Introducing satire in German lessons in an exciting way

What you need:

• DVDs
• Film camera

The satire should be discussed in the German class

A satire is one literaturewho mocked realities or characters. The satire does not offer a prescribed spelling. It is therefore difficult to distinguish it from comedy (jokingness), polemic (dispute) or parody (disguised counterpart) according to certain characteristics. In terms of content, however, the satire can be different Functions fulfill, although not all functions have to come together:

• In the German lesson, work out that the satire has its critical and instructive character in an entertaining form through parody or comedy, à la Vicco von Bülow, through didactically structured Intention à la Harald Schmidt, polemical like Warren Beatty's film "Bulworth" or critical, like the former show "Scheibenwischer" by the cabaret artist Dieter Hildebrandt demonstrates can.
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• Try different satires, such as B. Grimmelshausen's "Simplicissimus Teutsch", Voltaire`s "Epître aux Romains" (he wrote under the pseudonym Corbera) or Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Begging Boy" the content features, such as B. To filter out strong contradictions, clear exaggerations, ridiculed values, distorted facts.

• In the next step, go to the stylistic devices that are often used, such as B. "Persiflage (mocking)", "Travesty (dressing up)" and "Parody (counter-representation)". Discuss with your students which pitches are used to support these stylistic devices: mocking, sarcastic, ironic or critical. Direct your students' perspective on the media, which began in the early 19th century. Century with magazines such. B. "The True Jacob" published social democratic satire.

• Bring in the classes the term "Neue Frankfurter Schule" associated with the Names some writers who published the satirical magazine "Pardon". Since 1945 satire experienced a real boom. Many students still know names such as B. Loriot or Ephraim Kishon. Guide your students to the never-ending topic of bureaucracy with Kishon's "The Blue Milk Canal".


Interpreting the structure of a satire - this is how it works

You have to interpret the structure of a satire, but you don't know how to do it ...

• By filling the German class with satirical material from different times, you can not only work out the features of the content of the satire, but also the various historical ones Themes. The transition to published and recently published satirical magazines offers you a smooth transition into the currently modern world of satirical media.

Modern media offer interesting satire

• Make TV shows such as B. "Extra 3" from NDR, Harald Schmidt (ARD), encore (WDR2) DVD recordings to introduce them to your students. In the German class, analyze these "satirical programs" together and compare the means (comedy, polemics, parody) with which they are structured.

• Order DVDs such as B. "The Life of Brian", "Brazil" or "American Beauty". Watch these movies with the class to share satirical traits with students, such as: B. to be worked out in a critical-humorous, amusing and demanding manner. In the next step, differentiate between religious, political and social criticism.

• Discuss general topics politics, business, Religion, or society that the students may be interested in. What criticisms would or would you like your students to make. In the German class, work out with the students how they could process the topics into a satire. Divide the class into e.g. B. two groups, each designing a topic in the form of a project work as satire.

• Include media types in the projects, such as: B. a movie camera. For example, have the students B. produce a short comedy to convey content in a satirical manner. It is also possible to divide student-oriented groups so that some students see a satire as a film, others as a drawing (e.g. B. Loriot), again other than story try to create. The respective, own projects will surely spur your students on.