I have been watching some 1940s films lately. I have noticed all kinds of stark differences in every aspect of them when compared to the films of today: storytelling, clothing, dialogue, etc. I may write a post about that at some point.
But one of the most striking things is the unapologetic sincerity of the storytelling. It is the bell curve meme:
Low IQ: sincere story, good guys win, bad guyz lose.
Middle of the bell curve: "No you need TraNsGreSsIve themes, the villan must be misunderstood!"
High IQ: sincere story, good guys win, bad guyz lose.
This is why I look at the events of the past decade or so as a blessing in disguise. At this point, you either get it or you don’t, and I’m pretty sure I can figure out if you’re on my team or not in a casual 30 second conversation.
I agree unfortunately. Sometimes there need not even be any words spoken. Flags, pronouns, mask or not, hairstyle... Not 100% accurate, but close enough.
In literature departments they talk about "the return of sincerity" in post-postmodernism. (yeah, that's a term) That's how screwed up literature became by all the rolling around in the mud of irony it did throughout the postwar years. I too am sick and tired of people just laughing at everything and not taking anything seriously.
There's a wave of funny memes harvested from even the most life threatening events in my society - "oh life is too short, be happy" - "you're too uptight". I laugh but only when it's genuine and I too, am sick and tired of people laughing at everything, everything.
It's quite shocking how many professional comedians end up with crippling depression and are heavily medicated. True for a lot of big names.
Turns out that when you try to turn everything that you come into contact with into a joke, and to undermine the dignity of everything significant in your life, you end up uncertain of the value of life itself. Sad!
“Hell, I don’t even really care if they agree with me. I’d rather you be my true enemy than just not care.”
Bravo.
Yours and John Carter’s are some of the few things I still read. Everything else is packed with sarcasm, irony and a sense of hopeless/helplessness that I find so weak and pathetic.
I have my struggles with my weight as a guy in my mid 20s and other stuff like being indoors almost all day, but even then I enjoy going outside for walk, I avoid sugary drinks like the plague and I detest Redditors to death.
I have read other articles from you, and I will read more when the next one comes.
Great work man. I talk with some friends regularly about how irony and sarcasm have become the defaults of my generation to our great detriment. It really is a demonic mentality. What can demons do but mock, revile, and deceive? Only in the God who made the world and said, "It is good", can man say "it is good" to anything. We need to be able to love good, hate evil, grieve, rejoice, feast and fast. Unironically. May God make us bolder yet.
This is excellent and I agree. It is very common to see celebration of mediocrity. Here is an example.
Question: How do you feel about your wife?
Answer: She is the best, I love her.
Question: How do you feel about this deep fried desert?
Answer: Ooohhhh mah Gaaawdd. It is spectacular, the most wonderful thing ever. Yeessss, brah have you had thisssss? Ooooh man you got to try it. Seriously this will change your life! Mmmmmmm, slurp, ooohhh, mmmmmm soooo gooood. I love it so much, you don't even know.
Here, here. Irony has gotten stale. Hell even post-irony is passed its sell by date. It's time for sincerity again.
I have been watching some 1940s films lately. I have noticed all kinds of stark differences in every aspect of them when compared to the films of today: storytelling, clothing, dialogue, etc. I may write a post about that at some point.
But one of the most striking things is the unapologetic sincerity of the storytelling. It is the bell curve meme:
Low IQ: sincere story, good guys win, bad guyz lose.
Middle of the bell curve: "No you need TraNsGreSsIve themes, the villan must be misunderstood!"
High IQ: sincere story, good guys win, bad guyz lose.
This is why I look at the events of the past decade or so as a blessing in disguise. At this point, you either get it or you don’t, and I’m pretty sure I can figure out if you’re on my team or not in a casual 30 second conversation.
I agree unfortunately. Sometimes there need not even be any words spoken. Flags, pronouns, mask or not, hairstyle... Not 100% accurate, but close enough.
In literature departments they talk about "the return of sincerity" in post-postmodernism. (yeah, that's a term) That's how screwed up literature became by all the rolling around in the mud of irony it did throughout the postwar years. I too am sick and tired of people just laughing at everything and not taking anything seriously.
There's a wave of funny memes harvested from even the most life threatening events in my society - "oh life is too short, be happy" - "you're too uptight". I laugh but only when it's genuine and I too, am sick and tired of people laughing at everything, everything.
It's quite shocking how many professional comedians end up with crippling depression and are heavily medicated. True for a lot of big names.
Turns out that when you try to turn everything that you come into contact with into a joke, and to undermine the dignity of everything significant in your life, you end up uncertain of the value of life itself. Sad!
Sad! is right. Comedy decided to leave nothing sacred, and has lost itself by that choice.
Excellent commentary.
Grow healthy food if you want to really attract the losers critique. Probably help in what you can lift as well.
“Hell, I don’t even really care if they agree with me. I’d rather you be my true enemy than just not care.”
Bravo.
Yours and John Carter’s are some of the few things I still read. Everything else is packed with sarcasm, irony and a sense of hopeless/helplessness that I find so weak and pathetic.
This is so good
"People who have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse towards are wasting their time, even when hard at work." - Marcus Aurelius
This article was quite the fun for me to read.
I have my struggles with my weight as a guy in my mid 20s and other stuff like being indoors almost all day, but even then I enjoy going outside for walk, I avoid sugary drinks like the plague and I detest Redditors to death.
I have read other articles from you, and I will read more when the next one comes.
Great work man. I talk with some friends regularly about how irony and sarcasm have become the defaults of my generation to our great detriment. It really is a demonic mentality. What can demons do but mock, revile, and deceive? Only in the God who made the world and said, "It is good", can man say "it is good" to anything. We need to be able to love good, hate evil, grieve, rejoice, feast and fast. Unironically. May God make us bolder yet.
Thanks for this! Found you thanks to John Carter.
“Hell, I don’t even really care if they agree with me. I’d rather you be my true enemy than just not care.”
There's a lot of space between "don't agree with me" and "my true enemy". At least, there should be.
The way I see it, the point was to drive the idea to its extremity, not to imply that there is nothing in-between.
This is excellent and I agree. It is very common to see celebration of mediocrity. Here is an example.
Question: How do you feel about your wife?
Answer: She is the best, I love her.
Question: How do you feel about this deep fried desert?
Answer: Ooohhhh mah Gaaawdd. It is spectacular, the most wonderful thing ever. Yeessss, brah have you had thisssss? Ooooh man you got to try it. Seriously this will change your life! Mmmmmmm, slurp, ooohhh, mmmmmm soooo gooood. I love it so much, you don't even know.
Very true. CoNsOoM product is less culturally strange than real romance.
Gosh hate to even imagine you could be one of those party poopers.