Irony Explained in Eight Easy Music Videos

Another day, another rage-baiting anti-postmodernist culture think piece featured in some major publication (in this case, the New York Times) written by an author who clearly doesn't understand the concept to begin with; it's definitely nice to know who is getting paid for his writing while I continue to search for employment. Today's contestant involves the tricky concept of "irony," in this case used interchangeably with anything "hipster," which itself, to quote music critic Maura Johnston, ultimately seems to denote any "person whose cultural choices make [the author] feel like I'm not the target demo." Basically it's a big hifalutin piece by a professor of French at Princeton University saying "Irony is bad because I don't understand it and this is yet another reason you should continue to not hire these unemployed Millennials" and so forth... ugh, it's gross, whatever.

There are plenty of stellar intellectuals out there in the writing corps who I'm confident will provide thorough rebuttal to this editorial flashpoint-du-jour, and I'm happy to let them work their magic. What I will provide is a crash course cheat sheet on irony demonstrated in music video form. If you're all going to be arguing about irony all day, you ought to make sure you know what the word actually means.

Don'tcha think?

                                                                   CASE A

NOT IRONIC

IRONIC

                                                                   CASE B

IRONIC

NOT IRONIC

                                                                   CASE C

NOT IRONIC

IRONIC

                                                                   CASE D

IRONIC 

NOT IRONIC

Carry on. Of course, if you happen to think of more examples, do share in the comments.