WHAT IS IRONY IN FILMS? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Do Not Enter Irony / Photo Credit: Toluna

WHAT IS IRONY IN FILMS? (In the Entertainment industry.)  

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What is Irony in Films?

Irony Films

Irony in film is a technique that writers of all kinds use, sometimes for laughs, to create an outcome that is contrary to what was, or might have been, expected. In movies and TV, these are lines given that directly contradict what we see on screen. A lot of times these can be sarcastic comments, but they're not always supposed to be mean or snippy.

Sometimes these are self-deprecating, or lines that one character believes, but the audience knows there's humor behind. Sort of like the "You either die a hero..." line from The Dark Knight. We know that Harvey is describing Bruce's alter ego. Even though Harvey thinks he's delivering a sick burn.

Verbal irony is encapsulated in the use of words to mean something different than what they appear to mean.

There are four major types of irony:

• Verbal…
• Dramatic…
• Situational…
• Cosmic… 

What is Irony?

In general, irony involves a contradiction between appearance and reality. In literature, irony is a deliberate gap between the language used and what is being discussed. Irony results when there is a difference in point of view between a character and the narrator or reader. There are four major types of irony: verbal, dramatic, situational, and cosmic. 

Four Major Types of Irony: 

Verbal Irony. Verbal irony refers to spoken words only. Verbal irony occurs when a character says one thing, but suggests or intends the opposite. The contrast is between what the speaker says and what he actually means. For example, in Julius Caesar, Mark Antony repeats the words "and Brutus is an honorable man" in the famous “Friends, Romans, countrymen” speech. Mark Antony’s meaning, however, is that Brutus is completely dishonorable because Brutus, Caesar’s best friend, joined the other conspirators and plunged a knife into Caesar’s chest.

Note: Verbal irony may be confused with sarcasm, but sarcasm is harsh and direct, while verbal irony is implied.

Dramatic Irony. Dramatic irony involves more than just spoken words. Dramatic irony occurs when the meaning intended by a character's words or actions is opposite of the true situation. The contrast is between what the character says, thinks, or does and the true situation. Further, the character cannot see or understand the contrast, but the audience or reader can. For example, in Othello, dramatic irony occurs when Othello refers to Iago as “honest Iago.” Unknown to Othello, Iago is a villain who deceives him into thinking that Desdemona (Othello’s wife) has been unfaithful. For this, Othello unjustly kills his wife, believing the whole time in Iago’s honesty.

Note the difference in examples for verbal and dramatic irony: Antony calls Brutus “honorable” and knows he is not honorable, while Othello calls Iago “honest” and does not know of Iago’s deceit.

Situational Irony. Situational irony defies logical cause/effect relationships and justifiable expectations. For example, if a greedy millionaire were to buy a lottery ticket and win additional millions, the irony would be situational because such a circumstance cannot be explained logically. Such a circumstance seems “unfair.” This sense of being “unfair” or “unfortunate” is a trademark of situational irony. Because people cannot explain the unfairness, it causes them to question whether or not the world makes sense.

Cosmic Irony (or Irony of Fate). Some irony goes beyond being unfair and is morally tragic. Such irony is often so severe that it causes people to question God and see the universe as hostile. For example, if an honest, hardworking, and generous person buys a lottery ticket and wins ten million dollars, only to die in an auto crash two days later, the irony would reach tragic proportions. When situational irony reaches this scale, it is often called cosmic irony or irony of fate. Such irony typically suggests that people are pawns to malicious forces.

Remember: In general, irony involves a contradiction between appearance and reality. In literature, irony is a deliberate gap between the language used and what is being discussed. Irony results when there is a difference in point of view between a character and the narrator or reader. There are four major types of irony: verbal, dramatic, situational, and cosmic. 

