Satirism is primarily an obsolete term for the expression of satire.
While “satire” is the standard modern term, satirism specifically refers to the act, style,
or underlying philosophy of wit and ridicule to expose human folly and societal vices.
1. Literary and Cultural Definition
At its core, satirism (or satire) serves as a constructive form of social criticism. It uses humor
not just for entertainment, but as a weapon to discredit its targets, which typically include:
- Government and Politicians: Challenging power structures and policies.
- Social Institutions: Highlighting hypocrisy in religion, education, or culture.
- Human Behavior: Ridiculing vanity, greed, and other common “follies“.
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