What is satire? What is the purpose of satire? Is satire an attempt to be funny or cruel? Is satire a powerful form of moral criticism? Can satire be universal, say something about the human experience? Or is satire limited by history and geography? Does satire test the limits of free speech? Is Jonathan Swift correct in writing: “Satire is a kind of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own?” To try to answer these questions, this class will focus on Mel Brook’s 1974 film Blazing Saddles. Our first class will discuss satire as a comedic form and discuss the background of this film and view the opening scenes of Blazing Saddles. Our second class will continue viewing the film followed by a class discussion.
((Joseph Givvin - In Person: CMU Campus - Thursday))