Irony Examples in Disney Movies:

• Snow White's Apple – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves…
• Remy – Ratatouille…
• Mufasa's Death – The Lion King…
• Monster's Inc…
• Hercules and the Magic Potion – Hercules…
• Numerous Fish – Finding Nemo…
• Aladdin's Wish to Be Rich – Aladdin…
• Mr. Incredible – The Incredibles… 

Common Examples of Situational Irony: 

• A fire station burns down…

This is unexpected because one would assume the fire chief would keep his own building safe. 

• A marriage counselor files for divorce…

This is ironic because the expectation is that a professional who coaches couples through rough patches would herself have a strong marriage. 

• The police station gets robbed…

Again, the expectation is that professional crime fighters would be able to help themselves; in this case, by securing their own station. 

• A post on Facebook complaining how useless Facebook is…

This is ironic because one would expect someone who dislikes Facebook to stay away from it instead of using it to make their point. 

• A traffic cop gets his license suspended because of unpaid parking tickets…

Because the traffic cop is usually the one issuing tickets, most people would assume he always followed the rules. 

• A pilot has a fear of heights…

This situation is ironic because airplane pilots spend most of their time at work high in the air. 

• A member of PETA wears leather shoes…

Because PETA members work to protect animal rights, one would assume they would avoid products made from animal skins. 

• The teacher fails the test…

Teachers are usually the ones giving tests rather than taking them, so most people assume they would be expert at passing tests. 

• A man who needs medical assistance is run over by the ambulance…

In this case, the man got the exact opposite of what he needed from the medical help on the scene. 

• An anti-technology group sets up a website to recruit new club members…

People who dislike technology aren't likely to be looking for clubs on the internet, so using technology to recruit is unexpected. 

• Two people want a divorce, but during the proceedings they discover they still love each other and get back together…

This is the opposite outcome of what happens in a typical divorce, which makes the situation ironic. 

• A child runs away from someone throwing a water balloon at him and falls into the pool…

This is ironic because the child ends up wetter than he would have been, thwarting his expectations of what would happen when he ran away from the water balloon. 

• The cobbler's children have no shoes…

A cobbler is a professional shoemaker, so the expectation is that her own children would have many shoes, not zero. 

• The President is wounded when a bullet ricochets off his bulletproof car and into his arm…

This outcome was definitely not what the Secret Service had in mind when they ordered a secure vehicle. 

• A man leaps out of the road to avoid being hit by a car, only to have a tree branch fall on his head…

This is not the outcome the man expected because he thought he would escape being hurt. 

• A group of fans enters a stadium excited to see a football game, only to discover that the sign meant soccer rather than American football…

Expectations can also be unmet due to simple misunderstandings. 

• A Wall Street investor makes fun of others who are afraid of a risky stock pick but later loses all his money…

The investor's expectations were not borne out in his stock performance, but there's an increased sense of irony because he was so confident. 

• A mother complains about her lazy children, not realizing they have been secretly making her a birthday present…

In this situation, the mother's ideas about her children are thwarted in an unexpected surprise. 

• A man works hard for many years to save for retirement; on his last day of work he is given a lottery ticket worth million…

The unexpected riches are ironic because the man lived a frugal life assuming he would have to work hard to earn enough to retire.

• A husband realizes it's his wife's birthday and rushes to make dinner reservations, only to find that she has forgotten what day it is and stayed at work late…

The husband expected to treat his wife, by the plans end up ruined anyway. It's only the reason why that's unexpected.

References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, History Channel, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, Film Site, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Studio Binder, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Careers Hub, Screen Play Scripts, Elements of Cinema, Script Doctor, ASCAP, Film Independent, Any Possibility, CTLsites, NYFA, Future Learn, VOM Productions, Mad Studios, Rewire, DP School, Film Reference, DGA, IATSE, ASC, MPAA, HFPA, MPSE, CDG, AFI, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, Indie Film Hustle, The Numbers, Netflix, Vimeo, Instagram, Pinterest, Metacritic, Hulu, Reddit, NATO, Mental Floss, Slate, Locations Hub, Film Industry Statistics, Guinness World Records, The Audiopedia, Imagination for People, Literary Devices, UK K12,

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Do Not Enter Irony / Photo Credit: Toluna