When Irony Becomes Cynicism :: essays research papers

&9 agreement modern culture can be very difficult. There atomic number 18 so many shares and variables that make up modern culture, and on top of that, these parts are always changing. In that sense, identifying and analyzing a item trait in modern culture can be extremely challenging. Pinpointing a trait that is so frequently overutilizationd it is often taken for granted. therefore beingness able to explain it so healthful that people willing be able to understand and see this trait as if they had neer used, or been a part of it before. This is the case with an essay by Charles Gordon, When chaff Becomes Cynicism. Through his essay, iodine learns where ironys roots started to grow into forthwiths monster that it is, and how irony is overused in television, radio and conversation. Gordon has skillfully and frankly registern how irony is perceived and used in todays parliamentary law. He fully shows that people use irony incorrectly, and it is to their disadvantage.& 9Gordon has a peculiarly negative view on how much irony is used today. The dissertation in his essay is not clearly stated, but his implied argument is that the overuse of irony has made society cynical. This negative view comes across to the contributor through sentences such as the following, after Gordon has explained the technical meaning of irony, "In todays context, irony is a sensibility that values chicness and style above passion and commitment. It attacks bad taste by appear to celebrate it. It mocks devotion to important causes by feigning devotion to picayune causes Which makes it sound pretty awful, and it can be." After the first few paragraphs in his essay, it becomes clear which side Gordon is on. However, he does show that he is not in all putting down irony, just the people using it incorrectly, " there is a line between irony and cheap cynicism that not everyone finds easily. The skillful ironist, one who uses the form as a weapon rather than an instrument of self-amusement, does society a service." His argument towards societys use of irony is well presented through his strong sentences. Gordon also provides an example of a popular show that is nigh based totally around this cynical-irony he is discussing. "Take almost any episode of the much-celebrated Seinfeld television show and try to find anything more important than the lineup at a bagel store being discussed." Gordon then begins to hint at the source of this type of overused irony, a part of society he rests some of the blame on pop-culture.