Browsing the archives for the postirony category

Dissertation abstract

in postirony

I’ve been frantically copyediting my dissertation in anticipation of filing this coming Wednesday. One thing I’ve finally settled is the wording of my abstract, which took way longer than it should have. For those who’re interested, here’s the final text I’ve come reluctantly to accept: “Wipe That Smirk off Your Face” examines a contemporary ethos […]

Return to Life

in dissertation, Pop Apocalypse, postirony

I’ve been woefully negligent as a blogger (and, I should say, as a fiction writer), too busy putting the finishing touches on my dissertation to do much else. My primary chapters are all done, and my introduction and conclusion are mostly written. Two-three more days — finishing the intro and conclusion and doing a global […]

Starting Summer

in Barack Obama, postirony

I’m back from a trip to Seattle and Portland where I did readings at Elliott Bay and Powell’s (on Hawthorne). These were great fun, the bookstores both awesome, and they drew my biggest crowds yet — not huge, but respectable, in the (very) low double digits. It’s kind of neat that people who’ve presumably never […]

Postirony, again. And DFW.

in David Foster Wallace, postirony

One negative consequence of publishing Pop Apocalypse is that I’ve been blogging very little about my dissertation. For four years, I pretty regularly updated my other blog, The Postironic Times, but in 2008 I closed up shop there, transferred all my postings to this site, but lost a bit of momentum in the switch. Well, […]

McCain the Ironist

in Barack Obama, irony, John McCain, postirony

Neal Gabler has written an interesting analysis of the McCain campaign for the NYT: Seeming to view himself and the whole political process with a mix of amusement and bemusement, Mr. McCain is an ironist wooing a group of individuals [journalists] who regard ironic detachment more highly than sincerity or seriousness. He may be the […]

McCain the Ironist

in Barack Obama, irony, John McCain, postirony

Neal Gabler has written an interesting analysis of the McCain campaign for the NYT: Seeming to view himself and the whole political process with a mix of amusement and bemusement, Mr. McCain is an ironist wooing a group of individuals [journalists] who regard ironic detachment more highly than sincerity or seriousness. He may be the […]

Cognitive Science and Irony

in cogntive science, irony, postirony

I usually hate these sorts of thing, but the Stanford Humanities Center had a great conference on Friday on cognitive science and literature. I unfortunately could only attend the morning session on irony, which featured Herb Clark (Psychology, Stanford), Joshua Landy (French, Stanford), and Elaine Scarry (English, Harvard) and was chaired by Lanier Anderson (Philosophy, […]

Cognitive Science and Irony

in cogntive science, irony, postirony

I usually hate these sorts of thing, but the Stanford Humanities Center had a great conference on Friday on cognitive science and literature. I unfortunately could only attend the morning session on irony, which featured Herb Clark (Psychology, Stanford), Joshua Landy (French, Stanford), and Elaine Scarry (English, Harvard) and was chaired by Lanier Anderson (Philosophy, […]

Granta v. McSweeney’s

in McSweeney's, postirony

I received a link to this Times article today. A few interesting quotes: The McSweeney’s author is not above playing language games or creating work that is aware of its artificiality, although he is also careful not to let this playfulness detract from the work’s emotional impact. There is by no means a house style, […]

Granta v. McSweeney’s

in McSweeney's, postirony

I received a link to this Times article today. A few interesting quotes: The McSweeney’s author is not above playing language games or creating work that is aware of its artificiality, although he is also careful not to let this playfulness detract from the work’s emotional impact. There is by no means a house style, […]