AN ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE LUDIC EXPRESSION CONSIDERING THE QUESTION “WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IRONY IS (NOT) TAKEN SERIOUSLY?”
AN ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE LUDIC EXPRESSION CONSIDERING THE QUESTION “WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IRONY IS (NOT) TAKEN SERIOUSLY?”

Summary/Abstract: In the current study, regarding the analysis of the more or less obvious opposition between playing and seriousness, I will focus my attention on a ludic expression specific to humans. I am referring to irony, the edgy figure of speech and derision of matters often considered the most serious. Beyond the sense of everyday understanding, I will especially be referring to Socratic irony and the way in which it was interpreted. As a matter of fact, I will delve in the ambiguous game of irony, where we will discover that, inevitably, we are faced with a choice: to take or not to take seriously what is communicated to us. Whether it`s about commonplace irony or philosophical irony, we always oscillate between ignoring and believing the statements that reach our ears or meet our eyes. Regarding this, among other ludic elements, I will also analyze writing as a part of the ironic spirit, with special reference to Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher who developed the art of aphoristic essay. On the other hand, the entire matter will orbit these issues: What are the consequences of interpreting irony? In other words: When should irony be taken seriously, and in which way, but more importantly, when should not be taken seriously at all?

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