parody- "Subshack"

for my choice of word, i chose parody.

the Oxford English Dictionary defines a parody as a literary composition modelled on and imitating another work, esp. a composition in which the characteristic style and themes of a particular author or genre are satirized by being applied to inappropriate or unlikely subjects, or are otherwise exaggerated for comic effect. In later use extended to similar imitations in other artistic fields, as music, painting, film, etc.

in other words, a parody is something poking fun of an original work. it is imitating something in a sometimes humorous way.

after reading the definition of a parody, i immediately thought of Saturday Night Live. Almost every episode of the show features a multitude of parodies in many different forms. I’ve always been a fan of their comedy commercials, so I decided to use one as an example of parody. I chose the “Subshack” parody commercial.

The commercial I chose features Jimmy Fallon as Jared the Subway guy. In case you don’t remember, Jared was severely overweight until he began “the subway diet” and lost a dramatic amount of weight. Jared became the spokesperson for Subway and inspired thousands across the world that losing weight WAS possible without surgery/pills/miracles. Fallon plays a once-again, overweight Jared who decided to quit the Subway Diet and go back to his old eating habits. Fallon acts as though he is happy that he put all the weight back on and is enjoying the food at his old favorite joint, “Subshack.” Here, the sandwiches are piled high with layers upon layers of red meat and fatty ingredients. The commercial goes on to show several other people who were once skinny and in-shape, then began eating at Subshack and put on hundreds of pounds.

This parody commercial is significant because it is poking fun at the original Subway commercials that featured Jared. Jared and many others around the globe appear in commercials for foods that helped them to LOSE weight. This “Subshack” commercial shows people eating food to help them GAIN weight. The ideas are opposite, thus the comedic effect. Saturday Night Live is making fun of people eating to lose weight, by showing people who are happy by gaining weight.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/subshack/229050/