On the Humblebrag and Irony

Archie Grand Notebook 

 

The New York Times is just killing it with its ingenuity.  Just when you think that everyone has already said everything that could possibly be said in an era of Internet self-publishing (Thank you Shishboombang)-- print gets stronger and smarter.  In my opinion, the NYT takes the cake when it comes to the printed word.   Word!

As I write a NYT accolade from across the coast in Los Angeles, there are two recent articles that stand out in my mind as being worth a mention. The first, How to Live Without Irony, recounts how we have gotten so caught up in the culture of making fun of our own selves. Everything has become one big joke, everyone is just one big laughing-stock, and nothing takes on meaning of any kind. Entire identities revolve around jokes, gaffs, and the absurd.  "Irony functions as a shield against criticism" meaning irony functions as a shield against feelings.  The article begs the question: "Do we fear ourselves?" Maybe, as hipsters?!   

The second article, If I Do Humblebrag Myself, does an outstanding job calling us ALL out on the stupid passive-yet-over-confident-statuses that we post on Facebook, Twitter, yada yada and other forums of insta-feed.  I just posted one this afternoon, "I can (almost) write again! Hurrah!" What a complete sucker I am.

Article 2 oddly relates to Article 1 because once again the trending theme of how we all exist day-to-day is by making fun of ourselves as the per usual of life. 

These articles (please click the links which are embedded above and actually read them!)--though not earth-shattering or paradigm-shifting pieces-- provoke thought and observation about the world in which we live and the people with which we share our lives. With humor and wit, these articles make us more aware of the absurdities of every day life as well as brush us (or our parents) up on popular culture.  When it comes to current accounts of people (and the culture that inevitably comes with people),the NYT will not let you down as a source of insight into the human race. Human behavior is the best writing material, as far as I am concerned--simply because-- You just cannot make our $*% up!