147. The limits of satire & A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
On today\u2019s Modern Readers episode, we\u2019re placing \u201cA Modest Proposal\u201d by Jonathan Swift in context with pieces of contemporary political satire. We'll explore how satire is being used today to comment on politics and social issues, and the power, or limits, of its influence. Throughout our discussion, we discuss the lasting legacy of Swift\u2019s essay, the rise of satirical media, and how satire is used as a rhetorical tool. Listen to the end for contemporary satirical examples in TV, online media, and comedy.
We\u2019re also excited to\xa0 announce our Summer Big Book Read Along: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. We\u2019re looking forward to digging into this classic with you! This Big Book Read Along includes 5 recaps spread over June, July, and August, 3 book club meet ups to discuss along the way, an active Discord chat for support and motivation, classes and bonus content. The summer is a great time to join our scholarly community!\xa0
Find more details on our summer plans in our free Substack newsletter or head to patreon.com/novelpairings to join our community.\xa0
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Books Mentioned:
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
Gulliver\u2019s Travels by Jonathan Swift
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Also Mentioned:
A Modern Proposal on Project Gutenberg\xa0
A Point of View: What\u2019s the point of satire?
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