In defense of Seinfeld, they never succeed, which is the point. At least one member of the crew is always worse off. Often times, when one member of the crew is succeeding, the other will intentionally go out of their way to sabotage them (Elaine with George's hair), or they self sabotage (George having coitus thereby making him dumb, and with the ancillary effect of bombing Jerry's set). Even when they win it's due to cheating (Kramer's car backfiring for Jerry's head start).
At the end of the show they all end up in jail for being the horrible people they are, after person after person of character witness attest to how cruel and inhumane they were. In the end they don't even feel remorse.
I would say that India has had, and still has, and large amount of satire. Japan too. The point about its reliance or normative assumptions feels correct though.
Another brilliant essay... Is there anything at all exempt from being the target of satire? Yes, but they are generally nonliving. Satire seems to originate from, and restrict itself to, Life.
An exemplary post is one that feels like it could have flowed from your own consciousness if you had devoted the time and the stroke of inspiration. Connecting together the dots to make explicit something once covert.
That is to say -- your newsletter is always a pleasure to read. Sound arguments and pretty language. What's not to like?
Another example of our post-satirical reality: The Onion submitted a Supreme Court brief. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126773469/onion-supreme-court-brief-author-interview
In defense of Seinfeld, they never succeed, which is the point. At least one member of the crew is always worse off. Often times, when one member of the crew is succeeding, the other will intentionally go out of their way to sabotage them (Elaine with George's hair), or they self sabotage (George having coitus thereby making him dumb, and with the ancillary effect of bombing Jerry's set). Even when they win it's due to cheating (Kramer's car backfiring for Jerry's head start).
At the end of the show they all end up in jail for being the horrible people they are, after person after person of character witness attest to how cruel and inhumane they were. In the end they don't even feel remorse.
Slow to reply, but:
I think your core point is true but you're missing the cause, which if fuzzy but fuzzy as in cloud, you can point at it, even if not strictly bounded.
Some hints:
- Japan still has satire, (most of) India never had much, going back to ancient times, as far as I can tell
- Satire relies on normative assumptions about ethics, metaphysics or both.
- Satire is heavily dependant on the subject, what is (was) satirical about one person or organization wouldn't be so for all people or organizations
I would say that India has had, and still has, and large amount of satire. Japan too. The point about its reliance or normative assumptions feels correct though.
That missile song blew my mind. I just don't know what to say...
Yeah that was something else!
Other than maybe that your title triggered pattern recognition for "The Death of Stalin".
Great film!
Another brilliant essay... Is there anything at all exempt from being the target of satire? Yes, but they are generally nonliving. Satire seems to originate from, and restrict itself to, Life.
Thank you!
An exemplary post is one that feels like it could have flowed from your own consciousness if you had devoted the time and the stroke of inspiration. Connecting together the dots to make explicit something once covert.
That is to say -- your newsletter is always a pleasure to read. Sound arguments and pretty language. What's not to like?
♥️
It's just battle fatigue brought on by revelations. We all suffer from the thousand mile stare. Heaven awaits?