Term for figure of speech in: 'Life is awesome, I confess'
I am listening to Lana del Rey's song where she begins with:
Life is awesome, I confess
Using confess this way; I found it rather funny, like a play on words, and if that's the case, hope to know if there's any actual literary technique regarding this.
Genius says just this about it:
She has to confess her awesomeness because it's in spite of some other songs where she sings about the pitfalls of her career or her general 'summertime sadness.'
Also, in my quick googling I dug up a similar expression from The Great Outdoors:
Well, nobody ever accused you of having a grand vision
I'm sure there must be more of such usages, but I'm not sure how to actually look for them, even with a bit of Google Fu I already graduated in.
What is this usage called? Sarcasm, tongue in cheek, play on words? Or is there an actual literary device about this?
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology figures-of-speech rhetorical-devices
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
|
show 4 more comments
I am listening to Lana del Rey's song where she begins with:
Life is awesome, I confess
Using confess this way; I found it rather funny, like a play on words, and if that's the case, hope to know if there's any actual literary technique regarding this.
Genius says just this about it:
She has to confess her awesomeness because it's in spite of some other songs where she sings about the pitfalls of her career or her general 'summertime sadness.'
Also, in my quick googling I dug up a similar expression from The Great Outdoors:
Well, nobody ever accused you of having a grand vision
I'm sure there must be more of such usages, but I'm not sure how to actually look for them, even with a bit of Google Fu I already graduated in.
What is this usage called? Sarcasm, tongue in cheek, play on words? Or is there an actual literary device about this?
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology figures-of-speech rhetorical-devices
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
1
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
2
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
1
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
1
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17
|
show 4 more comments
I am listening to Lana del Rey's song where she begins with:
Life is awesome, I confess
Using confess this way; I found it rather funny, like a play on words, and if that's the case, hope to know if there's any actual literary technique regarding this.
Genius says just this about it:
She has to confess her awesomeness because it's in spite of some other songs where she sings about the pitfalls of her career or her general 'summertime sadness.'
Also, in my quick googling I dug up a similar expression from The Great Outdoors:
Well, nobody ever accused you of having a grand vision
I'm sure there must be more of such usages, but I'm not sure how to actually look for them, even with a bit of Google Fu I already graduated in.
What is this usage called? Sarcasm, tongue in cheek, play on words? Or is there an actual literary device about this?
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology figures-of-speech rhetorical-devices
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
I am listening to Lana del Rey's song where she begins with:
Life is awesome, I confess
Using confess this way; I found it rather funny, like a play on words, and if that's the case, hope to know if there's any actual literary technique regarding this.
Genius says just this about it:
She has to confess her awesomeness because it's in spite of some other songs where she sings about the pitfalls of her career or her general 'summertime sadness.'
Also, in my quick googling I dug up a similar expression from The Great Outdoors:
Well, nobody ever accused you of having a grand vision
I'm sure there must be more of such usages, but I'm not sure how to actually look for them, even with a bit of Google Fu I already graduated in.
What is this usage called? Sarcasm, tongue in cheek, play on words? Or is there an actual literary device about this?
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology figures-of-speech rhetorical-devices
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology figures-of-speech rhetorical-devices
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
edited Mar 17 '18 at 11:19
JJJ
6,21192645
6,21192645
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
asked Jun 30 '17 at 19:54
NVZNVZ
20.9k1460110
20.9k1460110
1
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
2
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
1
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
1
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17
|
show 4 more comments
1
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
2
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
1
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
1
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17
1
1
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
2
2
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
1
1
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
1
1
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17
|
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
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There might be something even more specific lurking out there, but I think it's acceptable to just call this juxtaposition, maybe even a loose form of oxymoron. You're placing two contrasting things next to each other for literary effect.
Accusations and confessions carry a negative connotation. Both imply that there was some conflict or wrongdoing. But "life is awesome" is obviously a positive statement, and though the grand vision itself could be something wicked, "grand" is typically a positive term.
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/juxtaposition
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
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There might be something even more specific lurking out there, but I think it's acceptable to just call this juxtaposition, maybe even a loose form of oxymoron. You're placing two contrasting things next to each other for literary effect.
Accusations and confessions carry a negative connotation. Both imply that there was some conflict or wrongdoing. But "life is awesome" is obviously a positive statement, and though the grand vision itself could be something wicked, "grand" is typically a positive term.
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/juxtaposition
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
New contributor
starsparrow is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
There might be something even more specific lurking out there, but I think it's acceptable to just call this juxtaposition, maybe even a loose form of oxymoron. You're placing two contrasting things next to each other for literary effect.
Accusations and confessions carry a negative connotation. Both imply that there was some conflict or wrongdoing. But "life is awesome" is obviously a positive statement, and though the grand vision itself could be something wicked, "grand" is typically a positive term.
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/juxtaposition
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
New contributor
starsparrow is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
There might be something even more specific lurking out there, but I think it's acceptable to just call this juxtaposition, maybe even a loose form of oxymoron. You're placing two contrasting things next to each other for literary effect.
Accusations and confessions carry a negative connotation. Both imply that there was some conflict or wrongdoing. But "life is awesome" is obviously a positive statement, and though the grand vision itself could be something wicked, "grand" is typically a positive term.
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/juxtaposition
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
New contributor
starsparrow is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
There might be something even more specific lurking out there, but I think it's acceptable to just call this juxtaposition, maybe even a loose form of oxymoron. You're placing two contrasting things next to each other for literary effect.
Accusations and confessions carry a negative connotation. Both imply that there was some conflict or wrongdoing. But "life is awesome" is obviously a positive statement, and though the grand vision itself could be something wicked, "grand" is typically a positive term.
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/juxtaposition
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
New contributor
starsparrow is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
New contributor
starsparrow is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
answered 2 mins ago
starsparrowstarsparrow
11
11
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New contributor
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1
These are ironic uses of overstatement, common in song lyrics to exaggerate a point: forever and a day, merry Christmas for kids from 1 to 92, even Ladies and Gentleman and children of all ages.
– Yosef Baskin
Jun 30 '17 at 20:03
2
I don't know if it's a literary technique, but she could be somewhat ashamed of or feeling guilty about how awesome her life is compared to others. My wife and I earn significantly more than some of our friends and relatives and I consequently feel a bit guilty mentioning the vacations we take or the home we own in their presence. Likewise, a friend just lost her daughter to cancer and my wife feels rather awkward mentioning how great our kids are doing on Facebook because she doesn't want to make that parent feel any worse.
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:04
@RogerSinasohn Lana, in particular, is not ashamed. Maybe I should include more from the linked Genus annotation.
– NVZ
Jun 30 '17 at 20:06
1
After reading the lyrics, could it be false modesty?
– Roger Sinasohn
Jun 30 '17 at 20:32
1
Not everything is a thing. This could also be bad poetry. The author had to write words to fill in a line, to match a rhyme or get the meter just right. Its certainly incongruous, because a confession is usually about something bad one has done, and awesomeness of life seems to be more of an opinion. Maybe the author is trying to get across that optimism is commonly derided? Who knows what the author is really thinking, if at all.
– Mitch
Jan 25 at 17:17