Orwellian irony is irony that is explicitly political in nature.
Orwellian irony shows the poverty of the philosophy and history undergirding what some people use as the justifying narrative for their political commitment and it can also be used to categorize people's arguments for or against freedom, liberty, etc. that are disconnected from history, legality, etc.
Orwellian irony is often situational.
Examples include:
A person unaware that the foundations of their self-chosen political identity are based on a misunderstanding of historical events refusing to investigate counter-claims made in an online debate.
A person at a protest claiming to be against government encroachment of rights that then runs away when police start violating their counter-protestors constitutional rights rather than helping.
When an AnCap tries to delegitimize a Socialist's criticisms of the economy by saying: "Well you wrote that on a smartphone, which was made by capitalism" this is an example of Orwellian irony because Leonid Kupriyanovich, a Soviet, invented much of the technology prior to the U.S., but also as much of the technology developed to make this was done by Federally funded research grants.
Orwellian irony shows the poverty of the philosophy and history undergirding what some people use as the justifying narrative for their political commitment and it can also be used to categorize people's arguments for or against freedom, liberty, etc. that are disconnected from history, legality, etc.
Orwellian irony is often situational.
Examples include:
A person unaware that the foundations of their self-chosen political identity are based on a misunderstanding of historical events refusing to investigate counter-claims made in an online debate.
A person at a protest claiming to be against government encroachment of rights that then runs away when police start violating their counter-protestors constitutional rights rather than helping.
When an AnCap tries to delegitimize a Socialist's criticisms of the economy by saying: "Well you wrote that on a smartphone, which was made by capitalism" this is an example of Orwellian irony because Leonid Kupriyanovich, a Soviet, invented much of the technology prior to the U.S., but also as much of the technology developed to make this was done by Federally funded research grants.
That a propaganda outlet, TeleSUR, which is managed by a state that has exploited a crisis to silence free press outlets like El Nacional, decided to use a private media outlet, Jacobin, to obfuscate the truth surrounding their brief unpublishing on Facebook and to call for increased government regulation is one of the most perfect examples of Orwellian irony ever.
by AVoyager August 28, 2018
Get the Orwellian Irony mug.A reference to an covert monitoring van used by the FBI. Subtly labeled to appear as a florists delivery truck with the name of the company "Flowers By Irene" painted a word per line on the side of the truck to not so subtly form the acronym "FBI" when read vertically.
me: That truck labeled "Flowers By Irene" has been outside for weeks now?!
you: yeah, I would of thought they would have delivered everything by now.
you: yeah, I would of thought they would have delivered everything by now.
by HuntedMidget September 20, 2011
Get the Flowers by Irene mug.A social disorder involving ridiculous habits of dress associated with solely with Hipsters, examples include goofy sunglasses, nut-hugger jeans, and shirts with images of food on them. Hipster Irony leaves the victim mentally incapable of determining how stupid they look. Side Effects include snide attitudes, bad taste in music, a predisposition for shitty beer, and a complete lack of the motor skills used to part ones hair. Hipster Irony is also extremely contagious and outbreaks have been reported at malls across America.
"I told that Hipster his bright red pants and white sunglasses made him look like the village idiot, and he responded, 'I Know', and smiled. Must be another victim of Hipster Irony."
by Gavriel.Discordia June 7, 2016
Get the Hipster Irony mug.When the guy you left to get infected while you saved yourself comes back to bite you in the ass, quite literally.
Person A: Hey you remember we left Tony in that room to act as bait to lure the zombies away from us?
Person B: yeah, why?
Person A: Well he just turned up over there and bit me
Person B: That's some serious zombie Irony right there
Person B: yeah, why?
Person A: Well he just turned up over there and bit me
Person B: That's some serious zombie Irony right there
by White Fire May 28, 2010
Get the Zombie Irony mug.When someone perceives nearly everything through multiple layers of irony, and nothing through sincerity. This could extend to someone not being able to sincerely express their own beliefs without someone else thinking they’re being ironic or Insincere. And it could also extend to the inability of someone to take sincerity coming from others at face value, or being skeptical of it.
Person 1: I really enjoy X
Person 2: I bet you only like it because it’s secretly a coping mechanism for something else.
Person 1: it’s not, you’re brain is just irony poisoned
Person 2: I bet you only like it because it’s secretly a coping mechanism for something else.
Person 1: it’s not, you’re brain is just irony poisoned
by L+Ratio? May 25, 2022
Get the Irony poisoned mug.(I-REEN) Proper Noun
A beautiful woman who is exceptionally sweet, sexy, has a great sense of humor, possesses great culinary skills, and is a great friend. Very compatible with guys named Ray.
A beautiful woman who is exceptionally sweet, sexy, has a great sense of humor, possesses great culinary skills, and is a great friend. Very compatible with guys named Ray.
My girlfriend is so well-rounded...she's a true Irene!
You're acting like such an Irene today!
Irene's usually do well in life.
You're acting like such an Irene today!
Irene's usually do well in life.
by Ray TheBeast Sobers November 20, 2012
Get the Irene mug.One of the most misused words in the entire English language.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
So, yeah, Alanis was wrong in a lot of her song, but there ARE some examples of irony in there - and a few that are kinda-sorta, but could be better. The old man who buys a lottery ticket is one; it would be a better example if he won, and then died of a heart attack from the shock of winning.
by progamer124 December 16, 2004
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