Spoofs

A spoof can mean either a deception or a kind of satire, depending on the context. Historically, the term originated in the late 19th century as a hoax, trick, or ruse (specifically a bluffing card game invented by comedian Arthur Roberts in 1889). In modern usage, this definition persists in technology, such as caller ID, IP address, or email spoofing, where someone disguises their electronic identity to deceive a system or person.

On our website, the word means a light, good-humored parody or lampoon. In this sense, a spoof is a work (like a film, article, or program) that imitates the style of a serious subject or genre and exaggerates its features for comic effect, without the severe social criticism often found in satire.