True Life: I’m obsessed with Lily Allen.
Seriously, she is so cool. Lily Allen’s music is ironic, witty, and hilarious. In conclusion, to me she’s a talented satirical songwriter.
I’m so obsessed with Lily Allen that her song “Hard Out Here” inspired my post 15 Reasons why it’s hard out here for a b*tch.
In my last post, I critiqued Thought Catalog author Nicole Mullen’s article “Can We Please Stop Pretending Like We Don’t All Have Racist Songs We Sing In Private?” for its racist themes. After some discussion of the piece, I realized that the author had tagged her article as “humor.”

That was news to me. See, the key with humor is that it has to be funny. When I read Mullen’s article, I believe she left out the funny. Maybe she tagged it in the category by mistake?
I would advise Mullen in the future to pay attention to someone like Lily Allen and take note. Satire is not easy, which is why I rarely write it. I’d rather accidentally be funny than try it and fail miserably.
Satire is written with absurdity. That’s why a satirical news website like The Onion is so successful.
Lilly Allen’s “Hard Out Here” works because it’s outrageous and in-your-face with its vulgarity. The song discusses the dangerous ways women are still viewed in society today. While the themes are deep and serious, her humor drives the point home that “it’s hard out here for a bitch.”
Allen’s vulgarity works because it’s ironic. She uses derogatory language to illustrate the negative ways in which women are often discussed in the media.
Her lyrics addressing the unhealthy and narrow expectations women face are humorous in the fact that they’re truthful despite the absurdity:
“If you’re not a size six, then you’re not good looking
Well, you better be rich, or be real good at cooking
You should probably lose some weight ’cause we can’t see your bones
You should probably fix your face or you’ll end up on your own.”
While sexism isn’t funny (it’s actually a bunch of BS, to be honest), Allen approached the topic with satire, and that allows for a different perspective and a new way for society to have dialogue about feminism and its importance today.
Could Mullen have taken a similar approach and possibly written a funny article? Maybe. But her attempt was lackluster in my opinion. I had no idea she was attempting satire. I simply thought it was some nut who truly believed that free speech is for racist rants.
I don’t think that we should limit ourselves with the topics we write about. Anyone can write something controversial if he or she wants to. Writing is a world in which we can explore and dig deep. It’s a way of understanding the world we live in.
However, when tackling hot button issues and current events that touch a nerve with people, a writer should show tact and have the right intentions before publishing a piece. Mullen seemed to fail in this regard. I believe that her attempt at a satirical piece was insensitive because her intentions were not clear. While she may have been attempting to make light of the racist chant scandal with the fraternity members in Oklahoma, it appeared to me as a racist intent. If I didn’t know she was writing satire, then I’m sure there were others who didn’t know, either.
This is the main problem I have with the articles Thought Catalog has been publishing as of late. It seems to have become a free-for-all and that the work is a bit sloppy. The articles published are not only questionable in quality, but also worrisome with their intent. While I used to see Thought Catalog as a website that had more upbeat articles, now it’s become a mash-up of unpredictable content with no consistency.
So, to Nicole Mullen, if you ever discover this post:

I read the piece and noticed the humor tag. Her aim was off if she was intending something funny. And really, the piece was more centered on describing racist songs than satirizing anything. To me, I think she intended to label that as humor.
At any rate, this is a great post! Thank you for exploring this issue!
I agree that her aim was off. It was strange for her to label it “humor” when it wasn’t funny.
Thank you! I appreciate it. 🙂
Have you thought about writing to the writer of that Thought Character article and sending her a link to this one?
I did think about it, yes! I probably should.
Why not? You seem to have some very serious thoughts on the matter.
That’s very true. I think I will!
Good for you, Becky. I’m proud of you. 🙂
Thank you!
You’re welcome. We all need to hear things like that out loud every once in a while. 🙂
That’s very true.
It’s always nice to have a little sunshine on a gloomy day, don’t you agree? Almost as nice as freshly baked cookies!
I do agree. Yes, it’s almost as nice!
Why are you so obsessed with baking me cookies? I’ve never understood that… 😛
Ahhh, I’m pretty sure I’m not the one who’s obsessed with that! 😉
Hmmm…that might be right. I’ll have to go back and look at the hundreds of previous comments on the subject. 😉
Okay, let me know what you find. 🙂
I will, but I’m pretty sure you’re the one who has been insisting that she wants to bake me cookies to thank me for being so awesome to you… 🙂
Are you sure about that? 😉
My lawyer has advised me to simply nod at the beautiful woman asking me the questions. 🙂
Well he’s got that right at least. 🙂
(Austin nods in reply and just keeps smiling at Becky) 😀
Yay, good! 🙂
(Becky smiles and thinks to herself…I have trained him well)…
Exactly! 😉
There’s Cocky Becky again. Have you noticed I have teeny weeny crush on her? 😉
I may have noticed that, yes. 🙂
You are so observant. It’s like you have second sight. 🙂
That must be what it is. 🙂
I always suspected you were clairvoyant. Do you have a Magic 8 ball?
I don’t currently! I think I used to a long time ago though.
My friend Gwen has a small one for a key chain. It’s pretty awesome…
That’s very cool! I need another one.
You can’t lose your Magic 8 Ball key chain. That’s just unlucky!
So true!
I might have to buy you one if I spot one…
Sweet! 🙂
We shall see. If you’re good. 😉
Alrighty. 🙂
I will be on the look out for one, though. Promise.
Awesome!
One of my coworkers has a Magic 8 Ball on her desk. Maybe I’ll just swipe that and add a chain. 🙂
Good plan!
It might not fit into your pocket, though. Maybe you’ll need a big purse to keep it in?
That’s a good idea.
I assume you have a big purse. To fit all your blog ideas in, of course. 🙂
Exactly!
I have a messenger bag I like to keep with me because I always carry a book and some other important things. Guys can be prepared, too. Especially if they were Boy Scouts. 😉
Nice! Well that’s good. 🙂
One must always be prepared. This is Maine after all and there are Zombies trudging around…
So true! You’ve gotta be prepared for the zombies.
I hope you are. I worry about you not being prepared…
I’ll have to prepare for the zombies!
Please do. I need to know you’re safe…
Don’t worry, I will be!
That’s very reassuring.
Good to hear. 🙂
Yes, it’s nice to have positivity in one’s life. Thanks for continuing to provide that.
I completely agree. You’re very welcome. 🙂
Now if I can just get a positive review on last night’s date, I’d be in a really good mood. 🙂
Definitely. I’m sure she had fun.
Well, no word so far, so I’m thinking I have failed again.
I hope not!
It seems like it. I won’t give up hope yet, though.
Good!
You’ll just have to replace her as my next date. When are you available?
Hm, I may have to. Weekends are always good. 🙂
I will make it work! Don’t you worry. 🙂
Good, I’m glad. 🙂
Maine is a happy place. I think you’d like it here. And you’re already used to the snow. 🙂
I’ve noticed that Thought Catalog has gone downhill in the last year. Its an unfortunate that it continues to benefit from such a wide readership without quality controls.
I’ve noticed that, too. I agree that it’s unfortunate the website still has such a high readership when they’re publishing articles like this.