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Attraction to Satire

December 21st 2006 09:23

Italo Calvino says:

The satirist is prevented by repulsion from gaining a better knowledge of the world he is attracted to, yet he is forced by attraction to concern himself with the world that repels him.

I say:

How deserving is the unpleasant of your attention?
What happens when wit becomes your defense mechanism?

You say:

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Posted By: Postmodern Critic - Category: No Category

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Comment by Oblivion

December 23rd 2006 00:28

I'm not quite sure. I would argue that the unpleasant would be deserving of all our attention. Much of satire involves irony and sarcasm. Satire within itself can be used as a powerful tool. Take for instance, George Carlin- one of my favorite comedians. I have listened to many of his stand-ups. Satire has the capability of rendering many things in the world as absurd...and these comedians cause us to laugh and reflect upon them. As with George Carlin alot of his material is replusive (and very funny), he talks of religion, death, the gross and the indecent... the replusive is the main source of material for the satirist. He may be forced to be attracted to such a deemable replusive world because he wants other to share and revel in its replusivness?.... Of course with your last question, if wit is totally ingrained as a defense mechanism of sorts...we lose much of life and its seriousness. A healthy balence, as with all things, is necessary I would think...

Comment by Adrian

December 23rd 2006 01:08

Philosophy Blog

Here's a "Me too" to Oblivion's comment.

Unpleasantness (religion, Republicans, etc) is deserving of your attention if you want to get rid of it.

Comment by postmoderncritic

December 23rd 2006 01:19

Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc

Perhaps a better question would have been 'How much attention should we devote to the unpleasant?'
I'm curious about the way in which people adopt a certain kind of detachment and/or incredulity when consciously articulating their experience with the unpleasant.
But is it really so productive to cogitate upon "the unpleasant"? I try to focus on the feel-good qualities of deconstructing narratives that fixate upon the unpalatable.

Comment by Oblivion

December 23rd 2006 02:13

That is tricky. But, I think I am going to stick with balence. The thing is... (in my opinion, of course) one should not merely avoid the bad and, with calculation, do the good. Be passionate about one or the other,but not to the point where you are oblivious of the unpleasantness or indifferent towards both.

Postmoderncritic, I like your positive 'feel-good' approach. I just wish it was not so contrasted with the all-so-common blissful ignorance which can be succumbing...and numbing.

I just realized now...writing this... I may not have answered your question. Sorry

Comment by postmoderncritic

December 23rd 2006 03:14

Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc

Hey Oblivion,

Thanks for your comment, what I'm trying to say is the unpleasant is a state of mind - I know a few people who create comfort zones when responding to material they see as disturbing, and I wonder how ppl can often succumb to resignation while shedding light on a particular topic.

I do like the idea of keeping your equilibrium and not sacrificing either your optimism or your awareness.

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