Satire or Parody? You decide. JibJab.

Published on August 21, 2004 By Angloesque In Politics

Check out this site. It's called JibJab and it's got a hilarious satire or parody of Bush and Kerry.:

Link

Click on the "This Land" area. See Bush and Kerry go at it (look for the Dean scream, too).

Also, JibJab was threatened with a lawsuit by the holders of the Woody Guthrie song in question, so they sued first for use of fair rights. Link

The issue in question is whether the JibJab animated short is a satire or a parody. Some people think it's parody according to the dictionary.com definition as parody relates to music

("Parody: music:The practice of reworking an already established composition, especially the incorporation into the Mass of material borrowed from other works, such as motets or madrigals." --dictionary.com),

but it does seem a lot more like satire

("Satire:# 1. A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. 2. The branch of literature constituting such works. 3. Irony, sarcasm, or caustic wit used to attack or expose folly, vice, or stupidity.")

Parody is protected legally; satire is not, as far as I understand. Having said that, I think satire is one of the highest forms of literature that *everyone* should try to emulate. Good stuff.

In the end, I hope that (1) no lawyers get any money, and (2) the JibJab song is heard 'round the world.

Comments

LadyCleve

on Aug 25, 2004

Not sure which I would classify it as, but the first time I heard this song was on the Dr. Demento radio show a couple of weeks ago. Dr. Demento showcases a lot of parody, some satire, but I believe mostly parody. Regardless, thank you for sharing this site--absolutely hilarious!

historyishere

on Aug 25, 2004

I think I remember reading a quote by Arlo Guthrie saying he thinks his father would have loved that use of his song.... he would have appreciated both its political tone and presentation.

Angloesque

on Aug 25, 2004

Well, the lawsuit part has been settled, though I'm afraid some lawyers might've been paid.

Link

This is probably the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. I love it.

Apparently the Guthrie song is actually in public domain now, ha ha. Anyway. Great stuff.

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