Name some recent pieces of legislation whose name was actually the opposite of the bill's real intent. [more inside]
posted by Doctor Suarez on Oct 10, 2009 - 9 answers

I keep thinking about the word, "post-modernism." As I understand it, it began after the crash of 1929, and has since represented a ironic self-evaluation of our relativistic values, ideas, cultural touchstones, etc. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Sep 21, 2009 - 24 answers

If you tell a zombie to "Go Forth and Die", is this irony? [more inside]
posted by Palerale on Aug 28, 2009 - 19 answers

I'm preparing a lesson on irony and I'd like to illustrate the concept with a song. Problem is, my students are more interested in R&B and hip-hop than in my boring old-person rock and roll. Can you name some (fairly current) R&B/hip-hop songs that use irony? I'm thinking, like, "Born in the USA"-style irony -- nothing too subtle.
posted by miriam on Jun 21, 2009 - 17 answers

Someone, somewhere--some cultural critic, I think, someone who has yet to die, or who was alive within the last half-century (but I could be wrong there), once said something along the lines of "Irony is the laughter of the slave." Do you know who that was? [more inside]
posted by ftrain on Sep 29, 2008 - 2 answers

Is Atlas Shrugged meant to be Ironic? [more inside]
posted by complience on Aug 4, 2008 - 69 answers

Is there a specific term to describe an advertising slogan that actually makes you less sure about that aspect of the product? Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero on Jul 3, 2008 - 19 answers

I need help tracking down photos that display irony in travel. [more inside]
posted by nitsuj on Feb 6, 2008 - 8 answers

What is it called when the sarcasm is actually masking sincerity? [more inside]
posted by ferociouskitty on Oct 10, 2007 - 29 answers

My daughter says she is having trouble grasping the concept of irony, so I promised to come up with some examples. [more inside]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy on Jun 14, 2007 - 57 answers

I'm looking for writing on or examples of "irony"/hipsterism and taste/authenticity/postmodern self-consciousness, etc., or alternatively, historical writing on atomization and society. [more inside]
posted by kensanway on Apr 7, 2006 - 15 answers

Got a good smart-assed suggestion for a name for a craft-themed blog? [more inside]
posted by phearlez on Feb 3, 2006 - 49 answers

Why is "some of my best friends are black/jewish/gay/whatever" seen not only as unconvincing when it comes to disclaiming bias but also as a stereotypical response by one who is biased? [more inside]
posted by Firas on Jan 25, 2006 - 41 answers

Can something be funny without being ironic? [more inside]
posted by rschroed on Oct 17, 2005 - 46 answers

Is there a word for the literary concept of "a simile that uses paradox to exaggerate a comparison"? Similes like "quiet as a rolling sea", "soft as nails", "smart as a brick" [+] [more inside]
posted by deshead on Dec 6, 2004 - 17 answers

I think I should enlarge my reservoir of wisecracks. Can you provide me with any?
posted by Pretty_Generic on Nov 4, 2004 - 37 answers