lampoon
verb & noun

- To criticise or ridicule a person, organisation or institution through satire:

- A humorous but sharply critical portrayal in words, pictures or performance:

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WORD ORIGIN

1640s, from French lampon, a word of unknown origin, said by French etymologists to be from lampons "let us drink," which is said to have been a popular refrain for scurrilous (pöbelhaft) songs, in which case it would be originally a drinking song.

National Lampoon was an American humor magazine which ran from 1970 to 1998. The magazine started out as a spinoff from the Harvard Lampoon. It reached its height of popularity and critical acclaim during the 1970s, when it had a far-reaching effect on American humor and comedy. The magazine spawned films, radio, live theatre, various sound recordings, and print products including books.

Many members of the creative staff from the magazine subsequently went on to contribute creatively to successful media of all types.

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WHY THE POWERFUL FEAR LAUGHTER

Open criticism can be resisted. A leader may dismiss it as uninformed, disloyal or politically motivated. A good lampoon is harder to escape because it replaces solemn authority with an absurd picture.

A cartoonist need not publish a lengthy analysis of a pompous politician. A crown that is slightly too large, a speech that continues after the audience has gone home, or a tiny figure standing upon an enormous pedestal may make the same point instantly.

This is why satire has so often disturbed powerful people. It does more than challenge their decisions: it reduces their dignity. Once an emperor has been successfully portrayed without his clothes, the official robes never look quite the same again.

Authority demands respect. A lampoon asks whether it has earned it.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

verbs: tease, taunt, scoff, insult, deride, scorn, parody, imitate, satirize, send-up

nouns: caricature, satire, mockery, parody, skit, spoof, burlesque, roast, takeoff, pastiche, pasquinade, takedown, travesty, jape, rail, send-up

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"Trump and Putin are LAMPOONED mercilessly in the media these days."

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