The Finch and Pea

“I do not think it means what you think it means.”

snarkitecht (snar-ke-tekt), n, a master of the subtle use of snark to make an argument or undercut an opponent’s argument. Contrasts with typical inelegant and counter-productive use of snark, especially amongst bloggers.

I don’t think Daniel Arsham means the same thing when he says “Snarkitecture“*, but it looks interesting.

*In fairness, Arsham got there first. Snarkitecture was founded in 2008.

“Three Amigos” too sophisticated for some

My previous post uses a line from The Princess Bride as its title (“I do not think it means what you think it means.”)*:

Vizzini: HE DIDN’T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE.
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

which made me think about another exchange in another cultural classic regarding word definitions: the plethora of pinatas scene from ¡Three Amigos!:

Jefe: I have put many beautiful pinatas in the storeroom, each of them filled with little suprises.
El Guapo: Many pinatas?
Jefe: Oh yes, many!
El Guapo: Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?
Jefe: A what?
El Guapo: A *plethora*.
Jefe: Oh yes, you have a plethora.
El Guapo: Jefe, what is a plethora?
Jefe: Why, El Guapo?
El Guapo: Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
Jefe: Forgive me, El Guapo. I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education. But could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?

which caused me to see the “Goofs” section, which was headlined by this gem:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the three amigos are singing by the campfire, Dusty is holding what appears to be a nylon-string guitar. When he starts to play Blue Shadows, the sound we hear is from a steel-string guitar.

Clearly, ¡Three Amigos! is a bit too sophisticated for some internet denizens, which is sad, because I pretty sure I understood the comedy by the time I was ten, which means my brother understood it by the time he was eight. Folks, “goofs” are mistakes**. This is comedy. Sadly, this is not the only example:

Revealing mistakes: When the Three Amigos jump onto their horses from behind, you can see three mini tramps behind the horses.

Revealing mistakes: At El Guapo’s birthday party, as he stands to open his present, his chair gets stuck to his behind and Jefe is forced to pull it off for him.

Revealing mistakes: Dusty’s guitar grips don’t change in accordance with the music heard, in fact he’s using the same grip in each shot we see him play the guitar.

*We now call these culturefs, because we are both precious and dorky. Also, IMDB, only 8.1/10 for The Princess Bride. Really? Are you the East German judge? What in the name of all that is holy and good in this world is wrong with this film?

**Technically, I have no knowledge that these were intentional, but the point is that they work within and enhance what the film is trying to achieve.

In which hipster irony is killed…

…by Marc Maron (see WTF Podcast Episode 161 – Joe Rogan).

What does it mean that “its ironic”?. . .Is that your excuse for not committing to your emotional reaction to it? Is an ironic disposition another form of cowardice?. . .in some situations, if you think you have ironic detachment, you are more depraved. . .because you are disingenuous, you are dishonest, your ironic detachment makes you half a person, makes you lack a self, makes you a coward. . .
-Marc Maron (transcription and, therefore, any errors are mine)