Irony’s Baptism: A Kierkegaardian Practical Theology for Self-Becoming in Meme Culture. Progress Review - Ernie Laskaris

Irony is the mood of meme culture (when irony is understood within a Kierkegaardian framework). Using a ‘Reformed Correlational Method,’ I provide a Kierkegaardian hermeneutic for understanding contemporary meme culture. Drawing from Kierkegaard’s work, it is argued that a ‘controlled irony’ (where an individual masters irony) is a necessary step in achieving true, authentic selfhood, whereas ‘uncontrolled irony’ (where irony masters the individual) is an end in itself. When controlled irony is taken to its highest form, it becomes what Kierkegaard calls “humour” (“a Christian irony”), which is the last existential position before faith. These theoretical positions will then be used in the final phase of my research to develop a strategic practical theology for self-becoming to inform youth ministry as it operates within the structures of meme culture.