Is snarky wit on its way out?
The word “snark” has been around for well over a century, but it took hordes of bloggers and tweeters to turn it into a way of life. Snide remarks and too-cool-for-school attitudes permeate US culture nowadays, and earnestness has all the cachet of Hootie and the Blowfish.
See what I did there? I snark, therefore I am. (Sorry, Hootie.)
Yes, for many of us, there’s no stopping our desire to show our superiority to the world by pointing out the inanities and hypocrisies that permeate our ...
“It might seem crazy what I’m about to say ...”
Wait, what’s this I hear? Is it Pharrell Williams singing his hit song that just won’t quit?
“Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break ...”
All I want to do is move around to the music. And smile. But not for the usual reason – because I just totally burned someone with a wicked tweet. No, this time it’s ...
“Because I’m happy!
“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof!
“Because I’m happy!
“Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth!”
Argh! Must seek antidote to sincere music that makes me want to bust a move instead of dwelling on humanity’s foibles. Maybe a downer of a movie will help.
Let’s see what’s playing: “Heaven Is for Real,” “God’s Not Dead,” “Noah.” Plus animated movies like “Rio 2” and films about the Muppets and even Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
In other words: Faith, wonder, and childhood innocence galore! Also known as snark kryptonite. There’s even “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” directed by Wes Anderson, who’s been linked to a “New Sincerity” movement in American pop culture. Is there no escaping all this non-meanness?
Maybe I’ll just stay home this evening and watch TV. Ah, there’s David Letterman, the grumpy late-night host who brilliantly punctured the glittering self-regard of Hollywood’s starmaking machinery.
But wait: Letterman’s a short-timer. He’ll be replaced by Stephen Colbert, who’s expected to shed his satirical attire as a conservative blowhard.
Click! Oh look: It’s “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, who is topping the ratings with bubbles of good cheer.
“Fallon is always happy to be there, always happy that his guests are there, and always happy you are there, too,” writes Slate’s Willa Paskin. But, she adds, there’s method to his lack of malicious madness: “Fallon and his staff understand the power – and not just the authenticity – of Jimmy’s ultimate-nice-guy persona.”
This may be the ultimate importance of being earnest in 2014. It helps sincere performers stand out from the crowd.
We snark, and they shine.
