Comments on: How to Do Parody Well http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/20/how-to-do-parody-well/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Gurion Omega http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/20/how-to-do-parody-well/comment-page-1/#comment-37016 Gurion Omega Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:37:39 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4102#comment-37016 Goody. Comedy is a major genre in literature that I want to be in. <br /> If this helps: Comedy, no matter how dominant the subject matter, must be the foundation for the concepts, themes, setting, and plot of the story. Goody. Comedy is a major genre in literature that I want to be in.

If this helps: Comedy, no matter how dominant the subject matter, must be the foundation for the concepts, themes, setting, and plot of the story.

]]> By: Fitz http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/20/how-to-do-parody-well/comment-page-1/#comment-37011 Fitz Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:56:39 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4102#comment-37011 Haha, I agree that many of the Superhero Movie/Epic Movie type parodies are terrible. I work at a movie theater, and the day after Disaster Movie came out, only 20 people wanted to see it. Every single person then left and got a refund halfway through. I was impressed. Haha, I agree that many of the Superhero Movie/Epic Movie type parodies are terrible. I work at a movie theater, and the day after Disaster Movie came out, only 20 people wanted to see it.
Every single person then left and got a refund halfway through. I was impressed.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/20/how-to-do-parody-well/comment-page-1/#comment-36565 B. Mac Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:40:45 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4102#comment-36565 I personally thought that Wrongfully Accused was absolutely hilarious, but I agree that Leslie Nielsen's movies are typically awful. Superhero Movie was so absurdly bad that I walked out. (Which means it's only one of three superhero movies to enter into my Hall of Shame, along with Underdog and Superman Returns). I personally thought that Wrongfully Accused was absolutely hilarious, but I agree that Leslie Nielsen’s movies are typically awful. Superhero Movie was so absurdly bad that I walked out. (Which means it’s only one of three superhero movies to enter into my Hall of Shame, along with Underdog and Superman Returns).

]]> By: Lighting Man http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/20/how-to-do-parody-well/comment-page-1/#comment-36472 Lighting Man Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:33:52 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4102#comment-36472 I think another thing that that deserves mentioning, particularly in light of the number of movies (For instance, any movie with "Movie" in the title...) that have ruined the good names of satire and parody. A parody is not the exact same thing as the subject matter, just with a different cast, no matter how funny looking or inappropriate that cast is. It should contain a proper number of allusions so you know what you're watching a parody of, but it should always be its own story. Contrast the iconic hilarity of Space Balls with Star Wars, you would never confuse the two, but you know that Space Balls could never exist without Star Wars. All of your points were great, but I think number 2 is particularly great, and a very important thing to remember. I'd strongly suggest that people intending to write parodies expand on that rule to include not only studying what they intend to parody, but parodies in general. They should watch everything that Mel Brooks made before 1995, watch The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin, the single greatest parody ever, and every other good parody of note they can. Then watch everything Mel Brooks made after 1995 (It's one movie, it's bad, but we forgive him.) and then find a religion they don't mind losing and start the arduous and painful process of watching every terrible Leslie Nielsen parody that they can. Watch Spy Hard, 2001: A Space Travesty, Wrongfully Accused, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, and Superhero movie, but they should never, and I repeat, never watch An American Carol, they will not survive. I'm sure others can give examples of good and bad parodies that deserve studying. You have to understand the genre before you try to write it or you are doomed to failure. You have to try to understand why Scary Movie 4 is so terrible but Silent Movie made Helen Keller giggle. It all comes back to writing what you know. I think another thing that that deserves mentioning, particularly in light of the number of movies (For instance, any movie with “Movie” in the title…) that have ruined the good names of satire and parody.

A parody is not the exact same thing as the subject matter, just with a different cast, no matter how funny looking or inappropriate that cast is. It should contain a proper number of allusions so you know what you’re watching a parody of, but it should always be its own story. Contrast the iconic hilarity of Space Balls with Star Wars, you would never confuse the two, but you know that Space Balls could never exist without Star Wars.

All of your points were great, but I think number 2 is particularly great, and a very important thing to remember. I’d strongly suggest that people intending to write parodies expand on that rule to include not only studying what they intend to parody, but parodies in general.

They should watch everything that Mel Brooks made before 1995, watch The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin, the single greatest parody ever, and every other good parody of note they can. Then watch everything Mel Brooks made after 1995 (It’s one movie, it’s bad, but we forgive him.) and then find a religion they don’t mind losing and start the arduous and painful process of watching every terrible Leslie Nielsen parody that they can. Watch Spy Hard, 2001: A Space Travesty, Wrongfully Accused, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, and Superhero movie, but they should never, and I repeat, never watch An American Carol, they will not survive. I’m sure others can give examples of good and bad parodies that deserve studying.

You have to understand the genre before you try to write it or you are doomed to failure. You have to try to understand why Scary Movie 4 is so terrible but Silent Movie made Helen Keller giggle. It all comes back to writing what you know.

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