Alicia and Sarah go back to Freshman English as they discuss the Hulu original film, Rosaline. They discuss elements of satire and look at the film as an example of using alternative views of classic stories to teach students how satire can strengthen and modernize arguments made in the original text. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.
Literary terms of the week: satire, hyperbole, oxymoron, allegory
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Music by Craig Harmann
Cover art by Matt Holman
Show Notes:
30-second summary
Rosaline can be found on Hulu
Literary terms of the week (plus historical context):
Satire - The use of mockery, irony, humor, and/or wit to attack or ridicule something, such as a person, habit, idea, institution, society, or custom that is, or is considered to be, foolish, flawed, or wrong. The aim of satire is, or should be, to improve human institutions and/or humanity. Satire attempts through humor and laughter to inspire individuals, institutions so that they may be improved for the benefit of all.
Hyperbole - Making a small blemish bigger or a hidden vice or folly larger in order to make it visible is one of the best ways to point out its existence to the audience or to the target itself
Gender roles, teenage love
Meddling trying to fix other people’s problems
In the bar, hypermasculine. Romeo, hyperromantic
Oxymoron - Used satirically makes for a pointed emphasis on some contradiction in the target's philosophy
Soldier is the true romantic
Allegory - Have the same benefits as simile and metaphor, for they can conduct a prolonged discussion on two levels of meaning while at the same time inherently comparing and contrasting those levels without further comment
Original tale, modern understanding of the issues we see in the original tale
Theme Development
Teen love
Nurse, to Rosaline’s question if she’s ever been in love: “Once. It feels a bit like having vertigo, quite a lot like being drunk. But when it’s real, you don’t question it.”
Rosaline: “We get one life, Paris. I want mine to be different. I want romance, passion, adventure.”
Family dysfunction
Jealousy
Rosaline: “These letters are your love story, not mine.”
Legacy
“Rosaline: You know, centuries from now, when everyone's telling this story, you think you and I will even be mentioned?
Dario: Honestly, I couldn't care less.
Rosaline: Me neither.”
What are we enjoying right now?
Alicia: Strange World (movie on Disney+), Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin)
Sarah: Start With Hello by Shannan Martin (book), White Lotus (television)
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Chapter 3.9 - The Balcony Next Door