Smirky Situation

Who doesn’t know Tom Brady and the whirlwind of drama that has followed him as of late last year? According to this recent post by The Onion, Tom Brady has been physically unable to stop smirking in response to the overturned suspension call.

The analysis of this article all starts with the audience. The story is meant for everyone able to catch onto the satire present; Brady fans, haters, and even those who know only that he plays football can enjoy this article of pure fiction.

Although at first sight, it may seem very credible, the tone of the article gives a very satirical representation of the actual meaning of the story. It is full of direct quotes and factual evidence, that if one did not know any better, would therefore believe the entire article to be true. An example of fake credibility comes from a Tom Brady quote, which states that, “I was obviously really happy when I heard the judge’s decision, but it’s seven days later and all the muscles in my face are still just stuck like this.” It is almost humorous when the article describes the panicked look in his eyes and fear in his words, all the while still smirking. Is it even possible to smirk non-stop for seven days straight?

The text also is a good analysis of this sarcastic article. It is realistic in its apparent reactions by Tom Brady and speaks of actions that he could have possibly done. “Brady had finally fallen asleep with a pained smirk still frozen on his face”. The article’s manner is as if it had been right there in front of Brady as he slept, giving a first person account of his complicated sleeping arrangement. All-in-all, this article is a great representation of a hoax. It is put into a seeming credible online news page, with a plethora of eye-catching headlines all over, drawing in you attention to articles that are nothing more than satirical nonsense.