About The Ironist

A Tonic for the Age

The Ironist is an open forum to encourage discussion and reflection upon the written word and the world around us to promote critical analysis. Irony, “the recognition of incongruities” (Cleanth Brooks), is a tool that permits differing perspectives to be considered about a passage or event. Irony is notoriously hard to define, and its importance in a passage can vary upon the reader’s own views. Hence the purpose of our blog/newsletter. By encouraging constructive criticism and discussion, we hope complex issues can be better understood, or appreciated, by exploring ideas presented by the use, intended or otherwise, of irony.

In our age of misinformation and the polarization of views, the importance of standing back to employ the sober second thought cannot be more important. At the same time, the ironic viewpoint is rewarding and enjoyable. Although, to be fair, when Jesus reflected upon the cross about his dying for the thankless millions of the human race, enjoyment of his ironic offering might not be categorized as enjoyment.

The Politician, the Painting, the Cosmic Event; all can be Ironic.

This drawing attempts to show diagrammatically how irony can be created, intentionally or unintentionally, and considered by observers and participants, and that the message delivered can be perceived and understood differently.

Irony’s effectiveness lies in the twists in meaning of what has been viewed, said, or written and what has not been viewed, said, and written. Irony creates uncertainty and contrary meanings. Created by such vehicles as humour, horror, doubt, omission, exaggeration, paradoxes and aporia, irony can be an effective iconoclastic tool against the cruelty, corruption and hypocrisy of the world; a moral and effective weapon to destroy disillusion and despair by inspiring good deeds. Irony is satisfying to those who use it – and those who recognize it. In fact, ironically, it can be more than that – it can be a civilized game of intelligence and fun!

“I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him….

For Brutus is an honourable man;”

Said Mark Anthony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Of course, he was praising Caesar and damning Brutus.

The Sober Second Thought

Stopping the Creeping Cancer under Wokeism. Henry Goulburn, PC, one of the British negotiators at the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 (which ended America’s illegal attempt to seize Canada), remarked: “I had no idea of the fixed determination which there is in the heart of every American…”

Sinister Dealings

{In keeping with our tradition of welcoming a variety of perspectives on everyday life, we at The Ironist are open to submissions of matters relating to public interest raised by aggrieved contrarians. We recently received the following from an anonymous contributor....

What is Irony?

"It’s as clear as mud.” Since mud is not clear, the speaker cannot mean what he says. (Let us assume he is male). In fact, he means that what he has heard or read is unclear. Very unclear. He says the opposite of what he means to emphasize his difficulty in...

An Introduction

The modern world has suffered in the past century, and into the present one, from the tyranny of monomaniacs, from murdering monsters of depravity like Hitler, Stalin, and Chairman Mao, to cultural purists infected with the arrogance of privilege, like Trump and...

Happy Valley

If you haven’t seen it yet, Happy Valley is a television series you should see. The last of the series just ended so I want to promote it before it disappears under another surfeit of maudlin Disney rehashes which seem to never stop. You really do want to stay up another hour to see the next episode.

Ozymandias, Egyptian Tombs & the Song of the Harpist

Shelley’s sonnet Ozymandias uses the Greek name for Ramesses II, the most famous of Egyptian pharaohs, and was written as a great statute of him was in transit to the British Museum in a wave of awe and Orientalism sweeping Europe.

The Joy of Mud

Children like to play in mud. It is (or was, for us ‘oldies’), a relatively rare treat to be able to play in the mud. It is slippery, fun, sticky, squishable, slimy, and well, just fun to mess around with wet dirt. You will see kids playing in mud all the time. For a kid, what is more enjoyable?

For Enid Blyton

(A Children’s Story for Grown-Ups) Editor’s note: The Pendulum has already swung back to defend Enid Blyton's Noddy books from charges of racism and of excessive insensitivity to such human afflictions as having large ears. See the Independent...

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The Ironist

Differing Perspectives