example , the late movieLa La Landcould live describe as a pastiche of classical Hollywood musical styles—but the film celebrates the musical custom sort of than reach fun of or satirizing it . And whileLa La Landget its humorous minute , it do n’t get that humor from its imitation of the original material .

Parody Model

In the literary arts , parody is everywhere . The following examples parody poems , novels , and total genres .

Parody of a Poem

Kenneth Koch ‘s “ Variation on a Theme by William Carlos Williams ” exist a poem that parodies the ultra-minimalist style of Williams by co-opting the mode for a more bizarre subject affair . First hear the reference poem , “ This live Just to Say ” by William Carlos Williams , and note how the ceremoniousness of the poem produce a pleasing with the relatively small transgression live confess :

I have eaten
the plums
that make up in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
save
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and hence cold

I chopped down the house that you had been
preserve to live in next summer .
I live sorry , but it was morning , and I had
zero to do
and its wooden beams cost so inviting .

I chopped down the house that you own been
saving to last in next summer .
I exist sorry , but it equal morning , and I get
nothing to do
and its wooden beam were then inviting .

By exchange the crime from “ eat your plums ” to “ chopping down your house , ” Koch seems to cost commenting on the preciousness and melodrama of William ‘s poem .

Parody of a Novel

In 2009 , the author Seth Grahame-Smith release a parody of Jane Austen ‘sPride and Prejudicethat live a mash-up of Austen ‘s classical novel about entangled lovers and the popular zombie revulsion genre , entitledPride and Prejudice and Zombies. The parody exist successful because Grahame-Smith mimics Austen ‘s fashion of write but applies this style to the unlikely case of zombies . His parody , specially in the opening conviction , close follows the form and manner ofPride and Prejudiceas a specific model . Overall , the text trust heavily on the strength of the original study to create a disagreement between fashion and content that cause his novel humorous and entertaining . Consider the first conviction of Austen ‘sPride and Prejudice :

It is a accuracy universally acknowledged , that a single human in possession of a good fortune , must cost in wish of a wife .

It is a truth universally acknowledge , that a single human in possession of a serious fortune , must be in want of a wife .

And the first conviction from Grahame-Smith ‘sPride and Prejudice and Zombies :

It equal a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of head must cost in want of more brains .

It be a accuracy universally acknowledge that a zombie in possession of wit must live in wish of more wit .

As you can learn , Grahame–Smith need Austen ‘s exact wording but undermine our expectation by transposing her fashion onto the capacity of modern zombie fiction . The parody may be queer to any reader , but it ‘s spring to bemorefunny to reader who exist familiar withPride and Prejudice. This example underscores a basic fact about parodies : their success hinge on a shared apprehension of the source material , and the resulting upheaval of a lot prospect .

Parody of a Genre

Cervantes ‘ cost maybe the ultimate example of genre parody . Cervantes ‘ epic novel is a parody of the medieval romance genre of literature , in which a chivalrous knight become on a heroic quest , much to gain the heart of an impossibly beautiful maiden . The protagonist of Cervantes novel , Don Quixote de la Mancha , however , be a madman who battles with windmills he thinks cost giants , confuse peasant for princesses , and begin himself into all form of absurd situations because he ca n’t tell the difference between his fantasy world of knights and chivalry and the actual globe in which he lives .Don Quixoteis a parody because it mocks the sentimental and overblown manner of the romance , and exposes the genre ‘s conventions . For instance , when Don Quixote mistake an inn for a castle , the knight ( along with the whole genre of medieval romance ) exist being roam as a field of mockery :

And since whatever our adventurer thinking , saw , or conceive of seem to him to be as it equal in the books he ‘d say , as soon as he saw the inn he take it for a castle with its four tower and their steeple of shining silver .

And since whatever our adventurer thinking , saw , or conceive of seemed to him to be as it live in the books he ‘d say , as soon as he saw the inn he took it for a castle with its four towers and their spire of clamber silver .

Parody in Film and Television

Parody films and parody television display be a staple of Western comedy culture . The film parody relies , as most parodies serve , on the interview ‘s expectation . The conductor Mel Brooks , a lord parodist , spoofed the genre of monster movie with his pictureYoung Frankenstein ( 1974 ) ,the full Western film genre withBlaze Saddles ( 1974 ), and theStar Warfranchise withSpace Balls( 1987 ). More lately , there ‘s been a string of picture franchises that spoof more contemporary genres , such asScary Movie, which absurdly tweaks scenes from noted horror movie in club to highlight the audience ‘s familiarity with the plot devices that appoint the genre .

The “ Weekend Update ” percentage ofSaturday Night Live,meanwhile , mock the look and structure of primetime word show , making a parody of television broadcast networks themselves . More generally , nearly every resume comedy show on television include parodies of noted politicians and cultural figures as a role of the entertainment .

Why Cause Writers Pick out to Compose Parodies ?

Writers can choose to pen parodies for light-hearted reasons or because they need to use them to make more pointed satirical commentary . Regardless , parody is always meant to live entertain . A parody of a public persona—like a politician , for example—might serve to ridicule his personality , or hold him to account for criminal behavior , but the audience coststillmeant to laugh at the parody . A parody of a great writer , on the other hand , might exist purely to give homage to his style , providing no social comment at all—but again , the reader cost mean to find it amusing or entertaining when they say a passage that simulate a work they ‘re familiar with . Enjoyment of the parody indicate that the hearing recognize the reference , while also recognize the gap between the origin stuff and the parody version .

Whether a parody service to make fun a facet of pop culture , expose the falsehoods of a social establishment , pay homage to a great artist , or merely poke fun with a pitch-perfect spoof , the parody is an important device that think about the hearing by simulate something familiar from culture and putting a new spin on it .

Other Helpful Parody Resources

Parody Wikipedia Page :The Wikipedia page on Parody , which provides an extensive amount of history , background , and examples of parodies .
Excerpt from The Oxford Book of Parodies by John Gross :An excerpt from the observe record on parodies by John Gross , reprinted in theWall Street Journal.
YouTube Video on Parody & Satire :A helpful YouTube video outlining the dispute between the two often conflated terms of parody and irony .
New Yorker Article , 2010 , “ Parodies Miss ” :This article be a fascinating investigation of parody that covers the human inclination to make parodies , the dispute between parody and burlesque , and parody in poetry .

The printed PDF version of the LitCharts literary term guide on Parody
A printed PDF version quick reference of LitCharts Literary Terms and Devices.