Exaggeration
Exaggeration represents something as more extreme or dramatic than it is, intentionally or unintentionally. It can be a rhetorical device or figure of speech used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression.
Amplifying achievements, obstacles, and problems to seek attention is an everyday occurrence. Inflating the difficulty of achieving a goal after attaining it can bolster self-esteem.
In the arts, exaggerations are used to create emphasis or effect. As a literary device, exaggerations are often used in poetry and are frequently encountered in casual speech. Many times, the usage of hyperbole describes something as better or worse than it really is. An example of hyperbole is: "The bag weighed a ton." Hyperbole points out that the bag was very heavy, though it probably does not weigh a ton.
Exaggerating is also a type of deception and a means of malingering, magnifying small injuries or discomforts as an excuse to avoid responsibilities.
Etymology
The word has origins in the mid-16th century: from Latin exaggerat- 'heaped up', from the verb exaggerare, from ex- 'thoroughly' + aggerare 'heap up' (from agger 'heap'). The word originally meant 'pile up, accumulate', later 'intensify praise or blame', giving rise to current senses.
In the arts
The exaggerator has been a familiar figure in Western culture since at least Aristotle's discussion of the alazon.[Note 1]
Expressionism
Harold Bloom describes expressionist art as attempting to "intensify the expression of feeling and attitude by exaggeration". Harold Osborne writes that in its wake, even the "new and hard realism...kept much of the distortion and exaggeration which had been one of the chief devices of earlier Expressionism".
Tragedy
The "braggart soldier" Pyrgopolynices in a 2012 production of the play Miles Gloriosus
Although primarily a comic figure, the boastful Alazon may be one aspect of the tragic hero as well: the touch of Miles gloriosus ("braggart soldier") in Tamburlaine, even in Othello, has been commented upon, as has the touch of the obsessed philosopher in Faustus and Hamlet'.
Humor
Emil Draitser writes, "Some theoreticians of the comic consider exaggeration a universal comic device." It may take different forms in different genres, but in the words of M. Eastman and W. Fry, all rely on the fact that 'the easiest way to make things laughable is to exaggerate to the point of absurdity their salient traits.'
A caricature is a type of portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. Filippo Baldinucci describes this as "disproportionately increasing and emphasizing the defects of the features." In literature, a caricature describes a person by exaggerating some characteristics and oversimplifying others.
Slapstick is a form of humor that involves exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of common sense. These exaggerated depictions are often found in cartoons and light film comedies aimed at younger audiences.
Overacting
Overacting is the exaggeration of gestures and speech during an acting performance. It may be unintentional, particularly in the case of a bad actor, or required for the role. The latter is commonly used in comical situations or to emphasize a villain's evil characteristics. Since people perceive acting quality differently, the extent of overacting can be subjective.
Exaggeration is especially useful for animation, as perfect imitation of reality can look static and dull in cartoons. The level of exaggeration depends on whether one seeks realism or a particular style, like a caricature or the style of a specific artist. The classical definition of exaggeration, employed by Disney, was to remain faithful to reality, just presenting it in a wilder, more extreme form. Other forms of exaggeration can involve the supernatural or surreal, alterations in the physical features of a character, or elements in the storyline itself. It is essential to employ a certain level of restraint when using exaggeration. If a scene contains several components, there should be a balance in how those elements are exaggerated concerning each other to avoid confusing or overawing the viewer.
Shock jockery
A shock jock, a type of radio broadcaster or disc jockey, entertains listeners or attracts attention using humor or melodramatic exaggeration that some portion of the listening audience may find offensive.
In journalism
Schopenhauer saw exaggeration as essential to journalism. He may have overstated this case, but yellow journalism thrived on exaggeration, and fact-checking and independent verification have not succeeded in suppressing clickbait or hyperbolic headlines.
In politics
During the election of 1800, surrogates of John Adams' political campaign warned voters that if Thomas Jefferson won the election, "murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will openly be taught and practiced."
Politicians can exaggerate. In the electoral process, one may expect exaggeration. Outside, propaganda exaggerations can bolster an incumbent's position.
In psychology
People with the following mental health issues are prone to make exaggerated representations:
- Factitious disorder/malingering,
- Substance related and addictive disorders
- Acute stress disorder,
- Post traumatic stress disorder,
- Avoidant personality disorder, and
- Narcissistic personality disorder.
Factitious disorder is when a person acts as if they have a physical or psychological illness. People with this disorder create the symptoms and are willing to undergo painful or risky tests to get sympathy and special attention.
In popular culture
In 1969, the Monty Python sketch Dirty Fork demonstrated an absurd level of catastrophization: restaurant staff commit suicide and murder each other because a customer complained about a dirty fork. Compare this with the scene in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail involving the Black Knight character, which is the opposite extreme of absurdity (minimisation).
Notes
- ↑ Alazṓn is one of three stock characters in the comedy of the theatre of ancient Greece. He is the opponent of the eirôn. The alazṓn is an impostor who sees himself as greater than he is.
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Complex post-traumatic stress disorder • Dehumanization • Denial • Destabilisation • Exaggeration • Adult grooming • Child grooming • Lying • Manipulation • Minimisation • Personality disorders • Psychological projection • Psychological trauma • Psychopathy • Rationalization (making excuses) • Victim blaming • Victim playing • Victimisation |
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Exaggeration ]
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