Does enjoying something "ironically" make sense to you?

[Bbleds]

So I'm sure everyone has heard a discussion on this before, but being fueled by a Renegade Cut video (a web series I highly recommend if you're into film) I saw recently that agrees with my argument almost verbatim, here we go. In short, the idea of enjoying something ironically seems nonsensical.

Now for the uninitiated, if that's a possibility, enjoying ironically is considered by most a "hipster" term to describe something that one likes to watch/read/play but not because they actually enjoy it.

So here's the thing that doesn't make sense to me, if you like doing something, that means you enjoy it, right? At first when I started thinking about this I just thought this was a different way to explain an entertainment piece that's "so bad it's good", but to hear someone try to explain it (like my friend who I had a conversation with about this topic) it seems to go a bit deeper than this, but still unclear nonetheless.

So I know I gave a pretty simple definition of this idea, but rather I watch something because it's hilariously terrible, a fond childhood memory, or "train-wreckingly" mesmerizing I'm still enjoying it. So this isn't to say I feel anyone who uses this term is wrong or "douchey", it just comes off as strange when one can just simply say they enjoy something like the 60's Batman tv series which beautifully meshes all the traits I mentioned earlier in this paragraph.

Let me know what you think. Could be that I'm just getting older than I thought and I misunderstood or just plain missed something.

 

[Marter]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

 

[Vault101]

like how I watch Beverly Hills 90210 and yell at Brenda for getting rid of her bangs and Brandon for being an insufferable asshole (worse than steve...and steves suposed to be a jerk)

except now Brendas gone and Andrea got rid of her 80's hair and is having a baby and kellys going out with brandon...so the show is dead to me


my brother at one time was able to watch neighbours ironically....I can't even do that. home and away sure but neighbours is too bad to make fun off...

 

[Casual Shinji]

It sounds odd, but sometimes you can enjoy not liking something or finding it dumb.

The movie Troy for instance is a really silly movie with silly characters spouting out silly, overly dramatic dialoge ("You sack of wine!"). A movie can be charming in how it fails to achieve its goals. And it's fun to watch them fail... sometimes.

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

This is my understanding of it too.

It's the enjoyment of something, but not for the reason it was intended.

Perhaps the whole Brony phenomenon could provide an example of this, at least when people first started to say they liked My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

I have also heard people use it to mean that they don't actually enjoy something, but just say they do, in order to appear cool or weird, or whatever the purpose. I believe this is a false-usage though.

But hey, people falsely use the word ironic all the time, so hardly anything new there.

 

[Kyrian007]

I have also heard people use it to mean that they don't actually enjoy something, but just say they do, in order to appear cool or weird, or whatever the purpose. I believe this is a false-usage though.

But hey, people falsely use the word ironic all the time, so hardly anything new there.

Yeah, in terms of just the definition of the word... enjoying something "ironically" really doesn't make any sense even though I do get what people mean by saying it. But honestly, I think it's more used as a defense. Someone doesn't want to admit that they like something, so they label it "oh, I like it 'ironically'." When in all actuality... they just like it "period." It's almost the opposite of the Brony phenomon. Most don't seem to claim they like it "ironically," but rather just claim they like it and its legitimately good. For the record, I watched a handful of episodes and just found it too light hearted and cute. But I'm ok with the Bronies because they really don't seem to be trying to justify themselves (why they CAN like it), but rather are just holding up the quality of the product and saying "who wouldn't like this." And even though it ain't my thing... I can respect that more than I can the kind of cowardly "I like that 'ironically'."

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

I have also heard people use it to mean that they don't actually enjoy something, but just say they do, in order to appear cool or weird, or whatever the purpose. I believe this is a false-usage though.

But hey, people falsely use the word ironic all the time, so hardly anything new there.

Yeah, in terms of just the definition of the word... enjoying something "ironically" really doesn't make any sense even though I do get what people mean by saying it. But honestly, I think it's more used as a defense. Someone doesn't want to admit that they like something, so they label it "oh, I like it 'ironically'." When in all actuality... they just like it "period." It's almost the opposite of the Brony phenomon. Most don't seem to claim they like it "ironically," but rather just claim they like it and its legitimately good. For the record, I watched a handful of episodes and just found it too light hearted and cute. But I'm ok with the Bronies because they really don't seem to be trying to justify themselves (why they CAN like it), but rather are just holding up the quality of the product and saying "who wouldn't like this." And even though it ain't my thing... I can respect that more than I can the kind of cowardly "I like that 'ironically'."

I have seen it used as a protection for liking something like Power Rangers when you are a grown adult. I tend to just reply with: 'Like what you like'. No need to be ashamed of what you like... unless.. you know.. it's kinda terrible.

As for Bronies, I just remembered there being a big discussion around it at the start where people were like: 'I'm not sure if these guys are being serious or if they are being ironic'.

Because it tended to be older guys, so the opposite of presumably (STEREOTYPING DANGER DANGER) what the intended market was for this show, which were enjoying it on the internet and saying they loved it.

Whilst onlookers were like: 'Are they serious, or is this a big joke?'

I still bet there are people in that grouping who actually enjoy the show and people who are just doing it ironically to troll people.

Never underestimate the extent people will go to to troll.

 

[Roxor]

I don't really understand the "ironically" claim.

Irony is when what happens is the opposite of what you'd expect. Like the daredevil who you thought would break his neck by 35 outliving all his friends and dying in his sleep at the ripe old age of 96.

It doesn't make much sense to me. It sounds like it should mean "not enjoying X". I dunno. People are confusing.

 

[Mr.Cynic88]

I'm a big fan of irony, but typically only when there's someone else to appreciate it. Putting on a bad movie like Showgirls with a group of friends to comment on is great fun, so in that sense I fully understand enjoying something ironically.

