in the evolution of meta-humour, i have observed a catch-all, a way of avoiding? deflecting? defending? criticism, and watched and read many analyses of it. the did that really happen?
phenomenon. breaking the fourth wall is one of my favourite components of art, as it shocks you, forces you to confront the media that you're watching as an external observer. there is nothing more jarring than fleabag looking at you. are you in the show now? are you just watching her live her life, or are you a part of it?
but this is not how meta-humour has evolved. in the corporation style of how you doing, fellow kids?
, that has been warped into a form of catching any critiques of a joke, no matter how meaningless, and forcing it back. he's standing behind me, isn't he?
whenever i am worried i am being too earnest, too upfront, and i'm worried of criticism, i think of something nirmohri, one of my favourite art accounts, said to me. it's not pretentious if you're not pretending.
and i'm not! i do mean everything i write, at least when i do, and i don't need meta-humour. there's no substitute for true love in art, as you can see through art that has devotion in its bones (like avatar, or coke studio, or doodles made in class). how far will you get laughing at yourself?