We all know that the song 'Ironic' actually has no examples of irony in it and that is what makes it ironic.... BUT! Why is it that very few people understand irony? Especially, and I apologise for this, Americans. (They have trouble with apostrophes too).
2007-03-29 11:00:49 · 11 answers · asked by lellylurve 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
thankyou i thought i was the only one to notice that catchy song but so far off the mark xx
2007-03-29 11:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by nendlin 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Irony is one of those words where everyone thinks they have an intuitive concept of what it means, when in reality they don't.
The definition of "irony" has changed over the past 20 years or so. When I look it up in the dictionary these days, one of the definitions is:
"Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs"
I think that's the sense most people use for the word "irony". Unfortunately that definition is sufficiently vague that a lot of things fit into it.
In your Alanis example, rain on your wedding day, a no smoking sign on your cigarette break, and good advice you just can't take could be construed as fitting into that definition.
Personally, I'm with you. I think the definition of the term "irony" has been watered down to the extent that it now seems to mean "unexpected" and nothing more.
2007-03-29 18:12:04 · answer #2 · answered by Dave R 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Irony is often misused? Really? You've given one example by a woeful songstress who wouldn't know irony if it bit her. Hardly makes for a convincing argument. I'd suggest reading more widely for educational purposes. Irony is alive and well but not likely to be in the trash most people read on a day to day basis.
2007-03-29 18:47:33 · answer #3 · answered by tara_365 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To truly understand irony, one must be able to laugh at oneself in a time of hardship. Americans - and those upon whom their culture has been so generously bestowed (thick Brits and Eastern Europeans) - take themselves far to seriously and are much more likely to have a tantrum or start a fight instead.
And the irony is, that a thick, depressing, whining bint like Alanis Morissette is the emblem you've chosen to illustrate the lack of finesse in ironic humour appreciation in the world today. The humour hurts... but not as much as her singing...
2007-03-29 18:12:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES! It's true. I've been saying for years that that song is not ironic, it's just a series of bummers. Irony is a 'higher' level of humor and it doesn't surprise me that many people, and especially Americans (and I am an American) do not get it. So many people didn't get that Borat was irony, that he's not a racist, that he's making fun of racism using...IRONY!
2007-03-29 18:09:54 · answer #5 · answered by prekinpdx 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
people would understand irony if it was properly explained to them during the course of their primary/secondary education.
perhaps many people understand it but they just didn't know there was a word for it.
not sure what a 'mis-use of irony' is though.
maybe its ironic that you yourself have mis-used the term 'misused'?; in terms of irony that is!
2007-03-29 20:48:05 · answer #6 · answered by Fran G 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course, you realise most of the Americans answering this will provide you with the ESSENCE of irony!
2007-03-29 18:09:51 · answer #7 · answered by RM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I heard a comedian tell the joke about that song, saying being stuck in a traffic jam when you're already late is only ironic if you are a town planner.....
2007-03-29 19:44:58 · answer #8 · answered by bee bee 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Post operative humour bypasses.
2007-03-29 18:03:35 · answer #9 · answered by Finbarr D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Thst is what the beautifully ironic thing about it is!
2007-03-29 18:10:02 · answer #10 · answered by Skating Nun 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