Craig Brown: Obama Buys Ice-cream, 2009
Craig Brown: Obama Buys Ice-cream, 2009
Contextual Information
- Craig Brown is a British satirist and critic, known for his parodies of public figures.
- “Obama Buys Ice-cream, 2009” is a parody of Barack Obama, envisioning his memoirs written in a zany style.
- It was published in Private Eye, a British satirical magazine.
- The text heavily uses hyperbole and absurdist elements to portray mundane events in a dramatic light.
Major Themes
- Satire and Parody: Not only are Obama’s memoirs satirized, but the general trend of political memoirs elevating commonplace moments to grand narratives.
- Absurdism: The reinvention of a simple event such as buying ice-cream into a grandiose tale, satirizes the often self-important nature of political memoirs.
- Exaggeration: Everything is overstated for comic effect, from Obama’s intelligence to the importance of trivial decisions.
Language and Style
- Hyperbolic Language: Brown imbues quotidian scenes with an exaggerated sense of importance and drama.
- Juxtaposition: The grandiose language and trivial nature of the scene create comic incongruity.
- Deliberate Confusion: Brown frequently misattributes famous quotes to Obama, playing on Obama’s often lofty rhetoric.
Importance for Examination
- Brown’s work is an example of modern satire, making it relevant for analysis of humor, parody, and social commentary.
- The absurdist tone and hyperbolic language make it ideal for studying satirical literary techniques.
- The piece also allows for explorations of political representation in media.
Remember to support your analysis with direct quotations and close readings of the text. Also, consider Brown’s work in a wider socio-political context, discussing how it uses humor and absurdism to comment on broader cultural phenomena.