Sardonicism

Sardonicism is "the quality or state of being sardonic; an instance of this; a sardonic remark." A sardonic action is one that is "disdainfully or skeptically humorous" or "derisively mocking." Also, when referring to laughter or a smile, it is "bitter, scornful, mocking." Hence, when referring to a person or a personal attribute, it is "[c]haracterized by or exhibiting bitterness, scorn or mockery."

Origin

The etymology of sardonicism as both a word and concept is uncertain, but it appears to stem from the name for the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The Byzantine Greek Suda traces its earliest roots to the notion of grinning (Greek: sairō) in the face of danger, or curling one's lips back at evil. One explanation for the later alteration to its more familiar form and connection to laughter (supported by the Oxford English Dictionary) appears to stem from an ancient belief that ingesting the sardonion (σαρδόνιον) plant from Sardinia (Sardō) would result in convulsions resembling laughter and, ultimately, death. In Theory and History of Folklore, Vladimir Propp discusses alleged examples of ritual laughter accompanying death and killing, all involving groups. These he characterized as sardonic laughter:

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Purple Mountains: Purple Mountains review – sardonic Americana with the lyrics of the year

The Guardian 12 Jul 2019

(Drag City) Life has tested David Berman, and he translates it into songs of mordant wit on this fantastic collaboration with Woods David Berman has had a life full of flamboyant bleakness. A one-time crack addict, he once deliberately overdosed and headed to the same hotel room Al Gore awaited the 2000 election re-count in, saying ... .......

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The sardonic joy of the Black Country, where no one is spared a ribbing

The Guardian 10 Jul 2019

The region has long been a national punchline. Funny, then, that it’s where you’ll find some of the country’s sharpest wits If ever, on a weekend, I get the train out of London and up through the countryside, I watch the buildings turn from stained cream to red brick ... Jazz ... Two, laughter ... .......

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‘Don’t meddle in the election, please,’ Trump sardonically asks Putin at G20 meeting

Canoe 28 Jun 2019

OSAKA -- President Donald Trump on Friday sardonically asked his Russian counterpart to please not meddle in U.S. elections, appearing to make light of a scandal that led to an investigation of his campaign's contact with the Kremlin during 2016 elections. Read More ... ....

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'Don't meddle in the election, please,' Trump sardonically asks Putin at G20 meeting

Toronto Sun 28 Jun 2019

OSAKA — President Donald Trump on Friday sardonically asked his Russian counterpart to please not meddle in U.S. elections, appearing to make light of a scandal that led to an investigation of his campaign’s contact with the Kremlin during 2016 elections ... “Yes, of course I will,” drawing a laugh from Putin ... A U.S ... ....

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RIP Paul Darrow, Blake's 7's Unlikely, Sardonic 'Hero'

Gizmodo 04 Jun 2019

Darrow passed away after a short illness at the age of 78 ... ....

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Simon Amstell’s romcom Benjamin: a sweet love story with a sardonic edge

New Statesman 20 Mar 2019

Benjamin (Colin Morgan) is the kind of neurotic guy whose self-awareness has so far brought him no closer to self-improvement ... Amstell has always laughed at himself, and the film’s sardonic humour is rooted in these contradictions in Benjamin’s character ... The masturbatory London art world itself is played for laughs, too....

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The House by the Sea: A family affair that moves between sardonic and sorrowful

The Irish Times 15 Mar 2019

Tensions soon arise. Angèle still blames her father for a family tragedy that happened many years before ... Guédiguian and his cast’s practised naturalism, a script that moves effortlessly between the sardonic and the sorrowful, and Pierre Milon’s unobtrusive camerawork allows material that might have felt stagey or melodramatic to convince ... ....

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Kris Soguilon’s gently sardonic slices of life

Inquirer 03 Feb 2019

"There's this young artist from Aklan whose work you've got to see." So went the text from neurologist, art lover and gallery owner Dr ... ....

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Pete Shelley: the smart, sardonic punk bard of unrequited romance

The Observer 07 Dec 2018

If Peter McNeish had done nothing more than organise the Sex Pistols’ June 1976 gig at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall with his college friend Howard Trafford, then he could still reasonably have claimed to have made a vast impact on the face of rock music ... “We formed a band that night,” said Peter Hook ... Read more. So did McNeish and Trafford ... ....

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Pacific Northwest Ballet’s ‘All Premiere’ ranges from sublime to sardonic

The Seattle Times 06 Nov 2018

Alejandro Cerrudo’s glorious “Silent Ghost” is the centerpiece and highlight of PNB's “All Premiere” evening of contemporary works, running through Nov. 11 ... ....

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Darkly sardonic high school musical with plenty of energy

Canberra Times 15 Oct 2018

Based on the 1989 movie, this is a rude, crude and well performed musical that explores some dark alleys ... ....

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She’s 17, Sardonic and Ready to Sing in ‘Beetlejuice’

New York Times 13 Oct 2018

Condescend at your own risk to Sophia Anne Caruso, the go-to girl for adventurous stage roles. “Even from a young age,” she says, “I had very finicky taste.” ... ....

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