Module #1 Introduction to Satire and Irony Defining satire and irony, exploring their historical roots, and understanding their role in criticizing societal norms and power structures.
Module #2 The Ancient Roots of Satire Examining the satirical works of ancient Greeks and Romans, such as Aristophanes and Juvenal, to understand the origins of satire as a literary form.
Module #3 Irony in Literature:A Historical Overview Tracing the development of irony in literature from the ancient Greeks to modern times, with a focus on its use in various literary movements.
Module #4 The Philosophy of Laughter Exploring the nature of laughter and its relationship to satire and irony, including the theories of Henri Bergson and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Module #5 Satire as Social Commentary Analyzing how satire is used to critique societal norms, politics, and culture, with case studies on influential satirists like Jonathan Swift and Voltaire.
Module #6 Irony as a Tool for Subversion Examining how irony is used to subvert authority, challenge dominant narratives, and create social change, with examples from literature and popular culture.
Module #7 The Ethics of Satire Debating the ethical implications of satire, including its potential to offend, its relationship to free speech, and its impact on marginalized communities.
Module #8 The Role of Context in Satire and Irony Understanding how context influences the interpretation and reception of satire and irony, with a focus on cultural, historical, and social factors.
Module #9 Satire and the Body Politic Examining how satire is used to critique political systems, leaders, and ideologies, with case studies on contemporary satirical works.
Module #10 Irony and the Fragmentation of Truth Exploring how irony reflects and responds to the complexities and ambiguities of modern life, including the fragmentation of truth and the rise of postmodernism.
Module #11 Satire and the Media Analyzing the role of satire in contemporary media, including TV shows, films, and online content, with a focus on its impact on public discourse and opinion.
Module #12 Irony and the Digital Age Examining how irony is used and understood in the digital age, including its relationship to memes, social media, and online communication.
Module #13 The Politics of Satire Investigating the political implications of satire, including its potential to mobilize or demobilize political action, and its relationship to political ideologies.
Module #14 Irony and Empathy Exploring the relationship between irony and empathy, including how irony can both facilitate and hinder empathetic understanding.
Module #15 Satire and the Marketplace of Ideas Analyzing the economic and cultural factors that shape the production and consumption of satire, including the role of commercialism and audience reception.
Module #16 Irony and the Limits of Language Examining how irony challenges and subverts the conventions of language, including its relationship to meaning, silence, and the unsayable.
Module #17 Satire and the Problem of Offense Debating the ethics of offense in satire, including the responsibility of satirists, the role of audience reception, and the limits of free speech.
Module #18 Irony and the Human Condition Exploring how irony reflects and responds to fundamental human concerns, including mortality, identity, and the search for meaning.
Module #19 Satire and the Institution of Religion Analyzing how satire is used to critique religious institutions, beliefs, and practices, with case studies on influential satirical works.
Module #20 Irony and the Institution of Education Examining how irony is used to critique educational institutions, pedagogy, and the dissemination of knowledge, with examples from literature and popular culture.
Module #21 Satire and the Institution of Politics Investigating how satire is used to critique political institutions, including governments, parties, and ideologies, with a focus on contemporary examples.
Module #22 Irony and the Institution of Media Analyzing how irony is used to critique media institutions, including the representation of news, the construction of reality, and the role of propaganda.
Module #23 Satire and the Power of Ambiguity Exploring how satire uses ambiguity to challenge dominant narratives and create multiple meanings, with a focus on its relationship to irony and humor.
Module #24 Irony and the Complexity of Human Nature Examining how irony reflects and responds to the complexities and contradictions of human nature, including its relationship to morality, ethics, and psychology.
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Philosophy of Satire and Irony career
