Question

Read this excerpt from "a visit from the goon squad." that's when he began singing the songs he'd been writing for years underground, songs no one had ever heard, or anything like them- "eyes if my head," "x's and o's," "who's watching hardest"-ballads of paranoia and disconnection ripped from the chest of a man you knew just by looking had never had a page or a profile or a handle or a handset, who was part of no one's data, a guy who had lived in the cracks all these years, forgotten and full of rage, in a way that now registered as pure. untouched. how does the author use satire in this excerpt?

a. The author is criticizing media censorship.
b. The author is criticizing the idea of isolationism.
c. The author is mocking society's overuse of technology.
d. The author is mocking man's inability to freely express himself.

Answer 1

The author uses satire to critique society's overuse of technology, as seen through the character's pure and untouched music, contrasting with a digital world where everyone is tracked and profiled. The most accurate answer to how satire is used in the excerpt is 'c', which indicates mocking society's overuse of technology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from "A Visit from the Goon Squad" uses satire to express criticism towards a modern society deeply entrenched in technology and disconnection. The irony lies in the portrayal of a character who is untraceable in the digital world and whose raw, charged music seems authentic to listeners precisely because it’s untouched by technological influence. The songs, with names like "Eyes if my head," "X's and O's," and "Who's watching hardest," evoke themes of paranoia and disconnection, mirroring societal concerns associated with technology's omnipresence.

When examining the options offered, the most accurate is 'c', as the author’s depiction is inherently satirical about society’s overuse of technology. This satirical evidence critiques how society may value or perceive things as genuine only when they are completely disengaged from the digital space, underscoring a romanticization of isolation from the technologically saturated environment.

Comparing such narratives to other influential works such as George Orwell's "1984" or Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" which deal with themes of criticism to societal norms, the satire here purposely contrasts the tendency to overindulge in technology and the pursuit of digital identity. To craft a successful satire, the author draws upon familiar themes - technological saturation, authenticity, the allure of the untouched - and presents them in a compelling, exaggerated manner to provoke thought and reflection.

The conclusion is that the correct option answer is 'c', the author is mocking society's overuse of technology.