Isn't it Ironic?: Irony in Contemporary Popular Culture

This volume explores the relationship between irony and popular culture, examining its uses, abuses, and misunderstandings in contemporary popular culture. It also investigates the troubling political populism at the heart of many satirical and non-satirical texts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate interplay between irony and popular culture, shedding light on the crucial role of the consumer in shaping and disseminating meaning. Recognizing the pervasive nature of fractured communications and perilous linguistic exchanges in our cultural landscape, the book argues that the significance of irony in popular culture demands heightened scrutiny. It explores the diverse applications, abuses, and misunderstandings of irony in contemporary popular culture, while also unearthing the troubling political populism that underpins many supposedly satirical and (apparent) non-satirical texts.

In a society where irony is often invoked as a shield for material and behavior deemed controversial, how do we, as individuals immersed in forms of popular culture and media, interpret works that are intended as satire but appear unironic? How can we accurately decode works of popular film, literature, television, music, and other cultural forms that purport to offer bitingly ironic commentary on current society, yet also celebrate the very issues they purportedly critique? Moreover, what transpires when texts intended and received in one manner are ironically recontextualized in another?

Isnt it Ironic? brings together a diverse range of studies across various cultural texts, including popular music, film, and television, appealing to scholars across the social sciences and humanities with interests in cultural studies, media studies, popular culture, literary studies, and sociology. By examining the complexities of irony in our contemporary world, this book offers valuable insights into the ways in which consumers navigate and interpret the meanings conveyed through these cultural expressions.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367530839