Irony's Edge

A fascinating and compulsively readable study of the myriad forms and effects of the ironic. Linda Hutcheon sets out for the first time a clear and sustained analysis of the theory and political context of irony, from Madonnna to Wagner.The edge of irony, says Linda Hutcheon, is always a social and political edge. Irony depends upon interpretation; it happens in the tricky, unpredictable space between expression and understanding.Irony's Edge is a fascinating, compulsively readable...
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A fascinating and compulsively readable study of the myriad forms and effects of the ironic. Linda Hutcheon sets out for the first time a clear and sustained analysis of the theory and political context of irony, from Madonnna to Wagner.The edge of irony, says Linda Hutcheon, is always a social and political edge. Irony depends upon interpretation; it happens in the tricky, unpredictable space between expression and understanding.Irony's Edge is a fascinating, compulsively readable study of the myriad forms and the effects of irony. It sets out, for the first time, a sustained, clear analysis of the theory and the political contexts of irony, using a wide range of references from contemporary culture. Examples extend from Madonna to Wagner, from a clever quip in conversation to a contentious exhibition in a museum.Irony's Edge outlines and then challenges all the major existing theories of irony, providing the most comprehensive and critically challenging account of irony to date, from one of today's most brilliant and persuasive critics.