parody

Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody
$11.00
I don't see how anyone could not like this book, only the most die-hard fans of Harry Potter who break-down at the thought of what they hold sacred being changed in any way would object to this series. Its clever jokes and ability to weave itself in and out of the original story is exceptionally well done. If you like this, go to youtube and watch the French and Saunders spoof on Harry Potter. I would recommend this book to people who liked Harry Potter, as well as to those who don't, it's that good!

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies
$14.98
Certainly there is room for more than one "best of" commercial parody disk from SNL. This one contains a lot of the more recent stuff, but a lot of that stuff is more crass than clever. There is the classic bass-o-matic and the classic car commercial with the circumcision in the back seat, but were is "Quarry" cerial, and the triple blade razor (which has since become reality), and "Tryopenin" arthritis medication? I know there are others too

Of course, there are the early seasons out in box sets, so I suppose they're on those.

Nightlight: A Parody (Vintage)
$13.95
This was hilarious and cleverly done.

The nuances in this book show both a familiarity with the original material and a shrewd perceptiveness for Stephenie Meyer's literary affectations--good and (mostly) bad, which are exaggerated to the point of ridicule.

A Theory of Parody: The Teachings of Twentieth-Century Art Forms
$16.00
Hutcheon's definition of parody is much broader than most, and I believe it is both fitting and useful. Parodic works, to Hutcheon, are not those which imitate at the expense of the parodied text (that's satire). Rather, they confront the past, and explore the difference between the parodied text and the present. As she writes, the pleasure comes from the degree of engagement of the viewer/listener in "intertextual bouncing" between the familiar and the new. The book's premise is that parody is a genre fundamental to 20th century art forms. The works cited come from a wide range of disciplines, and are both modern and postmodern. The language is rather straight-forward and clear, a welcome diverson from many contemporary theorists. In fact, I found the book perhaps too repetitive, too focused on making a single point. Still, Hutcheon provides a thoughtful viewpoint from which to enjoy - and to make - art.