Visual Satire

The people on the right resemble a group of zombies, with their lopsided features, wide eyes, and open mouths. This mocks the idea of a mindless mob, and the readiness of a group to assemble in order to fight for something that might not matter, just as long as everybody else is doing it. The twinkie represents a barely relevant issue that directly affects many people, while saving the Earth, as its condition will most likely not affect the current generation, is less important to the majority. People are willing to walk by matters of greater magnitude, as though ignorance will make them disappear, and instead focus their enthusiasm on more selfish causes.

The man and woman at left represent the rather helpless minority: those who are concerned for the world's future, but lack the proper attention to address the important issues at hand. They can only look on as people continue to disregard real problems. The "Save the Twinkie" sign is larger and more decorated, showing the greater appeal that the problem has in relation to the "Save the Earth" issue. The ground on which the two groups stand is separated, as though they live on different planets; this space represents the differences both sets of people have in their morals. The man's "We're doomed" text bubble hangs above everything else in the picture: if people continue to support issues that only affect those who live in the immediate present, eventually it will be too late to save anything. Like Miner's essay, this picture satirizes "the personality structure of [Americans]," (Miner 318). Today's society takes so much comfort in its rituals that it is only outraged by policy that prohibits their practice.