On Book TV there was a talk by the author of this book.
David Denby, author of “American Sucker” talks about the new tone in American conversation, including political discourse and journalism in his new book, “Snark”. He traces the history of snark (sarcasm) and argues for its removal from public discourse.
Torn to shreds
Speaking of snark the book is being torn to shreds in the reviews at Amazon. See: Snark
Irony
has always been part of American discourse. It has an important place in discourse and helps us bring us back to reality in this crazy world. Some people just don’t get it and will think-rightly-that they’re being mocked. It’s a sad day when comedians have to point out our hypocrisy to us.
My snark = wit, your snark = nastiness
Without reading the book (and I’m unlikely to), but reading some of the more plausible reviews–and knowing the writer is a film critic who fancies himself a wit–I’m struck that this may very well be one of those cases:
That is, “My snark = wit, undermining your stupidity. Your snark = nastiness, undermining Civilization As We Know It.”
Martin Luther said it a long time ago–“It makes a difference whose ox is gored.”
(Sigh. Checking this, I ran into a kiddie’s website that manages to conflate Martin Luther and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., thus giving MLK credit for not only the saying above but “A mighty fortress is our god, A bulwark never failing.” If Civilization As We Know It is doomed, this sort of terminally lazy nonsense counts for a lot more than snark.)
Webiste
I’ve personally explained to at least five adults that Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr are two completely different people.
I am not sure any of them understood it. I went to their houses and nailed biographies of both on their doors.
Made my day!
Just have to say, this comment made my day!
LOL!
Nice touch. Touche!
This comment is a perfect
This comment is a perfect example of how snark can be beautiful. π
I Wasn’t Snarking!
You’ve hurt my feelings, I Wasn’t “snarking”, I was being Perfectly Sincere!
(Now that’s a snark!)
Sometimes there’s no help
You’d think that opening up any good hymnal and pointing to the dates for Ein Feste Burg/A Mighty Fortress would do the trick…but nah, I guess not. And after all, what did Luther really do? I mean, all Christians are still Catholics, right? (Ducks…)
π
And oddly enough, I do have a hymnal at home. This particular text is Songs of Faith and Praise. The German monk is in there but Dr. Martin Luther King is not. John Wesley’s brother Charles has a ton in there too.
________________________
Stephen Michael Kellat, Host, LISTen
PGP KeyID: 899C131F