A rant is a short, emotionally charged speech that attacks or expresses an opinion about a person, institution, or idea. It aims to get a strong message across and may use exaggeration, short sentences, irony, or sarcasm. Rants are often used in opinion pieces, television shows, or for entertainment by comedians, politicians, or commercial spokespeople seeking to ridicule human faults or offer social criticism.

1. MEDIA STUDY
The Rant

3. WHAT IS A RANT?
• A rant is a short speech that is
emotionally charged. It may be an
attack or opinion on a person,
institution or idea. A satirical rant is
a piece of writing that uses irony
and sarcasm.

4. WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION
DOES IT PROVIDE?
• It is opinionated. It may or may not
be factual information. Facts may
be used to support points, or
exaggeration may be used to stress
points. Sometimes short, choppy
sentences can create impact.

5. WHO SAYS IT?
• Someone who has a strong opinion to give –
a commercial spokesperson, a politician, a
satirist, an entertainer. Rick Mercer and
Stephen Colbert are examples of entertainers
who use satirical rants. Some television
shows rely heavily on satire, such as The
Simpsons and Family Guy.

6. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF A RANT?
• To get a strong message
across, in short news
segments or opinion pieces,
or for entertainment.

7. WHAT IS IRONY?
• A statement that means the opposite of the
literal meaning. For example, after seeing a
tear-jerker movie: “Well, that was certainly
uplifting!”
• Other examples: a firefighter afraid of fires; a
dentist with cavities and crooked teeth; rain on
your wedding day when you chose a location
with 1% precipitation year round, etc.

8. WHAT IS SARCASM?
• Sarcasm is irony that is worded and
meant to be mocking, insulting or hurtful.
• Example: “Nice dress, did you borrow it
from your grandmother?”
• When something bad happens, a
sarcastic remark would be, “That’s just
what I needed! Thanks!”

9. WHAT IS SATIRE?
• Satire arouses laughter or scorn as a means of
ridicule with the intention of correcting human
faults. Common targets of satire include
individuals, social groups, institutions, politics
and human nature. Although satire is meant to
be funny, its greater purpose is often
constructive social criticism. Satire makes strong
use of irony and sarcasm.