Satire Article By The Onion

The provided satirical article by The Onion, published in 1999, sarcastically demonstrates the falsely scientific appearing nature of today’s advertisements. The provided article comes off as relatable to the normal middle class consumer audience of the well known satirical humorous newspaper, because it is the middle class for which these advertisements are made, and also the ones most affected by these advertisements daily. Moreover, the internet’s quest for some laughing stock also contributed to the high interest in the topic of pseudoscience, and pseudoscientifically advertised products. While satisfying this thirst, the article also satirizes the use of such marketing strategies using wittingly crafted, fake, and scientific sounding terminologies,

The use of asyndeton in the line, “..expensive, effective..,” helps to quickly let the contradictory nature of medicine today be open in front the readers eyes. The Onion, a pro universal healthcare publication, ridicules not only unscientific pseudosciences, but also the scientific medicine — that though effective, cannot be accessed by many people because of its exorbitant price. It showers no mercy upon the fallacies of modern world, which is clearly visible here. Additionally, The Onion’s article also efficiently uses sarcasm to express the true nature of pseudoscientific advertisements. This it does throughout the article. It is most visible in words like, ‘scientific sounding,’ in line 18. The phrase, “intelligent-looking man in a white coat,” also vividly displays the intent of the advertising firm to allure people in with just the scientific perception of their product, which they use to justify the high price, such as $19.95 in this case. The use of the figure 19.95 also alludes to the habit of advertising companies these days to price their products a few cents below the next significant dollar. Through this, they attempt to come off cheap in the consumer’s mind. The use of big scientific-appearing terms, as discussed in the previous paragraph, also aides to accomplish the true deceitful nature of marketing today.

The overarching goal of the publication is not to report news filled with sad, and melancholic articles, but pieces that provide its reader something — inspired by the real nature of life these days — to chuckle at, and think. Think, these articles do make their readers. Using appropriate language, and sarcasm at certain places, these articles successfully imitate a specific tone, or language, to mock, or ridicule, an individual, certain topic, institution or system. This article serves well as an example to this refined art of mocking imitation, that not only triggers rational thinking, but also leaves people with a better mood, and a better mind. As the renowned Indian poet Shailendra once remarked, “It is the duty of an artist to leave its audience with a better taste.” The Onion, specifically in this article, acts in accord with this gorgeous