Parody is part of all our lives. It occurs not only in literature, but also in everyday speech, in theatre and television, architecture and films. Drawing on examples from Aristophanes to The Simpsons, Simon Dentith explores: * the place of parody in the history of literature * parody as a subversive or conservative mode of writing * parody's pivotal role in debates about postmodernism * parody in the culture wars from ancient times to the present This lively introduction situates parody at the heart of literary and cultural studies and offers a remarkably clear guide to this sometimes complex topic. Parody will serve as an essential resource, to be read and re-read by students of all levels.