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Snark
By Laura Knoy on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
A new book by New Yorker film critic David Denby warns of the growing phenomenon of snark and snarkiness - comments drenched in a snide, nasty even, at times, abusive tones. Some find snark witty and fun but Denby warns it’s infiltrating our media like a poison and indicating an unhappy country. We’ll explore the history of snark and the many ways it’s been practiced.
Guest
- David Denby, film critic for The New Yorker and author of Snark: It’s Mean, It’s Personal and It’s Ruining Our Conversation
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Mr. Denby is right: We’re drowning in snark and meanness, but Laura has unveiled some hypocrisy in its application by him (and the mainstream media) ONLY against conservatives.)
Hillary Clinton’s candidacy was PRIME material for satire and even snark. Her made-up story about being shot at on a trip to Bosnia was prime fodder, as were her conveniently turned-on eye-fountains during the New Hampshire primary.
And Al Gore's claims about the environment - in which sea levels are rising by 20 feet - no, wait, 6 feet, no, 4 inches - are also prime fodder.
I wonder, will his friends fail to laugh at New York City cocktail parties if he makes fun of Hillary?
-- Stephen, Manchester
The author does seem to be all over the place and the definition of "snark" very soft -- kind of like porno ... you'll know it when you see it.
Seems like the larger issue is nihilism -- a sort of post-modern hipness where in a universe of no absolutes, nothing can be taken that seriously, all is pointless.,
It sounds like someone doesn't like being made fun of. If everything people hear is taken to be true its the audiences fault. If people don't elect a candidate because they scream is that the fault of the people making fun of the candidate or the people who are dumb enough to base their decision on a twenty second media clip. The problem isnt snark or plop or yarble its peopole who hear someone say this is snark and they believe them or this guy yells so dont elect him.
And Mr. Denby's love of liberals continues. "Mad How" Dean made SEVERAL ridiculous statements during the campaign, and has done so since. His vicious personal attack on the GOP as the "White Christian Party" and his faux pax on wanting to give Saddam an American-style trial showed both a nasty and naive streak.
Calling himself a "metrosexual" just BEGS for ridicule.