Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals and society itself into improvements. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social critiscim, using wit as its weapon.