Or vice versa...
Sarcasm has an illustrious history. I truly wish, if not just for the sake of a stirring introduction, that we could pointedly quote a single innovative fellow whom brought forth the first utterances of sarcasm-- delicately preserved in the annuals of history. Alas, there is no such being, and the majesty of the situation can only be appreciated in my eloquent memoriam above. However, we see some early diction of sarcasm spewed forth from the likes of Achish, the Great King of Gath in the 7th Century BC:
Sarcasm has an illustrious history. I truly wish, if not just for the sake of a stirring introduction, that we could pointedly quote a single innovative fellow whom brought forth the first utterances of sarcasm-- delicately preserved in the annuals of history. Alas, there is no such being, and the majesty of the situation can only be appreciated in my eloquent memoriam above. However, we see some early diction of sarcasm spewed forth from the likes of Achish, the Great King of Gath in the 7th Century BC:
Lo, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence?.
It is clear that Achish is scolding his underlings for bringing a certain madman into his presence. A quick wit Achish, a quick wit indeed. The homely residents of Gath can rest assured, they are in good hands. Looking further, a milestone in sarcastic history lay within the Shepheardes Calender of 1579, which ushered in the first jaunt of sarcasm in the English language-- compliments of Edmund Spenser:
An ironical, spoken in derision of these rude wits, which make more account of a rhyming Rimbaud, then of skill grounded upon learning and judgment.
This of course is English, but the meaning and its sarcastic contributions goes far over my head. Noted nonetheless.
The real innovators of sarcasm though are the Ethiopians-- yes, and I to always thought them just a serious and long-distance running folk. On the contrary, their Ethiopic language has its very own "punctuation mark" to denote sarcasm in writing (hark, the times I could have used that when sending poorly worded text messages). Dubbed the sarcasm mark or Temherte Slaq,-- it is fashioned as an upside down question mark at the end of the sentence. For example, I would say to an Ethiopian -- "Don't win all the marathons¿" -- he would know that I was poking good natured fun at his running ability. Brilliance...
I could give endless examples of sarcastic use throughout history (and in my life.. in the past day) but I will leave you with the thoughts of my comrade Karl Marx. Indeed, even the father of Socialism partook in the art of sarcasm (typically to lampoon the likes of capitalism). From Volume 1 of Das Kapital, in attempt to mock Colonel Torrens (note: [!] denotes sarcasm,.. sad that it must be pointed out):
The real innovators of sarcasm though are the Ethiopians-- yes, and I to always thought them just a serious and long-distance running folk. On the contrary, their Ethiopic language has its very own "punctuation mark" to denote sarcasm in writing (hark, the times I could have used that when sending poorly worded text messages). Dubbed the sarcasm mark or Temherte Slaq,-- it is fashioned as an upside down question mark at the end of the sentence. For example, I would say to an Ethiopian -- "Don't win all the marathons¿" -- he would know that I was poking good natured fun at his running ability. Brilliance...
I could give endless examples of sarcastic use throughout history (and in my life.. in the past day) but I will leave you with the thoughts of my comrade Karl Marx. Indeed, even the father of Socialism partook in the art of sarcasm (typically to lampoon the likes of capitalism). From Volume 1 of Das Kapital, in attempt to mock Colonel Torrens (note: [!] denotes sarcasm,.. sad that it must be pointed out):
The problem is in no way simplified if extraneous matters are smuggled in, as with Colonel Torrens: "effectual demand consists in the power and inclination [!], on the part of the consumers, to give for commodities, either by immediate or circuitous barter..."'
The bite-- capitalism dosent work because the man with the most "power" ... is inclined to give only to himself, rather than those with need-- ha-ha Karl, if only Stalin knew...
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