Good, thoughtful piece today. The danger of commenting on irony/sarcasm is that an earnest word of appreciation needs to be examined from the other direction. Was that sarcasm, maybe a little too nice? (NO. It was a compliment, darn it. Accept it at face value.)
A problem in the current political world is that we currently have two codes -- two languages -- operating at once. Trump succeeds in being in the news and top of mind by being outrageous. It is fascinating in a grotesque way, and so outside the norms of good behavior that it looks like parody, which is another form of sarcasm. Trump hawking the Bible, saying it is his favorite book. How would one exaggerate/parody that? A person saying deadpan that "the Bible is Trump's favorite book so it is fully appropriate that he sell it for $59.99 and we are lucky he brought this discovery to our attention way" would almost certainly be understood to be sarcastic. Perhaps cruelly so. It is laughable. Or risible. But Trump promoted it without a bit of shame.
Meanwhile, there is the other code/language/frame in which politics is carried out "normally" in which politicians and pundits are in fact earnest about matters of seriousness and near sacredness. Democracy. Patriotism. The JFK "ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." That language of good intention still exists. No irony. Full earnestness.
Somehow Trump saying he does pay taxes because he is smart and that a president has full immunity even if he assassinates his political opponent exists in the same pool of political discourse as does the remnant of JFK style speech.
Switching subject: what a strong image of the father hearing the son being cruel and hating how it sounded. The child is father to the man.
It's always a pleasure to engage in a riveting conversation with a political junkie who knows everything about politics and never misses an opportunity to share their vast knowledge with everyone around them.
end sarcasm to say I'm a NeverTrumper but I find it disheartening when politics seems to often be thrown into Dr Mardy's wonderful weekly notes!!
When an institution is on the receiving end of sarcasm rather than an individual, it is much easier to enjoy the word play. The Twain quote is a perfect example. If I remember correctly Gore Vidal years ago used his razor sharp wit to assail televised news media with "apparently just having no talent is no longer enough". Priceless! Anyway, this was one of your best columns ever, kudos to you. And this comes from a subscriber who has been with you for 15 plus years. Congratulations!
Great offering, and so masterfully composed
Thanks for your heartwarming words, my friend.
Great post! Insightful and informative as always.
Thanks, Harvey. It nice to be admired by people I admire.
Good, thoughtful piece today. The danger of commenting on irony/sarcasm is that an earnest word of appreciation needs to be examined from the other direction. Was that sarcasm, maybe a little too nice? (NO. It was a compliment, darn it. Accept it at face value.)
A problem in the current political world is that we currently have two codes -- two languages -- operating at once. Trump succeeds in being in the news and top of mind by being outrageous. It is fascinating in a grotesque way, and so outside the norms of good behavior that it looks like parody, which is another form of sarcasm. Trump hawking the Bible, saying it is his favorite book. How would one exaggerate/parody that? A person saying deadpan that "the Bible is Trump's favorite book so it is fully appropriate that he sell it for $59.99 and we are lucky he brought this discovery to our attention way" would almost certainly be understood to be sarcastic. Perhaps cruelly so. It is laughable. Or risible. But Trump promoted it without a bit of shame.
Meanwhile, there is the other code/language/frame in which politics is carried out "normally" in which politicians and pundits are in fact earnest about matters of seriousness and near sacredness. Democracy. Patriotism. The JFK "ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." That language of good intention still exists. No irony. Full earnestness.
Somehow Trump saying he does pay taxes because he is smart and that a president has full immunity even if he assassinates his political opponent exists in the same pool of political discourse as does the remnant of JFK style speech.
Switching subject: what a strong image of the father hearing the son being cruel and hating how it sounded. The child is father to the man.
hmmm, perhaps a bit of sarcasm is called for?
It's always a pleasure to engage in a riveting conversation with a political junkie who knows everything about politics and never misses an opportunity to share their vast knowledge with everyone around them.
end sarcasm to say I'm a NeverTrumper but I find it disheartening when politics seems to often be thrown into Dr Mardy's wonderful weekly notes!!
I'm trying to keep my newsletter apolitical, dj, but subscribers are free to express what they want in the "Comments" section.
Thanks for the compliment, Peter, and also for weighing in on this week's theme.
Example: Sarcasm - Mardy, of all the weekly blogs you've ever written, this is most certainly one of them.
Def: Irony - The opposite of wrinkly.
Thanks, Mike. Cute definition.
When an institution is on the receiving end of sarcasm rather than an individual, it is much easier to enjoy the word play. The Twain quote is a perfect example. If I remember correctly Gore Vidal years ago used his razor sharp wit to assail televised news media with "apparently just having no talent is no longer enough". Priceless! Anyway, this was one of your best columns ever, kudos to you. And this comes from a subscriber who has been with you for 15 plus years. Congratulations!
David Hall, Fire Chief Retired, Greenfield NH
Poor, poor Katherine!
**
SAR-CHASM -- The large & deep gap between what is said & what is truly meant.
Thanks, Louis. Yes, she's had to endure a lot with me! Great daffy-nition!