Subject: irony
From: Bernd Wahlbrinck (Bernd.Wahlbrinck@t-online.de)
Date: Sat Jan 01 2000 - 07:47:36 EST
how about this, luke:
people are discussing lennon's death, and one of them points out that
something like that couldn't possibly happen to george harrison
because he has always been the quiet "third" beatle in the
background, because of the security measures, etc.
a person listening to that conversation, sitting at his computer (or
in front of the TV) in an adjoining room at the same time, happens to
be reading/seeing the news about the harrison stabbing while the
above-mentioned conversation goes on and on.
this is ironic in spite of the fact that it is based on coincidence,
because there is a structural ironic contrast between a. the words of
the person claiming it couldn't happen to harrison and b. reality.
and irony is always based on contrast - often, but not necessarily,
the opposite.
if you were that person, don't you think that contrast might have an
ironic effect on you?
Bernie
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