Irony as a cultural form has two main requirements: first, that there is a shared social language, and second that the shared language can and should be violated for the purposes of socio-cultural evolution. Irony is therefore posed almost always in distinction (if not direct opposition) to dominant rhetoric, discourse, and politics. This is not always a progressive or emancipatory shift, but it does reframe language and community outside of accepted pathways of behavior. Although commodity and advertising corporations have co-opted irony as a tactic of capital, it has retained the ability to become the focus and reason for controversy and (potentially subversive) subculture identities, particularly as internet communities such as YouTube and MySpace have flourished. This special issue will chart instances of irony throughout the past few years of U.S. media culture, specifically with an eye to: (a) how irony, political satire, and parody have been popularized particularly as forms of expression in the wake of political repression since September 11, 2001; and (b) how the web-based convergence of traditional print and broadcast with digital media help crystallize oppositional discussion and a new digital publics based on the fragmentation and reframing of discourses with an intent to change the political landscape.

Inquiries about possible topics are welcome.

Megan Boler
University of Toronto mboler@oise.utoronto.ca
Ted Gournelos University of Illinois gournelo@uiuc.edu