I don't think I'd ever ironically watch something just by myself. I knew people who read the Twilight books just to be able to trash them, and that's something I wouldn't do.

In conclusion, irony is great. As long as there is someone else to get the joke.

 

[Bbleds]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

This is my understanding of it too.

It's the enjoyment of something, but not for the reason it was intended.

Perhaps the whole Brony phenomenon could provide an example of this, at least when people first started to say they liked My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

I have also heard people use it to mean that they don't actually enjoy something, but just say they do, in order to appear cool or weird, or whatever the purpose. I believe this is a false-usage though.

But hey, people falsely use the word ironic all the time, so hardly anything new there.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think this is a pretty good summation. It's does make sense to enjoy something ironically if you enjoy something that the original creators didn't intend for it. And yeah, if someone pops up and answers, "Well the Power Rangers I just watch ironically now, I don't really like it." This is the usage that really drives me crazy. People do misuse ironic all the time. So maybe that's ironic in of itself? Oh well, that make brain think too hard and hurt.

Thanks again, fun discussion.

 

[Mr.Cynic88]

People do misuse ironic all the time. So maybe that's ironic in of itself?

Exactly. Irony is a heavily misused word to the point where many don't know how to properly apply it. Really, irony is sarcasm. People are sarcastic all the time, but don't realize they're using verbal irony.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

I think we can /thread right here. I can't think of a better way to put it. Enjoyment is enjoyment, no matter what form it takes. For example, I think Dragonforce makes incredibly embarrassing music with lyrics and compositions so over the top and ludicrously melodramatic it makes you cringe at every turn. And yet I can't help but listen to (some) their songs again and again, because they're so utterly committed to it it's kind of endearing. Another example could perhaps be the upcoming Hercules movie with Dwayne Johnson: the trailer gives the impression that it's trying to be somewhat serious, yet The Rock yelling "III AAAM HEERCULEEEESSS!!!" at the top of his lungs at the end renders it completely camp. But it still evokes my interest, because at least it seems to be entertainingly silly (unlike the new Godzilla movie ramble grumble mrgmglblmg).

 

[Lieju]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

My thoughts exactly.

I have for example enjoyed some pretty horrible movies and books because I enjoyed analysing WHY they failed.

But I also think many people use the phrase to hide the fact that they are ashamed to enjoy things they 'aren't supposed' to.
For example, I quite unironically enjoy many cartoons, like Phineas and Ferb.

 

[Jacco]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

So Movie Defense Force is a good example of that. Jim is always saying if you enjoy the movie as a comedy rather than a horror (I think the new Silent Hill movie is the example he used) then that could be a good example.

 

[Something Amyss]

Perhaps the whole Brony phenomenon could provide an example of this, at least when people first started to say they liked My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

No, they actually enjoy the show. It's not just about the intended audience, but also supposedly about your own level of interest. There are Bronies who have a fervor for the show that leads them to stalk and harass the show's creator because they didn't specifically like what happened with one of the characters in one of the episodes. It's adult creepy, but comes from a place of child-like love.

Saying you're doing something ironically is more to indicate you're in on the reality of it, or you derive pleasure for a different reason such as how bad something really is.

Of course, the other problem is simply that it has a connotation of being a douchebag. People have said the same thing for decades without the level of elitism that tends to be bundled in with the word "irony." Which I'm only using ironically, because it's like raaaaaaaaayain on your wedding day....

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

It's like enjoying something in a way it's not meant to be enjoyed. So, like, the people who made The Room, for example, were trying to make a serious drama. If you enjoy it as a terrible but enjoyable movie, you're still getting enjoyment out of it, but not in the spirit its creators intended. Hence, you're enjoying it ironically. I guess. That's the way I've always rationalized it, anyway. Maybe I'm bad at explaining it.

Yeah that's pretty much it. I'd say you enjoy something ironically if you re-categorize its genre to do so. So in the example of The Room, it's meant to be a drama, but you reclassify it as a comedy. The idea that the movie was taken seriously by the people involved becomes the joke. That's ironic.

I guess enjoying something for being campy isnt ironic. If the creators themselves are aware of or indulge in having a silly plot, or if the media in question still works despite it, you're just enjoying something for what it is. Maybe you could argue it's ironic if the flaws enhance the experience.

 

[Ratty]

I've been called a hipster before for enjoying MST3K and the way it taught me to enjoy bad movies as a I grew up. I like bad movies that are unintentional comedies, particularly if you can tell the creators were really trying. I can sympathize with the creators and also laugh as they fall down over and over. It's endearing.

The problem is the hipster way to enjoy something "ironically" is really all about getting attention for the individual hipster. Rather than enjoying the object itself.

Here's an easy example. A rich kid who drinks pabst blue ribbon so he can have people look at him and say without words "Lol I'm rich and this is a nasty poor people beer I don't actually have to drink lololo." Or people who wear fake mustaches and thick glasses with no lenses "Lol these things and the people who actually wear them are so ugly that's why I'm wearing them lololo. I'm such a quirky free spirit just like all my friends."

PS

Spoiler: Basically a hipster is a pretentious better-than-thou asshole.

Obviously, not everyone who enjoys artwork in a way that the creators intended falls into this category.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

I see it more of enjoying a movie for it's unintended hilarity instead of taking it for what it is.
Or for being so damn cheesy and charming you're there for that and not for... whatever it's meaning to go for.

 

[Ratty]

But I also think many people use the phrase to hide the fact that they are ashamed to enjoy things they 'aren't supposed' to.
For example, I quite unironically enjoy many cartoons, like Phineas and Ferb.

Yeah I just remembered Moviebob did an episode of the big picture on this a while back.