In the Observer, Henry Porter wonders why, in an age of unprecedented prosperity, “smart aleck cynicism prevails” in western popular culture. Time to put an end to this age of cynicism and scorn.
This weltschmerz and hardened bitterness goes unchallenged. We don’t question why the last couple of generations, brought up in the West with such plenty and ease, with advantages and privileges unimaginable 60 years ago, so often default to pessimism and irony.
Porter calls this attitude “a pose which has become a habit we can’t shake off for fear of seeming hopelessly naive, of the derisive voice that says human behaviour is never virtuous or motivated by altruism.” It’s a “gritty modern ‘realism’, forged in luxury, not by hardship or insight.”
This knowing and fearful cool allows for the expression of very little else - hope, joy, unguarded sentiment, compassion, faith in others, sincerity or the love of simple things.
As one who has fought her own battle against the impulse to snark (we’re talking relentless, unthinking, attack-dog snark, mind you — not good snark), I couldn’t agree more.
4 responses so far ↓
Don // May 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm
When everything comes so easy in life it is hard to appreciate the simple things and we have seen/done so much by the time we get to adulthood that we become almost impossible to please and the WOW factor is almost completely gone from our lives. It takes truly momentus events like the birth of a child to reach us deep down emotionally.
Just ask yourself, when was the last time I was jaw droppingingly in awe at anything? Doesnt happen often does it. I find that the less some one has in life the more optimistic they tend to be, perhaps by necessity, and the more someon has the more they fear that it will be taken away.
After all when you live in relative luxury whats left to get excited about, we expect good things to happen to us in western society and when they do we casually accept them as the norm rather than wondering at how fortunate we are compared with the vast majority of the worlds population.
This probably sounds very hippyish and no doubt I will be savagely mauled by Meg’s attack-dog snarks but…stop for a minute or two every day and think about just how fortunate you really are to be you.
Meg // May 7, 2008 at 10:45 am
Don, I wouldn’t dream of mauling you. I agree with everything you say. WOW is there, and we should be grateful for it. Find a dark spot and watch the night sky. Listen to Beethoven. Appreciate.
Okay, now I’ve outed myself as an awe-lover. I’ll go back to snarking soon enough.
Patti // May 7, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I can snark away about many things, but have never been good at sustaining cynicism. For one thing, there are an awful lot of good people in the world who do nice things just when you least expect it. For another, just when I settle into a good, lip-curling snarl, I remember that I have a job–in a world full of un/underemployed academics that is just shy of miraculous and it still seems like I won the lottery.
For yet another, can anyone who lives with a dog do cynical and world-weary for long? Dogs are nature’s optimists–look at that kibble! it’s just like yesterday! maybe we’ll go for a W-A-L-K and I’ll find a new special stick! you came home again and it’s only the 3495th time that’s happened! how cool is that? Ditto for a pre-adolescent boy in possession of a copy of the World’s Stupidest Joke Book.
Finally, there’s my dad. It has been just over a year since he died and looking back on that time, I remain in awe: of people who looked after him so that we could keep him at home; at the communities that supported us before, during, and after; at the mixture of piercing joy and ache that we felt because I never knew that those feelings could exist simultaneously; and of a world that could have such a person in it. We lucked out.
Don // May 7, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Not even a play maul Meg? Ah well, we can but dream. Your suggestion to find a dark spot and watch the stars struck a chord as I live in a quaint Northamptonshire village which has no street lighting and on clear nights the view of the stars is truly breathtaking. I have been known, on occasion, to stay up all night watching the Perseid meteor shower and it always leaves me awestruck.
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