Social commentary
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Social commentary is the act of expressing an opinion on the nature of society. This is most often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change by informing the general populace about a given problem and appealing to people's sense of justice.
Two examples of strong and bitter social commentary are the writings of Jonathan Swift and Martin Luther. Swift exposed and decried the appalling poverty in Ireland at the time, which was viewed as the fault of the British government. Martin Luther remained in history as the founder of the reformation movement against practices of the Catholic Church.
Writers who engage in social criticism are commonly well-educated members of the upper classes but might also come from the lower social strata like Charles Dickens. Social commentary is not limited to printed forms, as it is commonly practiced through all forms of communication, from conversations to computerised communication.
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Forms of social commentary
This list is far from exhastitive. Examples of social commentary may be found in any form of communication. Artistic works of all mediums are often defined by what they say about society. Despite being wordless, the memorable image of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 may be considered one of the most profound commentaries of the power of the individual.
Direct publication
Most famous soical commentators have their comments in written form. Such works range from that of religious writers (Martin Luther's treatises), philosophers (Plato's Republic) and politicians (Hitler's Mein Kampf).
Public Speaking
Most public speaking consitiutes social commentary of some form. Many sermons will decribe the ills of society and offer religious solutions. Many politicans may speak in a similar fasion - in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar one can see Mark Antony's funeral speech as a commentary. The larger audience offered by radio and televison audienced has diminished the significance of public speaking as a means of social commentary.
Fiction
Allegorical fictional works such as Animal Farm clearly contain a social commentary and one can find some degree of social commentary in almost any novel. To Kill a Mockingbird can be interperated as a commentary on racial issues, especially given the date of its publication (1960). Social commentaries have been searched for even in fantasy novels such as Lord of the Rings, though such connections are often require much conjecture.
Music
In music, social commentary has been a common theme amongst industrial, punk rock or rock bands with strong political themes. For example, Greenday's latest album American Idiot contains several.
Radio, Television and Film
Fictional works in these mediums have a similar scope to that of their litary counterparts and documentaries to the non-fiction works described above. Television and films often use powerful images to enhance their message, Michael Moore's films utilise this to great effect.
Radio and television phone-in shows allow discussion and debate on such issues. Commonly a panel of well-known soical commentators respond to comments from listeners.
Newspapers
What is probably the most common social commentary is that of the editorial section of newspapers, where collumists give their opinion on current affairs. The letters section of papers allows a similar platform for members of the public. Editorial cartoons, such as the New Yorker perform a social commentary, often with a humorous slant.
The Internet
The web performs a similar function to the letters section described above. It is ripe with social commentary because it allows the dissemination of ideas by anyone with a computer to a potentially enormous audience, as well as instant comment and discussion. Its international scope is particuarly attractive, with language the only major barrier to communication. Most blogs are social commentaries of a fashion. Discussion and debate occurs in many forums and chat rooms.
The internet is viewed as one of the greatest modern-time advances in terms of freedom of speech and thought; however censorship is not impossible, for example that performed by the authorities in China .