May 16, 2005: what in the confound cat hair would you want me to do
In several conversations about the subject, the concept of post-awareness has been defined. I almost hesitate to write about this here, because to enter the idea in your heads is to lead you down a dark tunnel chalk full of insular references and cross references, but I will try and keep it simple for y'all. I wouldn't write it if I didn't think I could get you out, either. So here we go
Irony is a mindstate which has all but flooded our generation's consciousness. The example I often cite is clothing, specifically t-shirts; go to the mall, look at t-shirts, you will have some idea of what I'm talking about. But it is found everywhere else, it is movies, it is music and I guess I won't choose to venture into books, because I don't yet have enough of a literature backing to make informed decisions.
Irony is no longer novel. We've given it, what, about 20 years, but in less than a year, I somehow changed from making fun of things to making fun of people who make fun of things. What I end up dealing with is a parenthetical post-post-post maze, where in my mind I am wondering if I will advance to the next level of hierarchical understanding and condescension. And I guess me and whoever else is joining are ready to get off the train.
People are funny, I am not going to deny humor in people. But living this as a guiding principle is somehow flawed, it makes me want to wash my hands. It is at the basis of unjust culture theft, unfunny sarcasm, and awkward cultural misunderstandings. This is all due to too much insincerity, and in a post-aware world, it is no longer necessary for one to remain so desperately aware in order to be cool.
I do warn you, as was reminded of me by a professor, that one should not feed any sort of belief too much. The critical thinker doesn't dine on only one theory, lest his mind become clouded with that idea alone. As you can see with our friends the extremists of the religious right and even our real friends on the far protesty left, that sort of thing ends up being pretty circular. This is why I like emo music, but I don't love/live it. It is also why people start watching the OC ironically but inevitably come to a melodramatic point of addiction. In my understanding of the spectrum of emotional expression, one can not or should not be exclusively pure emotion or pure insincerity, rather, it is the mix of both which is apt to produce a more enjoyable person.
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here is a link to the essay I wrote about this subject, through the context of Beck. some people will find it intresting, while the rest are probably too insincere or emotional...:jeff:
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Comments
according to conrad birdie, you gotta be sincere. I think your explanation of how much humor has gone wrong is dead on. I think this surfaced after the second american pie. since then, rarely is teen humor portrayed in an honest enough light to accurately represent the culture aimed for. The result is people picking up attitude in the wrong places. Napoleon Dynamite is a revolution of some sort bringing us back to honesty, but why are the prettiest girls in school ripping napoleon lines? don't they know napoleon flippin hates people like them? he is a mega outcast and doesnt care and thats why its funny.
right around the time the spectrum of emotions was created I decided to be less sarcastic because people couldnt tell when I was being sincere. If sarcasm is assumed then its a little self defeating. What kind of effed up world allows people to get by without being sincere?
Posted by: joel big boner | May 17, 2005 12:17 AM
Some of these late night debates on the nature of irony, post-awareness and culture have been I feel some of the most enlightening I've ever had.
At one point we came across a theory that sarcasm is the tool of the masses (/stupid people). You see it a lot more in sitcoms that my roommate watched, such as Yes Dear, and the people that tend to use it the most are not the brightest bulbs. Yet I still use sarcasm sometimes, as does anyone, but this is something we still felt we stumbled across. Irony is therefore the second tier, currently adopted en masse by college kids and bottom-level hipsters (see: Urban Outfitters). I use irony plenty as well. Then we have the latte-sipping, elitist bastards: the post-aware. I actually had to defend post-awareness to a non-believer, and ended by agreeing that it is NOT possible to be post-aware in everything. I, for example, consider myself post-aware in music for a myriad of reasons mostly having to do with Ashlee Simpson, but I still smirk when I pop a collar. Not quite mission accomplished.
About mohawks in Texas:
"Yeah but these guys weren't even post-aware. They were just pre-lame."
Posted by: dave | May 17, 2005 12:42 AM
too long
Posted by: bobby | May 17, 2005 5:18 PM
too long for what? my argument? or your brain?
Posted by: Jeff | May 17, 2005 6:46 PM
joel hit the nail on the head about n. dynamite.
i'm halfway through your beck thing, i stopped halfway through because i had to drop my mom off somewhere, but i'll finish it sometime.
and bobby just got snapped.
Posted by: bone 1.0 | May 17, 2005 7:23 PM
I read it until page 7 when I had to figure out where I had to go pee in a cup for my Job. Or if I really had to. I am unsure.
Anywho, like I told Joel, its good but I don't really give a shit right now. Though my use of constant sarcasim is important because I wouldn't be myself if it weren't for it.
Posted by: Rob | May 18, 2005 3:20 PM
well done.
i'd say it's an A job of boiling down our multitude of conversations concerning irony, post-awareness, sincerity, and honesty. i'd say A+ but the english teacher in me is harping on the missed apostrophe in "it's" on page 7 & the repetition of "almost" earlier in the paper. kidding kind of. ask dave about my hidden english teacher self and ignore my refusal to use capital letters.
anyways, as far as sarcasm vs sincerity goes... i can't help but think of our 901 conversation concerning the "no offense, but..." clause.
i'd explain further so that non-nyuers can understand, but unfortunately i have to go make sure my little brother isn't dying. lame.
anyways, i'm with dave on the ashlee simpson, and as some message on facebook said regarding urban outfitters: "O is for Overpriced"
Posted by: mad | May 18, 2005 6:41 PM