Burlesquing

Burlesquing, as a verb, signifies the act of ridiculing a subject, style, or work through exaggerated imitation and comic distortion. It employs satire, often of a slapstick nature, to expose flaws, absurdity, or pretension. The goal of burlesquing is typically to provoke laughter, but it can also serve as a form of social commentary or critical analysis. It involves taking something serious and twisting it into something absurd. The exaggeration serves to highlight the underlying assumptions or contradictions within the original subject matter. The humor often arises from unexpected juxtapositions, irreverent takes, and a playful disregard for convention, making the original context ridiculous.

Burlesquing meaning with examples

• The comedian's routine skillfully burlesqued the political candidate's mannerisms, exaggerating his gestures and voice to highlight his perceived arrogance and lack of self-awareness. The audience erupted in laughter as he mimicked the politician’s famous handshakes and pronouncements, effectively making the audience see the absurdity of those behaviours.
• In the play, the actors burlesqued the pompous etiquette of the Victorian upper class. They mimicked their exaggerated gestures and affected speech, while also using the style of slapstick comedy, using custard pies and falling over on each other, to satirize the artificiality and hypocrisy of their social mores.
• The artist's work cleverly burlesqued the conventions of landscape painting, portraying idyllic scenes with comically oversized elements and absurd details, like a dog riding a unicorn. The effect was to deconstruct the traditional genre, prompting viewers to question the romanticized notions of nature.
• During the debate, the panel burlesqued the news anchor's tendency to interrupt guests, repeating his questions and cutaways in increasingly rapid succession. This satire effectively exposed how they saw the anchor used a lack of respect for the guests and the subject matter as an entertaining but damaging technique of interviewing.