The Problem With Irony 

Irony versus a 'new' sincerity

Sincerity	Irony
'goo' prone	caustic
naive	smart
open and honest	closed off
uncool	hip
offers wisdom	Value

Post-Modern traits

Self referentiality………… Winking at yourself or the audience

moral relativism…………. morals, ethics, and values are relative, changeable, protean

Cynicism…………. Generalized distrust

Irony……….. getting exactly the opposite of what is expected

Irreverence……. lack of respect

Intertextuality/Parody……………..think Family Guy references to other stories

Post Modern Ideals

• nihilistic world view
  •  It’s all socially constructed;
  • there are no absolute truths;
  • nobody understands this like I do;
  • only my perspective matters;
  • but also, nothing matters

The trouble with sarcasm...

"As I said, this was my sarcastic summer. It was only long after that I recognized sarcasm as the protest of people who are weak," (Knowles, A Separate Peace)