Use of Satire and Parody
Zoo included satirical articles and parodies of mainstream media or cultural trends, offering comedic critiques, This humor style aligned with the magazine's irreverent brand.
Satire is a literary technique that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human vices, foolishness, hypocrisy, or social evils while parody imitates an existing work to create a new one. Both techniques are often used in literature, film, television, theatre, and print media, including newspapers and magazines.
In Zoo, the use of satire and parody were frequently used to critique pop culture, politics, and society. For example, they would mock celebrities, politicians, and advertising campaigns by creating fake news stories, fictional interviews, and absurd products. One famous example was their "Ask Dr. Sears" column, where readers could ask medical questions and receive humorous answers from a fake doctor. The column poked fun at the traditional advice column format while also highlighting the absurdity of some medical practices.
The magazine also used satire and parody to comment on current events and popular trends. They would create spoofs of celebrity scandals or political controversies, using absurdist logic to make a point about the absurdities of modern life. For example, in 1975, they published a story about Jimmy Carter's proposed presidential library being built inside an actual house of cards. The article used hyperbole and absurd imagery to poke fun at the public's obsession with celebrity culture.
Zoo's use of satire and parody was a significant part of its identity as a countercultural publication that challenged mainstream norms. It allowed them to explore serious issues through humor and provoke critical thinking about topics like consumerism, sexism, racism, and politics. Their approach to journalism was innovative for its time and helped to pave the way for other publications to use similar techniques to challenge authority and convention.