An Abundance of Irony

Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I spend much of it (hey, I am a capitalist (albeit one of the 47% variety) — spending is what I do) reading articles on the web. I read a lot and of just about any subject; though most of what I read involves politics, current events, and, as t’is the season of the warmth-seeking rodents, the intricacies involved in the care and feeding of the Mus musculus. And, as I’m sure most can imagine, most of what I read is just pure blather; however, as most of you (and by most (what’s with all the mosts?) I mean the one or two of the three regular readers of this site (one of whom is me)) know, blather is my speciality so I dig it.

In addition to the intricacies involved in the care and feeding of the Mus musculus, I’ve also been reading lately about irony (see german links below). Let me tell ya, there are some rather heady, profound philosophical conceptualizers out there coming up with some rather heady, (did I say german? I meant germane not german! see germane links below) profound philosophical concepts…meaning, I don’t understand most of what I’ve read.

Consequently, it’s hard for me to get my less than profound head wrapped around them.

No matter how many times I look up the meaning of irony, I can never remember exactly what it is whenever I’m securely within that proverbial pinch. If I don’t really know what it means, how can I confidently, and safely, do irony?

But when does one ever really “need” to know the meaning of irony? I pretend I hear you asking.

That’s a very good question.

So, as witnessed by Ms Ryder’s insecure character, there just may be times when we find ourselves in a situation where we do need to understand the meaning of irony.

Well, maybe we shouldn’t characterize it as a need. But for argument’s sake, let’s say it is. Does that mean that everyone has a need for irony?

I mean, would a Third World Kid picking through the pile of trash in search of dinner ever have a need for irony? Perhaps at some point in his or her miserable life this kid might realize that life, just about all of it, is mostly ironic in the sense that outcomes rarely match expectations.

But is understanding that ironic concept going to help fill his or her belly? Nope.

But knowing that concept and applying it effectively in, let’s say, an “artistic” environment just might fill a belly or two.

If the act of living is mostly ironic, good god, how many times more ironic can the arts then be? When I think about all the art created over time by all the artists of whom the world will never know…wow…to me that is irony of the purest kind.

Premo Irony.

Just as is a painting of a conceptualized aspect of life, one which the altruistic artist surely humbly pained over in an effort to help us better understand the irony of our ironic lives, selling for millions of dollars.

That would fill a belly or two, no?

C’mon, the conundrum of irony is purely a First World Conundrum, a conundrum which can only be understood and appropriately applied within the context of abundance. Therefore, embrace your privilege and the irony it affords you and, whenever you see a striving ironic hipster, instead of resisting the urge to punch him in the face, smile kindly, pat him knowingly and condescendingly on the head, and see him safely on his way.

Postscript:

But, like I said earlier, no matter how much I read and discuss about all this irony stuff, I still am not sure I really understand it.

Let’s just say I’m much more comfortable in a practical, hands on vice heads on environment.

So, in the spirit of practical applicability and to see if I have been able to absorb even a little bit of what I read/discussed, I am going to attempt to practice applying irony in an understandable (at least to me) and practical way.

From now on, if I read an article and/or post of any sort (facebook, twitter, cereal box, etc.) and I don’t comment, “like,” or tweet it, it could be because not that I don’t like it, but because I DO like it.

Inversely, if I read an article and/or post of any sort and I do comment, “like,” or tweet it, it could be because…well, you know…more applied irony.

Wouldn’t that be ironic?

Would it?

Germane Links Below

~ New York Times’s How to Live Without Irony

~ Big Think’s In Defense of Irony

~ Irony, as told by Wikipedia

~ Irony, as told by Sons of Anarchy–Hollywood’s Shakespearean Expression of the American Way of Life